Special Events at Ypsi Free

Meet the Rhodes Family

Pastor Bruce Rhodes appointed to serve as Lead Pastor at YFMC

• Please join us to welcome the Rhodes Family on Sunday, June 14th. Receptions will follow both services.
• Listen to Superintedent Ramundo's announcement of Pastor Bruce's appointment to Ypsi Free

Hello, we're the Rhodes Family; Bruce, Jerilynn, Daniel, Rebecca and Joshua. We are excited about our appointment to the Ypsilanti congregation and wanted to take some time to tell you our story. We believe that one of the richest experiences of life is when God's people learn about other's stories as they share their own. This is our story.

Bruce
Bruce was born in Anchorage, Alaska, the youngest son of an Air Force Sergeant. During the first 12 years of his life, his family moved from Alaska to Texas to Florida and to Bellevue, Michigan where the family moved when his father retired. Next door neighbors invited the family to the Charlotte FM Church where Bruce gave his life to Christ at age 13-14. At age 16 he felt a call to pastoral ministry and when he graduated from High School he enrolled in Spring Arbor College. During his senior year, he became engaged to Jerilynn Stein and the two were married in August after he received his philosophy religion degree. They have been married for 26 years. Their honeymoon consisted of moving to Wilmore, Kentucky where Bruce attended graduate school and at Asbury Seminary where he received his Masters of Divinity degree in 1986. Bruce served as an Assistant Pastor to the Chelsea church for two years, was appointed to Garden City which was relocated and renamed the Warren Road Light and Life FM Church in Westland four years later. He served that congregation for 8 years before being appointed to the Kalamazoo Free Methodist Church where he just completed 14 years. Bruce is an active outdoorsman who loves to hunt and fish, ride motorcycles, camp and bicycle. He has been an adjunct professor for Spring Arbor University teaching the Biblical Perspectives course for their off-campus accelerated degree courses.

Jerilynn
Jerilynn is a third generation Free Methodist with roots in both Southern Michigan and North Michigan conference. She grew up in the Three Oaks Church until she left for Spring Arbor in 1978. Her parents moved back to the family farm in Evart, Michigan that year. Jerilynn received a Contemporary Ministries degree with a specialty in Youth Ministry from Spring Arbor. She received a PHT (Put Hubby Through) while Bruce was attending graduate school. Jerilynn has always been active as a Pastor's wife in the churches where Bruce has served. She has led women's groups, been on leadership teams, and led worship teams at Kalamazoo and Warren Road. She plays flute, piano and sings. She has raised three children and is an outstanding wife and mother. Jer also enjoys the outdoors, hunting and fishing and camping with the family.

Daniel
Daniel is 22 years old and a Corporal in the USMC stationed in Washington, DC. He is also passionate about deer hunting in the fall. Currently Dan is preparing to marry his high school sweet heart Brianna Hagen and the two will be joined in marriage in July at the Kalamazoo church. Daniel was selected out of Boot Camp for duty on the Presidential Protection Unit. Subsequently, he was assigned to 8th & I in DC. He loves the Marines and has been thoroughly indoctrinated by believing they are the best...period! True to form, Daniel loves the outdoors. Currently he is the proud owner of a sport/street motorcycle which adds gray hairs to both parents' heads! Country music and pick up trucks have become standard fare for this young Marine.

Rebecca
Rebecca is her father's favorite daughter! As a 19 year old, she is nearing completion of her sophomore year at Spring Arbor University and is the Resident Assistant on Muffit 4. She is fluent in Spanish and believes this will become useful to her major which is Social Work. Yes, she is a deer hunter (are you seeing a theme now!). She graduated top of her class from Otsego High School and is carrying a 4.0 GPA at the Arbor. She led the OHS Marching band as drum major her senior year, plays clarinet, guitar and keyboard. She is very interested in missions.

Joshua
Joshua is 15 years old and will be a sophomore in High School this fall. Like the other members of the family, he loves fall hunting as well. He misses his brother and sister some days but enjoys the extra attention he gets being the only child at home. He plays trombone, fiddles on the keyboard and is an accomplished drummer and a valued player on the Kalamazoo worship team for several years. Josh is hoping that we find a home in a 5 acre woods like where he has grown up most of his life. In his own words, "I'm wired for the woods." He looks forward to driver's education this year and his dream vehicle is a moped!

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1800 Packard Rd
Ypsilanti, MI 48197
734.482.2055
yfmc@ypsifree.org