MEET THE ELDERS OF THE BOARD

My name is Mike Dickens. I have been a member of Found Church since nearly the beginning. My acceptance of Christ as my savior occurred at a very young age. I was blessed to be raised in a Godly home. My parents were missionaries in Kenya East Africa for 32 years and I spent 15 years growing up there. My faith became more real to me as I became older and started making serious choices about my life and who/what I would serve. I love Jesus and talk to him every day. He leads and guides me and I sometimes follow in an imperfect way. Daily he continues to lead, instruct and teach me the importance of loving him and loving others. It is an honor to serve this beautiful church as a member of the board.

My name is Jennifer French, and I have been a part of Found Church from near the beginning. I currently serve on the worship team and on the board here at Found. I can’t remember a time I didn’t know about Jesus, but I truly made him my Lord about 25 years ago. My life has had several twists, turns, and unexpected events just like others I’m sure, but Jesus has always remained constant and steadfast. My passion is to keep learning more about Him and His love as time goes on.

Knowing and loving the One True God is the most wild, humbling, and meaningful life we could ever have. Though this life has twisty turny roads of trials, traumas, and brokenness, Immanuel is promised; God With Us.

Being a part of the Found family has been a season of deepened faith, fuller freedom, and extravagant love; transformation, resurrection! My husband, Nate, and I, as well as our two children, have been cared for, encouraged, challenged, and built up by the gift that is Found Church. Serving you as a board member has been a beautiful opportunity for which I’m incredibly grateful. What a joy it is to be involved in building God’s kingdom right here, right now, through our Intercessors team and Ladies’ Coffee Hour. Walking out the journey of finding faith, freedom, and love with you all is unbelievable. And to be honest, I would absolutely love the chance to sit down and have coffee with you!

Hey Found Family,

My journey to Found Church came through an invitation from Chris to join the core teamof four couples to help plan and implement the vision of Found one year prior to its first service. Two things brought us to Found Church. Number one was a desire to be actively involved and grow our (Kristi and I) faith, trust, and commitment more than we have in the past. The second was our own kids were challenging us through their different ministries to do more, trust more and expect more from God. Both our desire to grow and Chris’s vision to Lead and Love the Diverse Community of Jackson, Michigan was the impetus we needed for to join the church. I have led worship and have served on the board since the birth of the church. I am excited to see what God has for the future of Found Church!!

I grew up in Jackson and after my husband Jack was in the Air Force, we returned home, and I finished my Bachelor's Degree at Spring Arbor College and Master's at Spring Arbor University. I recently retired after working at daVinci Schools since it opened in 1995. I was a HS Math Teacher, HS Principal, and Superintendent. I became a committed Christian as a student at Spring Arbor College, but it wasn't until God brought me to Found Church that I realized what I was missing in my relationship with Jesus. I absolutely FOUND a bigger GOD than I had ever known. More loving, more grace, more patience, and a deeper, more intimate understanding of all GOD has when we learn how to listen and open our heart to all HE has for us. I have attended Found since it opened, and served in Nursery and Rooted, Hospitality, Clothing Closet, and recently joined the Finance Committee. If elected to the Elder Board, I am committed to serving God and Found Church, and use my administrative experience to help lead and work toward God's mission for Found.

From a young age, I have always felt a close connection to God. However, it was during my time at Spring Arbor College and the guidance of my best friend and future wife, Julie, that my journey with Christ truly began. Since then, Jesus has blessed our lives together in countless ways. Words cannot fully express the blessings that the Holy Spirit continues to bestow upon my family and extended family. All my praise and devotion belong to the Lord! Since the fall of 2021, Julie and I have been attending Found Church, where we are honored to help lead the Found Food Pantry. It brings us joy to serve alongside such a passionate, Christ-centered community of believers. Personally, God continues to guide me on a journey of spiritual growth with Jesus. Through the precious Word of God and the guidance of the Holy Spirit, I have discovered that the foundation of my life is rooted in the profound truth that I am a beloved child of God. He consistently reminds me that my identity and worth are not determined by anything the world offers or dictates but by what Jesus accomplished for me on the cross. This truth grounds me and fuels my prayers for His wisdom and my desire to grow closer to Him.

It has been an incredible honor to serve as Secretary of the Board and Chair of the Finance and Personnel Committee at Found. With a spiritual gift of administration, I’ve found so much joy in using that gift to support and strengthen the church behind the scenes. God has truly been at work—through Found, through our people, and through the relationships that have become like family to me. Serving in children's ministry and walking alongside others in faith has deeply shaped my journey. I’ve found true sisters in Christ here—women who have prayed over me, cried with me, and cheered me on—and I’ve been equally blessed by the privilege of praying over others. Watching God move through this community and Found Church is nothing short of inspiring. I have a heart for our community here in Jackson and believe that my calling—to both my workplace and the church—isn’t always about doing a specific task. It’s about being available, showing up where God is leading, and shining His light. Whether in a meeting room or a Sunday classroom, I simply want to be where He is and be a part of what He’s doing.

From the very first time I heard about Found Church, I was drawn to the mission and vision. Long before Found existed, God put a call on my life to do the hard work of breaking down the barriers that prevent unity among people. I have been honored to be a part of the first board of Found Church which has given me the opportunity to be involved in breaking barriers within our community. The Find Group our family started has been a source of building meaningful relationship. I enjoy serving as a leader with Found Youth, in the Equity & Diversity Group, as a part of the Storytellers Ministry, and as a part of the Audio Visual team for Sunday mornings.

My name is TuWann Worthey and I have been attending Found Church since the fall of 2021. I became a member in the summer of 2022. I serve on the hospitality team and the equity and diversity committee. I was made aware of Found Church when the services were held at Cascades Park. I remember passing by the service and thinking, wow, what a bold and courageous group of people who are living their faith out loud. Later, a friend told me she attended Found so I decided to attend one Sunday. As a teenager, I was introduced to God and baptized. However, after my first service at Found, I never looked back. I knew in my heart God had something greater in store for me, especially after experiencing the abundance of love and friendliness while being a visitor. My walk of obedience to God and devoting myself to learning his will and purpose for my life began shortly after attending the first service. I know that God has expanded my desire to encounter his love experientially, relationally, and intimately. This is just the beginning. I wait patiently with great expectation to participate in his plan for my life! I enjoy being of service to others and allowing God's work in me to be evident. Joining the board would continue to stretch me and allow me to be used to serve the Kingdom of God.