In the providence of God, John Yoder was born into a Christian home with good evangelical roots and gracious influences.  While a very young boy, he was converted by the power of the Lord.  And in hindsight he can see the Lord’s preserving and sanctifying work, thereafter.

 He went to Wheaton College and received a B.A. in Business/Economics.  During this time, he spent a summer in South Africa where he was exposed to various aspects of missionary work.  This led him to pursue an M. Div. at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School.

 After graduation, John and his wife Suzanne spent a month in Central Asia doing ‘humanitarian’ work.  Soon, he accepted an invitation to pastor a small mostly rural Evangelical Free Church north of the Twin Cities in Minnesota.

 While laboring there, he came to a fuller understanding of the Reformed faith.  Beyond the doctrines of grace, the Lord taught him about worship, evangelism, and church order, etc. according to the Scriptures. Unable to stay in his position, the Lord led him to the church in Rockford, Illinois where he continued to learn under the wise oversight of the elders.

He worked in finance for about two years before he was asked to help the church planting effort in Milwaukee, WI which he did full-time for almost two years.  As one of the four elders at GRBC, he has continued to do his part in shepherding the flock.

 John and his wife Suzanne have four children, Caleb, Annika, Ethan and Gabriel.  He enjoys a good book, a good cup of coffee, a good walk (while possibly playing golf) and a good conversation.