The staff and leadership here at Christ The Rock Lutheran Church is comprised of men and women who love, care and pray for every single person in the church. If you have any questions for any of our staff, feel free to reach out and email them or call our church office to speak with them.
Staff and Leadership Team
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James McCoid - Senior Pastor
I grew up in a Christian home; and my parents kept me involved in church as far back as I can remember-I am deeply grateful to my parents for this upbringing and the loving home they provided.
It was not until college that I really had to confront my beliefs and the big questions in life. Studying biology and chemistry for pre-med, I was faced with questions about the origin and meaning of life. This forced me to ask if I believed what I had grown up believing. After 4 years of working through these issues with the help of friends and trusted professors I came to see the coherence of my Christian faith and had grown in my awe of God.
Upon graduation I did not pursue a medical degree, but enrolled at Concordia Seminary, in Saint Louis. After 3 years of study, 1 year studying at Cambridge, and a yearlong internship I received my Master of Divinity degree. I was not quite done though. I stayed an additional 2 years and finished up a Master of Sacred Theology degree, focusing on the biblical languages and the development of scripture.
During this time I met my wife Brandy, who also received a graduate degree from Concordia in theology (my beauty is a geek!) We were married July 16th, 2005. We currently have 4 beautiful children: Clara, William, Adella, and Jack.
In 2007 we took our first call to Immanuel Lutheran in Crystal Lake, Ill. I served there as assistant pastor for 3 years. From 2010-2014 I served at Community of Faith to help restart the congregation with a group of 10-12 people. In 2015-2022 I headed just a bit further north to the Madison area, to help restart Community of Life. In each of these places we have loved our time and the people we were so blessed to meet and walk with. Mentors, friends, heroes, defenders, and advisors in each-God is so faithful!
We are excited to be here in Rockford now. The diversity of people, ages and backgrounds are a great opportunity to see what God is accomplishing through Christ the Rock. The past few years have been a significant reset in life as individuals and as a culture. I am proud and honored to be part of the Christ the Rock family as we figure out ways to love and walk alongside people, with Jesus as our leader.
To God be the Glory!
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Doreen Peterson - Preschool Director
Doreen is not only our Preschool Director, but she is our Preschool Teacher as well. She is from the Rockford area, a graduate of Rock Valley College, and is an active member of CTR. Doreen has been a blessing to many children as their teacher over the last 18 years. The children's smiles fill our hallways as they come to school and love their class with Mrs. Peterson!
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Tammy Modrzejewski - Office Administrator
Tammy feels God has placed her at CTR (again) to utilize her office skills for God's glory. When you call or stop in you will be greeted with a smile and a warm hello. She keeps our office records organized, prepares our reports and paperwork for worship, and assists the Church and Preschool Administration.
Tammy has been married to her husband and best friend Todd for 30 years. They have four children, who were all confirmed here at CTR. She is also a grandmother of 5. Her leisure hours are spent taking care of her parents who reside with her, enjoying her grandchildren, gardening, and sitting on the deck watching her Koi pond.
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Sam Kemp - Music Co-Director
Sam has always had a love for music. He started playing guitar when he was a freshman in high school and went on to perform, write, and record music with bands and independently over the years. Sam began coming to CTR in the summer of 2021 with the Kugath family. After befriending one of the vacancy Pastors he was inspired to find his calling and purpose. Through that journey God was faithful and began to work in ways he never imagined. Sam is married to Cortney (Kugath) and works as the Director of Male Education at the Rockford Pregnancy Center. As a Co-Director of Contemporary Worship Music at CTR Sam is excited to bring a fresh new perpesctive, and is blessed to be a part of the CTR family.
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David Murphy - Music Co-Director
David comes from a long music background which started at the age of 3 years old. He was singing in choirs in church and school from then through highschool. At the age of 13, he introduced the youth praise team to First Presbyterian Church of Belvidere IL which he was a part of from 2006 - 2014. God has continuously called to David through music. For the past 7 1/2 years, David had served as a worship leader in Southern Illinois during school for Zion Lutheran Church of Bethalto IL and assisted with a mobile church, New Hope, as a drummer/worship leader. In February 2022, he returned home to Rockford with his wife, Ericka, and their son Andrew to be close to their families. By the invitation of Samuel Kemp and Pastor Jim McCoid, David is now welcomed as the Co-Worship Leader, bringing his love for music and worship to join our family here at CTR. David is also sharing the role with Sam with a new perspective on contemporary worship and the continuing growth through God's grace we have here at CTR!
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Sue Harder - Preschool Assistant
