Leadership and Staff

 

 

Chaplain Major General John B. Ellington, Jr. (Ret) USAF – Senior Pastor

John and Ruby (White) Ellington have been married over fifty years and for more than four decades the Indian Lake Community Church (ILCC) has been the at the center of their faith and family. They raised their three children: John III, Jim, and Deb at the lake. The Ellington family has developed a deep love for the church and the Lake. John, Jim and Deb were all married at ILCC and for five generations the children, grandchildren, and great-grand-children were baptized at ILCC. John Sr. and Mary (Ison) Ellington celebrated their sixth anniversary with a renewal of their vows at ILCC. Their lives and faith were celebrated at ILCC when they went to be with the Lord. The family purchased a stained glass window in their memory when the chapel was added.   

 

In the early seventies, when John became the pastor of ILCC, it was a very small church located on a small lot with only on-street parking. There were about sixty active members and several were families of the founders the church. As the church grew, there were several building projects and additional land purchased for expansion and parking. John Sr. came on staff as a minister of visitation and served several years until his death.

 

John’s vision to build an outstanding ministry team is a reality today with Karen Blackburn - Minister of Christian Education and Daycare Director, Jim Ellington - Minister of Pastoral Care and Primary Preacher, Dave Hafenbrack - Administrative Pastor, and Joel Perez - Contemporary Worship Leader and Youth Pastor.

 

John’s vision is to provide a meaningful worship expressed in Liturgical Worship as well as meaningful Contemporary Worship. The styles and expression of worship may differ, but both worships are centered in the Gospel of Jesus Christ. John believes the church is the Body of Christ and ILCC must maintain a strong sense of family that deeply cares for one another. John frequently says that “Indian Lake needs Jesus and Indian Lake is our mission field”.

 

John has not only been a visionary leader at ILCC but also as a Chaplain in the National Guard and the United States Air Force. He joined the Guard in 1979 as a First Lt. while also serving as pastor at ILCC. During the first Gulf War in 1992, he was called to active duty and was in Washington, D.C. until 2005 when returned to ILCC. While he was on active duty he and Ruby maintained their home at Indian Lake, and they returned as often as possible. He retired as a Major General with 32 years of service. He believes the best days for ILCC are ahead of us “Enriching Lives Through the Love of Christ”.