Our Team
The staff and leadership here at New Mercy is comprised of men and women who love, care and pray for every single person in the church. If you have any questions for any of our staff and leadership team, feel free to reach out and call or email our church office to speak with someone. You can contact the church office at office@newmercyworshipcenter.org or 217.235.6550.
Staff & Leadership
Ed and Marynelle Stephens
Lead Pastors
Pastor Ed Stephens pioneered New Mercy Worship Center in July 2006, shortly afterward he met and married his wife, Marynelle, and together they pastor this young growing local church. Ed is a lifetime resident of the Mattoon IL area and has been in the ministry for over 40 years. He is a true evangelistic-style preacher with the heart of the Shepherd. The thrust of his ministry is to see people saved, delivered from addiction and other bondages, and to live life to the full.
Marynelle is a transplant from St. Louis MO. In 1987, she graduated from Rhema Bible Training Center in Broken Arrow OK and is licensed and ordained through Rhema Ministerial Association International. The passion of her heart is to see the Body of Christ grow up in all things, to the full expression of Christ Jesus who is the Head of the Church.
Bill and rebecca Augenstein
assistant Pastor
Pastor Bill has been on staff with New Mercy since 2013. He is from the Stewardson-Strausberg area. He is a man of many talents: from bull-rider to basketball player, from the assembly line to pastor -- he has done it all!
Bill holds a Bachelors of Arts degree in Biblical Studies and specialized in the Old Testament. Before coming to New Mercy, He and Rebecca pastored for over 5 years near Edgewood, IL. He has a passion for teaching the Word of God to everyone. He has been married to his lovely wife, Rebecca for 26 years. Together they have four grown children and eight darling grandchildren.
Rebecca has lived in the Mattoon area for most of her life. She came to know Jesus as a teenager. He has been her strength and guide through many difficult seasons in her life. Rebecca holds a diploma in Biblical Studies from the University of Christian Studies in Eagle River, AK.
She loves to teach the Word of God and has ministered to adults and children of all ages. Rebecca now serves full-time on the New Mercy Praise Team and is willing to help wherever she is needed.
Brian Duncan
Worship Director
Brian has been leading the New Mercy Praise Team since 2012. Together, he and the team have consistently led the congregation into joyful high energy praise and sincere worship.
Brian and Ronda have been married for 33 years, they have three wonderful children and eight equally as wonderful grandchildren. “When we walked in the doors of New Mercy for the first time, we knew we had found our Home church!” And it has been their “home” ever since. In the time since that first Sunday, the Lord has done amazing things, many of their family members have been born again, healed and restored. When we are where God wants us to be, He brings His plans for us to pass and amazing things always happen!
John and mary Pickering
Spiritual Recovery directors
After 40 years of alcohol and drug abuse, which lead to 8 years of cocaine addiction, John found himself at the local drug and alcohol treatment center with no hope of a better life.
On December 21st, 2005, at the age of 54, he met Jesus for the fist time and accepted Him as his Savior and Lord. At that moment John was delivered from his old way of life, including his drug and alcohol addiction without any withdrawal. From that moment on, he began his new life in Christ. He regularly shares his story of how Jesus changes lives forever!
He and Mary have been married for eleven years and the Lord has given them many opportunities to share with other alcoholics and addicts the Good News of how Jesus cleanses and changes lives. All the glory belongs to God!
Mary started using drugs and alcohol at the age of 16, she lived that lifestyle for 34 years. One day she realized that she was tired of that way of life, she wanted a new way to live. She started attending church and accepted Jesus Christ as her Lord and Savior. Her passion is to reach out to others who are addicted to drugs and alcohol and help them towards freedom through Christ.
Linda Mckerrow
Breaking Chains Director
Linda and her husband Scott joined the New Mercy family back in 2008. Some time later, she was approached by Pastors Ed and Marynelle concerning the need for a ministry that helped women who have and are surviving abuse: mental, physical and sexual. Linda sought the Lord, and shared her story of how she survived abuse. She decided to accept this great calling through prayer and was excited to see what God had in store.
At Breaking Chains, women share their experiences and check what the Word of God says about each situation. They encourage one another, and have witnessed many "Cha-Ching" moments as chains are broken and they experience the God-given freedom Jesus paid for!
