Rev. Dr. Eun-Hye Choi, Lead Pastor
Eun-Hye joined the staff of Plainfield United Methodist Church in July 2011. She felt God calling her to ministry when she was working for a Korean language newspaper in Chicago. “As a reporter for a newspaper I had the privilege of meeting many different kinds of people from different backgrounds. I learned and realized that all people were God’s children no matter what life situations they were in and what opinions they had about the world and God.”
Home for Eun-Hye’s family was in Seoul, Korea. Eun-Hye earned the B.S. in Political Science from Ewha Woman’s University in Seoul and the M.A. in Political Science from Sogang Graduate School in Seoul. Then she came to the U.S. in 1988 with her family and spent three years at Korean Central Newspaper as a reporter and editor. “I used to think that I could contribute to changing the world through social movements but now I realize that all of those studies and experiences are gifs for the ministry I do in daily life and in the world.”
Eun-Hye earned her Master of Christian Education and Master of Divinity from Garrett Evangelical Theological Seminary in 1993 and 1995, focusing on education and theology. She was ordained as a deacon in Northern Illinois Conference in 1998 and as an Elder in 2001. Her first appointment was to First UMC of Palatine as associate pastor working on education, mission and pastoral counseling and visitations. She earned a Doctor of Ministry in 2004 in Christian Religious Education and Practical Theology from Claremont School of Theology.
As lead pastor of Plainfield UMC, Eun-Hye is responsible for planning worship and birthing and raising the vision, value and priorities of the life of the church. Eun-Hye is married to Chris Walters and they have a son, Timothy. They share the fun of playing Wii games, watching Food Network, and camping and traveling.
Rev. Sherry Scates, Minister of Faith Formation
Sherry serves as the Minister of Faith Formation at Plainfield United Methodist Church. She is responsible for spiritual formation and educational opportunities for all ages, from infants in the nursery up through adults. After graduating from Illinois Wesleyan University with degrees in music and religion, she moved to Nashville, TN in 1999. She received her Master of Divinity degree from Vanderbilt Divinity School in 2004 and was ordained a deacon in the United Methodist Church in 2010. She lives in Plainfield with her husband, Tim, and children, Anna and Nathan.
Sherry is active in the Plainfield Ministerial Association, and serves on the board of the Northern Illinois Conference Christian Educator’s Fellowship, the Conference Committee on Christian Education, the Ridgewood United Community Food Pantry, United Voices for Children, and the Emergency Food and Shelter Committee with the United Way of Joliet. When not at church, Deacon Sherry can be found singing, dancing, playing with her kids, laughing with friends, hanging out at the gym, hiking and reading.
Rev. Chris Walters, Associate Pastor
Chris Walters was born in southern California and grew up in northwest suburban Chicago. As overseer of youth ministries at PUMC, Chris shares his diverse life experience to enrich the faith journeys of young people. The teen years and early adulthood can be wonderful, challenging, and a chaotic period of life. Chris’s life is a testimony to the truth that, no matter what, through God all things are indeed possible.
After graduating from Columbia College Chicago with a degree in fiction writing, Chris taught 7th grade English part-time. Eventually he returned to the talents of his adolescence: computers. For 14 years Chris worked in various information technology roles, including IT Director and as a small business owner. Along the way he pursued another deep interest: theology and science. Chris earned the M.A. from Northern Seminary, having written a thesis titled “Theology and Technology: Humanity in Process.” In 2011 he graduated with the M.Div. from Chicago Theological Seminary and is now a provisional elder. Chris enjoys vacationing and camping with his wife Eun-Hye and son Tim, as well as reading, blogging, playing Wii, and soaking in music. Occasionally, he may be seen and heard blaring “Level Five” by King Crimson on his car stereo.
