Our Team

Steve and his wife Barb have attended Dayspring since 1995. They have been involved in many facets of Dayspring including mission trips, Leadership Advisory Board, worship team, Elder Board and facilities work events. Steve gave is life to Christ as a young boy but was challenged to make his faith is own as a young man. Being a Christ follower is what truly brings fulfillment to his life and marriage. Steve’s favorite scripture is John 3:16. Steve recently retired from KRB Machinery Company.

Ryan and his wife Abigail live in Auburn with their children, Thomas & Emma and have attended Dayspring Church since 2022. Ryan is a brand development and communications professional and works for Parkview Health. Abigail serves at Oak Farm Montessori School and as a part-time Dave Ramsey Financial Coach. You may find them serving on the Connections Teams during Sunday services in helping welcome those new and familiar to Dayspring or assisting with facilities and Church events. They are both passionate about honoring God with money and have helped lead Financial Peace University classes. As Christ is their foundation, Ryan and Abigail love being a part of a church committed to glorifying God, making disciples, and serving others in humility. The Loeffler’s are thankful for Dayspring Church and the ministry God is orchestrating through His people in our community and beyond.

Lance is married to Michelle and they have three kids. Lydia, Micah, and Norah. Michelle and Lance are both educators. Michelle teaches pre-school at J.R. Watson and Lance teaches at Country Meadow Elementary School. Lance and Michelle currently serve in the marriage ministry team where we help coordinate events and opportunities for married couples to grow closer to the Lord and in turn closer to another. They also serve weekly in Dayspring Kids with the pre-school/Kindergarten class where they enjoy investing in the young lives of our church. Their desire is to be representatives of Jesus in the midst of the activities and look forward to the opportunity every week as it is a privilege to do so. Jesus said in Mark 12:30-31 that the greatest commandment is to love the Lord and also to love your neighbor as yourself. It is their prayer that Jesus would continue to work in our hearts so that others experience His love. 

Michael and his wife Terry have attended Dayspring since 2001. Michael and Terry have been married for 27 years and live in rural Waterloo. Michael is a financial Advisor with Edward Jones Investments. Michael and Terry have three sons with the oldest in heaven and six grandchildren. Michael accepted Christ for the first time at age eight. Michael has volunteered at Dayspring doing many videos and dramas over the years. Michael has also volunteered in Kid's Zone and currently serves on the tech team. Michael has done jail ministry and currently is a volunteer leader at Celebrate Recovery in Auburn. In his spare time Michael likes to hike, travel and spend time with his grandchildren.

Kyle is a resident of Auburn and has a son, Cayden who is a college student at Taylor University. Kyle is a graduate of Purdue University, West Lafayette and is employed at Color Master Inc. and has been there 30 years.  He has attended Dayspring for 10 years, and serves on the Connections Team and on the Leadership Advisory Board.  Kyle has also been a regular member of the Dayspring Mission Team to Nicaragua.  He enjoys hunting, fishing, golfing, and reading, and is most thankful that Jesus is the center of his life.

Pastor Nick was raised on a horse and cattle farm in Liberty, IN. By God's grace, he was able to overcome his broken past by the supernatural work of Jesus. Nick has served in various positions in the local church for the past 20 years. He has a passion for people to understand the Gospel and be transformed by the power of the Holy Spirit. Nick graduated from Southport High School in Indianapolis ('04) and studied music and Christian ministry at Anderson University ('08) where he met his wife Jenna. After a career in music ministry as a worship pastor and Christian artist, Nick went back to school and graduated from Grace Theological Seminary ('16) with honors, receiving a Masters in Local Church Ministry and a distinguished award in expository preaching. 
Nick's wife, Jenna (Bethel University, '11), former Director of Right To Life of North Central IN, is the high school Spanish teacher at Lakewood Park Christian School and loves the community of Auburn and the people of Dayspring. Nick and Jenna married in 2012 and have two children, Elijah and Myla. 

Brandon grew up in New Haven, Indiana, and has been passionate about sharing the Gospel and intentionally discipling believers to grow in spiritual maturity and become more like Christ for the last 18 years. He became a member of Dayspring in 2019 and moved to Auburn shortly after to reduce his commute to work in Angola. He was in finance for 15 years but was called into full-time ministry in April of 2022 as the Kids' Pastor. In October of 2024, he took on a new role of discipleship pastor to help cultivate a culture of disciple making in every aspect of church life. He and his wife Kaley have five boys; Grey 7, Crew 5, Jake 4, Cole 2, and Luke 13 weeks! They are both passionate about evangelizing and discipling children from diapers to diplomas, and now, adults, from diplomas to depends!

