Staff

Rob Neel

Senior Pastor

Rob Neel was born in the Rio Grande Valley of South Texas, moving to Hartford City at the age of 2. He taught History at Eastbrook Jr. High School for 9 out of his 10 years as a teacher. He graduated from Asbury Theological Seminary in 1996 and was ordained as an elder in the United Methodist Church in 1999. After serving churches in Goshen and Granger, Rob returned to Grant County in 2003.
Rob married way above his pay grade in 1984 to Tammy and together they have 3 adult children. He is a Purdue basketball fan and works hard avoiding the crazy on social media.

Tammy Neel

Pierce Project Manager

Tammy Neel is currently serving as the Pierce Project Manager, although she wears many other hats in keeping us all headed north. You’ll find her in the back painting furniture, in the front pulling weeds, in the café cooking meals, or in the office pulling reports and managing the building and facilities.
As a young girl Tammy remembers wanting to grow up and be “a pastor’s wife.” She feels fortunate to have achieved that, but was called to be in ministry herself at church camp as a high schooler. She has been married to Rob for 34 years and they have 3 adult children. She enjoys cooking for others, gardening for herself and hanging out at the lakes with family and friends.

Kevin Duecker

Director of Children's Ministries

Kevin Duecker is our Director of Children’s Ministry. He’s a proud Ohio-native but has made Indiana his home since 2005 after deciding to attend Indiana Wesleyan University. After graduating with an education degree in and earning his teaching license in physical education and science education, Kevin ultimately responded to the call to ministry and has been on staff since 2012. Kevin creates a fun and energetic environment where kids can learn about the truths of the Bible and how to live out their faith in practical ways. He is husband to Kate and father to Kendall, Keira, and Kassidy. He enjoys spending time with family; spoiling his dog, Chloe; playing guitar; and catching the latest podcasts.

Sherry Vance

Administrative Assistant

Sherry Vance is our Administrative Assistant and manages the office calendar, phones & mail. She loves to visit with anyone who comes by! Sherry and her husband, Mark, have been married since 1978, have three kids, several grands and are avid birdwatchers.

Susan Delauter

Treasurer

Susan Delauter is originally from Grand Rapids, MI and is a Taylor alum now living in Marion. She serves as our treasurer and helps us keep all the books in order. She is married to Nick and has 2 kids, Ava and Deegan. Susan is also the Finance Manager at Hanfield UMC and owns a small business called Life Reporposed, making jewelry, clothing and home décor items. As a busy mom, she doesn’t have too much time for hobbies but does enjoy listening to audio books.

Audrey Felger

Worship Director

It’s been Audrey’s joy and privilege to serve the body of Christ in Upland for almost a decade. Together with her husband, Jacob (keyboard), and an awesome group of musicians, she works every week to lead the church to a place of worshiping, knowing, and seeking Jesus more. Violin is her first instrument, but she also loves singing and writing songs for the church. When she’s at home, you will either find her puttering around in the garden, kitchen, or art studio, while raising three wonderful, rascally little boys.

Sara Bailey

Tech Director

Sara is the Tech Director here at Pierce. She grew up in The-middle-of-nowhere, Alaska, and although she misses the mountains from time to time, Indiana has definitely become home. Sara's an '09 Taylor grad and is currently pursuing a Master's in Organizational Leadership while working at Tree of Life Bookstores in Marion. In her free time, she's a freelance costume designer and loves all things theatre. On the weekend you might find her drinking coffee with pals, smelling candles at Anthropologie, or curled up on her couch watching Netflix with a bowl of ice cream.

Don & Judi Knudsen

Small Group Coordinators

Don and Judi Knudsen are our Small Group coordinators on staff. They have been married for 49 years and have 2 children and 6 grandchildren. Don and Judi have had interesting careers with Don serving in the Navy as a salvage and demolition diver. After the military, he was involved in the oil industry, the insurance industry and finance industry, eventually winding up enjoying corporate life in downtown Manhattan. His career ended as a Professor of Business, teaching at Taylor and Bryan College in Tennessee at which time he retired. Judi was a physical education teacher during the beginning of her professional career, enjoyed being a stay at home mom for 20 years and retired from teaching as a science teacher. In the middle of their professional lives, they purchased and operated a campground in Upstate New York for 20 years and enjoyed the opportunity to hold church services, teach Bible Studies, and host Vacation Bible Schools while maintaining a full recreational schedule. They have been retired since 2009 and love to travel in their motor home throughout the US and spend time with family.

Adam Miller

Director of Youth Ministries

Adam is the Director of Youth Ministries here at our church and joined the team in August 2017 after serving as a volunteer for various children’s ministry roles. He grew up locally in the Upland area and has always found Indiana home. Adam is the father of one wonderful daughter, Jaeli. They enjoy bike rides, road trips, and exploring together. You may also find him at Jaeli’s sporting events, in the workshop fixing things, or lending a hand whenever needed. During the day, you will find Adam serving others and building relationships with people in his sales role with Kirby Risk Electrical Supply.

“My goal is to pursue God's calling of loving and encouraging our youth and their unique personalities; helping them develop Biblical concepts of self-image, a meaningful prayer life, and cultivate their personal relationships with Jesus Christ!”