John DeGroot, Director of Chancel Choir
John DeGroot secured his Bachelors degree in Music Education from Western Illinois University and the Master of Music degree from Northern Illinois University. He served as Director of Choral Music at Waubonsie Valley High School in Aurora, IL from 1976 until 2005, where he guided the development of the curriculum, and created the structure and nomenclature of the choral program that functions as the current template for the three high schools of District 204. John now serves as an adjunct staff member of Millikin University and Northern Illinois University, supervising student teachers in music education. In addition to guest conducting choral festivals, he adjudicates Solo/Ensemble and Organizational Choral Contests for Illinois High School Association, Illinois Grade School Association, and the Chicagoland Parochial School Network.
Mr. DeGroot has served churches in the Chicago area for the past 39 years, including positions at Bethel Reformed Church (Chicago), Grace Reformed Church (Lansing), and Mt. Greenwood Reformed Church (Chicago). He presently directs the Chancel Choir at Plainfield United Methodist Church, a position he has held since 1990.
Director of the Greater Chicago Youth Chorale in eight European Chorale tours, Mr. DeGroot has served on the American Choral Directors’ Association (ACDA) Executive Board as the Repertory and Standards Chair from 1997 – 2005, and has served the Fox Valley Music Educators Association as President, Vice President, and Choral Division Chair. In addition, he has served the Illinois Music Educators’ Association as Choral Division Chair for IMEA Districts VII and IX.
While teaching in District 204, Mr. DeGroot was repeatedly honored as a “Most Influential Educator,” a recognition of teaching excellence generated by student nominations, sponsored by the Indian Prairie Educational Foundation. He was honored as a recipient of ACDA’s coveted “Harold Decker Choral Award” in July of 2008, in recognition of lifetime contributions in the field of choral music.
John has lived in Plainfield, Illinois for the past 35 years. He and his wife Debby recently celebrated their 38th anniversary, and have raised three (now-adult) children.
Kelly Markwell, Bellissimo Choir Director
Kelly Markwell is a life-long member of Plainfield United Methodist Church, having grown up in Plainfield and having been involved in music almost his whole life. Kelly started singing in the church choir his sophomore year in high school, and then went on to earn his Bachelor’s degree in Music Education from Illinois State University with a major in Choral Music Education, and a minor in Instrumental Music Education (with a clarinet specialty). After teaching in central Illinois for a short time, Kelly returned to his hometown and home church in the early 1990s, where he embarked on a second career in computers. He is currently the Database Administrator for the Illinois Hospital Association and is approaching 20 years with the company.
However, he has never let music leave his life. He has performed with the Joliet Chapter of the Barbershop Harmony Society, has been a part of 30 theatrical stage shows as actor, pit musician, make-up expert, stage manager, rehearsal accompanist and director. He also current enjoys singing in the quartet United 4 Him, and performing on the piano whenever he can.
Since 2002 Kelly has directed the Bellissimo Handbell choir, which has grown from its initial donation of three octaves to its current set of five octaves of handbells and four octaves of hand chimes. He has been a member of the American Guild of English Handbell Ringers.
Kelly and his wife Sherry recently celebrated their 20th anniversary, and has two teenage boys (both of which sing, play instruments in the school bands and play handbells at church). He also performs occasionally with the Markwell Handbell Ringers, his extended family in the Plainfield area spanning three generations with seventeen members of his family ringing.
Kathleen Hermansen, Organist
Kathleen Hermansen has been playing the piano for fifty years. She studied first with Charles Frantz and later with Helen Kettner at Elmhurst College, Elmhurst, Illinois, where Mrs. Hermansen received her Bachelor of Arts degree in music education. She has served as a church organist for the past 45 years and has held that position at Plainfield United Methodist Church since 1973. Kathleen works in the Valley View School District at Romeoville High School. She and her husband Keith celebrated their 37th wedding anniversary and live in Joliet.
| Marva Andrews Administrative Assistant  |
Cheryl Henbest Financial Secretary  |
Hope Wooldridge Treasurer  |
Suzy Henbest Office Support  |
