The Board of Deacons manages the business of the church and provides counsel and mutual assistance in the administration of the business and work of the assembly. Together with the Elders, they form the Joint Committee and work with the Pastoral Staff as the leadership team of WCAG. The following members make up our current Board of Deacons:
PHIL DEVEER
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deveerfam@att.net
I accepted Christ as my Lord and Savior and was baptized at the age of 8. I practically grew up in the Church and had many great experiences, including serving as a summer missionary while in high school. In college, I earned a BS in Computer Science from Ole Miss and upon graduation was commissioned as an officer in the Navy, serving for 6 years of active duty. I was ordained as a Deacon in 1990 in a Baptist church in Rhode Island, where I also met my wife of 23 years, Tracy. We have one daughter, Sarah, who is attending Truman State University. While living in Virginia, I also served as a Deacon in another Baptist church for multiple terms. In 2009, we relocated from Virginia to St. Louis and in 2011 we began attending WCAG and made it our church home. I am a member of the church orchestra, playing for worship services, and I regularly attend the Wednesday night prayer meeting. My spiritual gifts are in worship, giving, helping, and intercessory prayer. My hobbies include family genealogy research, reading, and playing the trombone. |
JOHN ELLIOTT
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jelliott@stlcc.edu
John Elliott has been attending WCAG with his wife, Shari, and three boys for about two and a half years. During that time John has been involved with several ministries at WCAG. He has worked the most with the Junior Bible Quiz program, and he is currently the coach for one of the A-league teams. He loves helping kids put God’s word in their hearts. John and Shari also teach 3rd and 4th grade Sunday school at WCAG and previously worked with the pre-K/Kindergarten class during second service. Before coming to West County, John had also served as a small group leader, co-taught an adult Sunday school class, ran the projector/light booth, and helped in children’s church.John grew up in the Assemblies of God. His parents were pastors in northern Missouri for a few years and then became missionaries in Africa where they are currently serving their last term. John spent 6 years in Zimbabwe with them before going to Evangel University in Springfield. In 2004, John moved to the St. Louis area after accepting a mathematics faculty position at St. Louis Community College. When he is not working, John enjoys spending time with his boys: Josh, Ben , and Isaac. They enjoy playing board games, soccer, baseball, table tennis, legos, video games, and the occasional nerf gun war. John feels very blessed to call West County Assembly of God his home church, and he looks forward to furthering God’s kingdom through whatever areas of service that God chooses to open the door. |
MATT HARDECKE
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matt.hardecke@hotmail.com
Matt has attended WCAG for four years. He and his wife Jessica are residents of Ballwin. Matt was saved at the age of 4 ½ and filled with the Holy Spirit at the age of 8. He grew up in the Assemblies of God (Steelville MO); attending camps, retreats and was active in Royal Rangers, youth groups and Bible Quiz. In college, he was actively involved with Chi Alpha and campus ministry. Matt has a rich heritage in the Assemblies of God with family members engaged in the Pentecostal movement back four generations. He has been involved with leading a Sunday School class for young adults at WCAG. He has also been active in volunteering for events like the Harvest Festival (hayride guy), Women’s Tea, church work days and anything else needed. Matt has a business management degree from the University of Missouri’s College of Agriculture and his MBA from Webster University. He is Vice President of Agriculture and Commercial Lending at Eagle Bank and Trust. |
CHERIAN KURIAN - Chairperson
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boneyck@gmail.com
I have been attending WCAG for close to 5 years. I’m married to my beautiful wife Sonia Chacko & we have 2 beautiful girls, Anica and Shauna. I grew up in India and was raised in an Orthodox Syrian Christian family. During my freshman year in college a friend started witnessing to me about Jesus, heaven, hell, born-again Christianity etc. Half the things he said did not make sense but I for sure did not want to end up in hell. I kept pushing him away but he was consistent. Finally my friend asked me to accompany him to an open air crusade & at the crusade on Saturday, January 26th, 1991, I decided to give my life to God. My parents got wind of my new found faith and were very upset with me. I was no longer attending the Orthodox Church but was part of a born-again church. This was almost a taboo in our culture. I was looked down upon by family, friends & society. as time passed, they began to see God’s hand upon my life & soon began to respect my faith. Today my parents are extremely happy to see my faith & ask me to intercede for the needs of our family. |
VIKRAM PEDAPUDI
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vikram_pedapudi@yahoo.com
My wife Silvia and I have attended WCAG since 2004 when we moved to St. Louis from New York. Since then, WCAG has been a family to us. I have been married to Silvia for 15 years and we are blessed with Abigail (11) and Josh (6). As the word says in 1 Peter 4: 10 “Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms”. I am blessed serving in several ministries at WCAG: Co-lead Agape International Fellowship, Play Guitar in Worship band, Work on the sound board in the audio/visual department, love to sing in the Choir, One of the founders of Telugu Christian Fellowship and Worship Leader in TCF. My wife Silvia coaches JBQ team and serves in the Nursing home ministry. I hold an MBA degree and have been working in IT for 18 years, currently working as an IT Delivery Manager. As a family, we choose to serve the Lord joyfully with all of our mind, all of our soul and all of our strength taking Romans 12:11 as inspiration-“Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord”. Regardless, we choose to serve the Lord and be part of WCAG’s ministries to the best of our abilities. |
MIKE ROSS
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mrossco@live.com
I've been attending West County since 2007, when my wife, Rhea, and I first started dating. Since then, I've grown to know West County as my family. Rhea and I are passionate about food, so we often volunteer in the kitchen. You might have seen us working and organizing the food for events such as Birthday Party for Jesus, Wednesday Night Dinners (when we had them), Star-Spangled Spectacular, the Church Picnic, etc. But, that's not the only area we like to serve. Rhea and I have committed our lives to service in whichever capacity the church needs us. Most recently, we've organized a Sunday School class for our Young Adults. |
MARK STILLER - Treasurer
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mhstiller@sbcglobal.net
My wife Judy and I have attended WCAG since 1998. My son Adam was invited by a friend to attend the youth group at WCAG and found genuine believers who were serious about their faith. We found the same, along with a head pastor who preached from the Word (and graduated from the same engineering school I did). God has continued to use WCAG to make an eternal difference in my life and in the lives of my family. We have two children who both found their spouses in the youth group here. Adam married Misty Aldridge and they are the parents of our grandchildren, Penelope, Silas, Amos and Evangeline. My daughter Christy married Matt Friesen and they are the parents of our grandson, Elijah. I grew up in church. Both my parents had a strong faith that they modeled daily. I seek to do the same. As a member of WCAG I participated in 10 Mexico Mission trips, numerous church work days, volunteered at Gobble Wobble, attended Pastor John’s Sunday school class, and was a pastor’s prayer partner. I am a regular member of the Tuesday morning men’s bible study (15 years running), work in the projection ministry, and lead the Royal Ranger ministry. I had been involved for twenty years in Boy Scouts but switched to Royal Rangers three years ago in response to the call for help. I love working with the boys and watching them grow, but most of all I love to work for Jesus wherever He provides the opportunity and leading to serve Him. My spiritual gifts are Service, Helps, Wisdom and Teaching. I have previously served two terms as a deacon in my former church. I am excited about what God is doing at WCAG and look forward to serving in whatever role God may lead. |
