Meet the Staff

Pastor Fred Prince

Fred Prince,
Senior Pastor
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Fred Prince, Senior Pastor, joined Springfield First on May 22, 2005.  Fred came to Springfield First from Union Lake, Michigan.  He has served in the Nazarene Church since the invention of the wheel!  He and his wife, Teri, have been married for 32 years and have 3 children, Nate, Ashley Chismark, and Lauren.

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Pastor Gregg and his wife, Tammy

Gregg Sowards,
Worship and Arts Pastor
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Gregg Sowards, Minister of Worship & Arts, has been in music ministry since traveling as a young boy with his family. He has served in the Church of the Nazarene as a worship and arts pastor for 20 years. Before coming to Springfield Nazarene he served as the worship pastor in Highland, Indiana and Mason, Michigan. He and his wife Tammy have been married for 22 years and they have three beautiful children, Kelsey, Tyler and Chad. The Sowards came to First Church in August 2000 from Mason, Michigan.

Office Manager Jean Pickett

Jean Pickett
Office Manager
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Jean Pickett, Office Manager, grew up in Springfield, Illinois where she graduated from Ursuline Academy. Jean manages the never ending ministries and functions of a church office and has a love for people. She and husband, Ernie have 3 married children and routinely spoil their 9 grandchildren. Jeanie Mae began her extended ministry at First Church in May 1990.

Youth Pastor Jay Bush and Family

Jay Bush
Youth Pastor
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My name is Jay Bush and I am the new Youth Pastor here at Springfield First. I have been involved in Youth Ministry since 1994.

When I was 15 years old, I accepted God’s call to the ministry. To fulfill that call, I attended Olivet Nazarene University where I graduated with a B.A. in Religion, and then earned a Master of Divinity degree at Nazarene Theological Seminary.

During our freshman year at Olivet, I met my wife Roxanne, and we were married in May of 1995. Our beautiful daughter Easton was born while I was in Seminary. Yes it is true – she is named after a softball bat! Our “little man,” Austin, (Roxanne wouldn’t let me name him “Nike”) joined the family in 2002. He keeps our life very interesting.

I love playing with my kids, watching sports, following the Michigan Wolverines, and working with students…not necessarily in that order!

I want to see our students love God with everything they’ve got; live out their relationship with God everywhere they go; and have a passion for their friends to come to know Christ. That is what God wants for us.

Looking forward to sharing this journey with you,

Pastor Jay