Tyler grew up in the Fort Wayne area and has been married to his wife Natalie for 12 years. They have four children– Will (10), Jane (8), Levi (6), and Leo (6 months) – and have been part of Dayspring for the past five years. When sports didn’t pan out for Tyler in junior high, he turned his focus to the music, picking up drums and guitar, getting involved with his church worship team. His passion for worship led him to Hillsong International Leadership College in Sydney Australia, where he studies worship and creative arts. With more than 20 years of ministry experience, Tyler loves leading people in praise and worship as the church gathers. Away from ministry, Tyler and Natalie enjoy life on their small homestead, where they raise chickens, ducks, pigs, cows, and tend a large garden to grow their own food. His desire for God’s Word and for discipling others continues to deepen and shape his ministry.

Josh was born and raised in Auburn, Indiana, and graduated from Lakewood Park Christian School, where he met his wife, Devin, at Youth Group in 1998. Ten years later, they married and have settled in Auburn, raising their four children, Levi, Logan, Emery, and Avery. 
Josh's grandparents and parents have always been involved with Dayspring as far back as 1946,  but it wasn't until 2012 that God called Josh and his wife back to his family's church. In 2014, they began serving in the youth ministry, and in late 2017, God called Josh into full-time ministry as a Youth Pastor. He has enjoyed serving Dayspring in this role since 2018 and is passionate about discipling kids, teens, and families, from diapers through diplomas.

Jake was born and raised in Hicksville, Ohio, and went to Huntington University to study Worship Leadership & Graphic Design. During his senior year, he met his wife, Kristen, and moved to Fort Wayne to pursue a life in music from 2017-2019. In 2021, he felt the call to become a pastor and has been serving in creative worship roles since. He loves his community, his wife, and his doggy, Roman. His favorite food is lobster, and is down for a good seafood boil.

Raised in a Christian family and the church, Jane felt a calling to serve God while in college, but followed her own heart for a while. She is married to Bill, mother to Matt and Grace, MIL to Victoria, and Nana to Eleanor and Annalise, and 3 grand-dogs. She worked in the corporate world for 15 years before staying home with her children for a few years. In 2010, the family began attending Dayspring. Jane joined the staff in 2011 and finally realized her calling to serve God in his church. She is able to use her business brain and also exercise her spiritual gifts of shepherding and compassion.

Johanna and her husband, Kris, have been married for 24 years and have three adult children—Avery (and son-in-law Kaden), Grant, and Hadley. They have been part of Dayspring since 2007. Johanna enjoys taking walks, listening to podcasts, traveling, and spending time with her family. Johanna rests on her favorite verse of Psalm 61:2, “When my heart is overwhelmed; Lead me to the rock that is higher than I”.

Rebekah is a born and raised Auburn, IN girl, who is enthusiastic about communicating the inner and outer workings of Dayspring Community Church. She attended Grace College Theological Seminary, graduating with a Bachelor's in Illustration and Media Arts in the Spring of 2021. Ministry wasn’t the “plan”, but the Lord's plan is ALWAYS better, as she joined Daysprings staff as the Communications Director in 2023. Her husband, Tyler Kinslow, is a fellow member at Dayspring, and they are passionate about the Gospel that changes everything, and their cat, Bon Jovi.

Scott was born and raised in Huntington, Indiana. He graduated from Huntington North High School in 1986 and from Hitzfeld Gymnasium (High School) as an exchange student in Hamburg, Germany, in 1985. Then attending Indiana University and Huntington University, graduating with a BA in organizational business, creative arts, and foreign language. He is the youngest of seven children. He is devoted to taking care of his 100-year-old mother. He became a member of Dayspring Church in 2015. He became a volunteer on the tech team. Later, he was on staff as the assistant tech director and then in his latest role as facilities manager. As for the facilities manager, he has cultivated the role into a ministry of its own. He uses this role to pour the love he has for the Lord into his "Scott's Tots"

Tami joined the Dayspring Kids Ministry staff in February 2025 after serving as a 4-H Youth Development Extension Educator for 14 years. She and her husband Mike live in northwest DeKalb County on a small farm with their 3 spirited girls. She loves the reminder of Isaiah 26:3 "You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you."

“Tech is worship” is something you might hear Tyler M. say from time to time. Tyler was raised just across the Indiana-Ohio border in Hicksville, OH, where he married his high school sweetheart, Rachel in 2016. Tyler attended Capital University, where he acquired a B.A. in Music Technology, later deciding to go to Liberty University’s Baptist Theological Seminary, where he graduated with a Master of Arts in Religion (Worship Cognate) in 2023. Tyler has served at various churches, including a Worship Assistant/Director at Center Point Church and as the Director of Worship Technology at Spotswood Baptist Church. Upon moving home in September 2024, the Monroes quickly made Dayspring their home church and got involved with the Worship Ministry. Tyler and Rachel have 2 children, Agnes (Aggie) and Evangeline (Evie Kay).

