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Sheila Straka Founder & Director, Light & Life Ministries Sheila considers herself ordinary with an extraordinary God! She has been married over 40 years and has three grown children and sixteen grandchildren. Sheila believe their most important job is spending time with God, each other and their family. Sheila directs Light and Life Ministries mobilizing praise, prayer and evangelism in the Elgin area and beyond. The theme of their ministry is "By His Grace and for His Glory." Sheila has a heart for revival and spiritual awakening in America. She is presently developing Elgin's House of Prayer for the Nations, a Prayer Center and Compass Regional Training Center. Sheila has been a prayer leader for conferences on local, regional and national levels – including Family Life Conferences, Promise Keepers, Women in Evangelism-AD 2000, March for Jesus, Faith Works -Youth for Christ and Chicago Pastors Prayer Summits. Recently she has worked with Anne Graham Lotz and Just Give Me Jesus. Sheila has also served on prayer teams with Missions America, for Luis Palau, and others. She often shares at conferences and retreats.
Cathy Carter Director of Daily Operations, Light & Life Ministries Cathy Carter has a heart for praise & worship that she has imparted to all three of her now grown children as well as others. She served as March for Jesus Regional Coordinator and worship leader for regional on- site prayer teams in Elgin and Chicago. She presently leads a worship team at EHOP playing guitar and singing. Cathy teaches piano and guitar at CFAA. She is married to Pastor Phil Carter. She loves her God, her family and serving at her church and Light & Life Ministries.
Stephen Carter Director of Worship, Light & Life Ministries Stephen is serving as the Director of Worship at Light and Life Ministries. He joined the leadership team in 2003 and graduated from Judson College in 2005 with a B.A. in Worship Arts. His passion is for the fullness of God to be released in our day, and his desire is that “radical” Christianity would become the norm. Part of his energies spent at Light and Life include raising up others in the ministry of worship. Stephen is also the worship leader at his home church in Elgin. scarter@light-life-ministries.org
Joyce Pfitzinger Intercession- Light & Life Ministries
Joyce is a worshipper and
lover of Jesus, a mother, grandmother, an intercessor and teacher. Joyce has
been part of Elgin’s House of Prayer for the past 12 years. She continues as
intercessor and director of missions at her church in Elgin as well as
Light & Life Ministries.
Trish Hoffman
Cindy France
Assistant Director – Compass Fine Arts Academy
Director of Ballet - Melissa Martin began her Fine Arts training at a young age. She studied piano and later flute at the Chicago Conservatory. Most of her early dance training was with her mother at Valley Dance Center. Advancing rapidly she continued to study at many well known studios in Chicago including the Ruth Page Foundation, Chicago City Ballet, Ellis DuBoulay and Elizabeth Boitsov. Madame Boitsov is a graduate of the State Ballet School and State Bolshoi University in Moscow. Melissa was selected to train for the International Ballet Competition and studied in New York City with Madame Darvash. She has appeared in the full length productions of Cinderella, Coppelia, La Fille Mal Gardee, and the Nutcracker and has performed solo variations from ballets such as Don Quixote. At the age of twelve Melissa held the leading role in a student production of the Wild Swans. She then appeared with Rudolph Nuryev and the Zurich Opera Ballet. She started teaching in 1990 and especially loves imparting excellent technique to her students. As a teenager and after a dramatic transformation that took place in her parents’ lives when they dedicated themselves to God, Melissa accepted Christ as her own personal Savior and Lord. She is married to David Martin and the mother of 10 Children.
Administrative Assistant- Compass Fine Arts Academy
Kelly Knorst received her Bachelors of Science degree in Computer Science from Northern Illinois University. Shortly afterward, she married her husband, Tom, who led her to Christ. Kelly’s fond memories of ballet classes as a young girl caused her to seek the same for her daughters. At this time, she was introduced to Melissa Martin and began her families’ journey into the Fine Arts. Several years later, she joined dance classes herself and is a current student. After being involved as a parent and student, Kelly joined Compass Fine Arts Academy in the role of Administrative Assistant. Kelly and Tom have four daughters who are all involved in dance, music and art.
Art Instructor- Compass Fine Arts Academy
Michele A. Stibolt earned her Bachelor’s of Science Degree from Illinois State University with a Major in Art Education. She has an Illinois/Kane County Teaching Certificate that covers Art Instruction from K-12. She has experience teaching art at the secondary and middle school levels in Aurora at District 131 and elementary instruction at a private art school in Barrington. She continues to enhance her skills and talents by taking art and/or music classes each semester at Elgin Community College. She is accomplished in both 2-D and 3-D fine and practical art and design. She designed and decorated large scale projects for numerous local churches including Willow Creek Community Church and Vineyard Christian Fellowship of Elgin. She has also been successful in bringing creative design and vibrancy to retail stores and restaurants, as well as for individuals for weddings, anniversaries and funerals. Her floral arrangements are renowned throughout the Northwest Suburbs. Michele has a passion for encouraging and nurturing the gifts and talents in her students. In addition to her passion for art and music, she is a world traveler with an interest in other cultures and a vibrant love of God’s marvelous creation. She and her husband have four children. They reside and attend church in Elgin, where Michele also serves actively in prayer and worship and also at EHOP.
Modern Dance Instructor- Compass Fine Arts Academy
KERRY OVERLIN
began her dance training at Woodstock Ballet Studio, Judith Svalander's
Music Instructor- Compass Fine Arts Academy TAMMY WHEATLEY
has been playing the flute since she was
9 years old, also having had instruction in piano and voice. Over the past 19
years she has taught beginner piano and beginner through advanced flute. She has
sung in choirs, played and sung in ensembles and as a soloist. She holds a B.A.
in Psychology, but considers teaching a natural avenue, enjoying teaching to a
student’s individual learning style. She and her husband Paul have 3 children
and they attend church in
Music Instructor- Compass Fine Arts Academy Mark Dreyer began his music teaching career at the age of 16 as a private guitar teacher. He completed his degree in MusicEducation and Master's in Music Theory and Composition from Northern Illinois University in 2006. For 2 years, Mark taught grades K-12 band, choir and general music in the Paw Paw public schools. He has 4 years of experience teaching saxophone lessons through the NIU Community School of the Arts, and several years of experience as a self-employed lessons teacher on many instruments. Mark has taken violin lessons from Sheri Lee, Miguel DePablo and Lori Rodriguez. He has been leading and training worship teams and gospel choirs in various churches in the DeKalb and Chicago areas since 2002. He has also been sent as a music teacher on mission trips to Hong Kong, Israel and Uganda, where he started a music school to train worship teams and church choirs in the summers of 2007 and 2008.
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