Staff
Senior Pastor
Nelson Jenkins
Pastor Nelson grew up in New England and Indianapolis while Susie grew up in southern California and northeast Texas. They met and married in the middle in Omaha, Nebraska, where Nelson served in the Air Force and Susie attended Bible College. They have been gifted 4 beautiful children and one son-in-law, all grown adults living within a 4-hour drive from Meriden!
God used the influence of a godly mother and the impact of Nelson's high school youth group leader to stir his heart towards full-time ministry. He began volunteering with his church's youth group in 1983 and for the last 29 years has served as youth/associate pastor in the Chicago area; Blair, NE; Rochester, NY and Dubuque, IA. He came to MEFC in 2021 as the interim pastor for 8 months. The Lord then sent him to a church in Sheldon, IA for 5 months before calling him back to serve MEFC as full-time pastor on February 1, 2023
Acts 20:28 sums up his heart for ministry. "So guard yourselves and God's people. Feed and shepherd God's flock - HIS church, purchased with his own blood - over which the Holy Spirit has appointed you as leaders."
Pastor Pete came to MEFC in 2014. He is married to Kimber, and they have five children. He grew up all over the Midwest and in Mongolia as a missionary kid. Pete married Kimber while attending Southwest Baptist University where he graduated with a youth ministry degree in 2006. He served part-time at Marshalltown EFC and full-time at Prairie Creek Church in Iowa working with teens and their families. Pete has a passion for reaching the next generation for Christ, and enjoys helping people make disciples who in turn make Jesus-like disciples.