Katie Ruse has been life’s “KPS” Manager (Keeping People Stoked) for as long as she can remember. At Dayspring, that means she gets to lead the Connections Team and help all who come through the doors of our church building feel welcomed and find a place to belong. The “ministry of belonging”, leads to deep relationships and discipleship. This is her sweet spot! Born and raised in Chicagoland, Katie met her husband, Aaron, at Judson University, where she graduated with a B.A. in Psychology in 2000. After 17 years at Willow Creek Community Church, their family moved to Southern California, where they were on staff at Saddleback Church for 6 years. In 2020, they returned to the Midwest and landed in Auburn, IN, which has become HOME in the richest sense of the word. Katie & Aaron have 3 children, Mya (Zach), Jet, and Hattie, and the newest addition to their family, sweet grandbaby Wes.

Lindsey Bledsoe was raised in Auburn, Indiana, and has been part of Dayspring Community Church since 2007. She began serving early on in Kids Ministry, where she joyfully invested over 12 years before transitioning into Student Ministry. Along the way, she has also served as both a small group leader and a connections leader, experiences that helped shape her love for relational ministry. This passion for discipling students eventually led her into a staff role at Dayspring nearly two years ago as Administrator of Student Ministries. With both daughters now grown, she continues to pour into students through the ministry that has captured her heart. Lindsey and her husband will celebrate 22 years of marriage this October, and together they are grateful to be part of the Dayspring family.

After graduating from high school in Orange County, California, Mya moved to Indiana and quickly found her church home at Dayspring. She has a deep passion for disciple-making and a strong calling to share God’s Word with children and their families. Mya earned her bachelor’s degree in Educational Ministry from Grace College in 2023. She began her journey at Dayspring as a college intern in the summer of 2022 and officially joined the staff as Kids Ministry Coordinator in the spring of 2023. In October 2024, she stepped into the role of Director of Kids Ministry. In July 2025, Mya and her husband, Zach, welcomed their first son, Weston. Together, they are grateful for the opportunity to serve the local church and feel united in their calling to invest in the next generation, all for the glory of God.

Kendra has been married to her husband, Jordan, for 13 years, and she homeschools their two girls, Lacie (10) and Callie (8). She loves music, bike rides, being near the water, and exploring new places with her family. Her favorite verse is Isaiah 41:10, a constant reminder to trust God’s strength and presence in every season.

Connie and her husband Keith have attended Dayspring since January 2004.  Connie has been leading a Women’s Life Group on Wednesday afternoons since 2009 and assists with membership interviews for potential new members. Connie is a registered nurse and worked for family practice physicians in Ft. Wayne and Auburn for 15 years before joining Aetna, Inc. There she worked in the nursing and business areas for 10 years.  She then changed careers within Aetna and became a Human Resource Manager for 10 years before retiring in December 2006.  Keith is also retired and they enjoy traveling and family time with their 2 grown children and their families.  Connie always attended church as a child and accepted Jesus as her savior at the age of 23.  Her favorite scripture is John 3:16. 

Pete and his wife D'Anna began attending Dayspring in 2006.  Pete is the plant manager at Foamex. Pete and D'Anna have two kids, Tucker and Parker.  Pete is a current member of the Leadership Advisory Board. Pete grew up in a small rural area church, and knew for his young family "the methods must change" for his kids to have the chance to build the solid Christian foundation he had growing up, and they came to Dayspring to find it. 

Andrew Wappes has been attending Dayspring since 2021. Originally from Auburn, he and his wife Traci and three children, moved back to the area in 2020. He serves on the connection team on Sundays. He works in software sales along with managing aspects of the family farm, Wappes Farms. His anchor verses are Proverbs 3:5-6 & Romans 8:28

Carolyn and her husband, Rick, have been attending Dayspring since 2004.  They are the proud parents of three adult children.  A current member of the Leadership Advisory Board, Carolyn has periodically served as a member of the LAB since its creation and also previously served as a member of the Worship Team.  Carolyn is employed by Allen Superior Court in Fort Wayne.  An avid volunteer, her favorite scripture is Ephesians 2:10.

Kim started as the Women’s Ministry Lead in January, but has attended Dayspring with her husband, Heath, for three years. They visited with family, loved the awesome teaching and incredible worship, and have been attending Dayspring ever since. Kim and Heath have been married for 27 years and have three grown children. Kim is a Speech Therapist for Fremont Community Schools. She loves gardening, reading, and exploring small towns in Michigan whenever she gets the chance. 

Jerry Gill has been attending Dayspring since 2004 and became a member around 2005. Before coming to Dayspring, he attended a small Methodist church in rural DeKalb County, where he was actively involved with Pastor Parish Relations, men’s groups, and teaching middle school youth groups. He has served on the Connection Team, the Tech Team for services, and the Financial Assistance Team, and is currently serving on the Leadership and Administration Board (LAB). With a business degree in management and human resources, along with nearly 27 years of service at CSX Transportation as a plumbing and heating mechanic, he brings both professional and practical experience to his roles. He has been married to his wife, Linda, for 38 years. Together, they have two married children and five grandchildren. If you see him around, feel free to stop and introduce yourself—he hopes you find Dayspring to be a wonderful place to continue your Christian journey.