Hello, I'm Ken Burgard, the associate pastor at Aldersgate Methodist Church. I've been serving the Lord in full time ministry for over 8 years working with after-school programs, youth ministry, preaching, teaching, and training for the pastoral ministry. I hail from Springfield, Illinois, and am really looking forward to ministry here in Marion Illinois, and have just finished my Master of Divinity at the University of Dubuque Theological Seminary.

I have a deep love for theology and church history. I love a good story in any form, be it film, fiction, or just a good one to share over lunch. I believe that our imagination should play a crucial role in our faith formation. God is a creative God and we have been made a creative people.

I'm a teacher at heart. I love to see Christians digging in and getting excited about growing closer to God. I believe that for Christians today. The bible doesn't need to be intimidating, there are many very learnable disciplines that help us to approach God, our culture is full of great stories that resonate Christ, and we have a rich past that can teach us if we're willing to look there.

Ken Burgard, Associate Pastor