Pastor Alex was born and raised in Elkhart, Indiana and is a 1982 graduate of Concord Community Schools. He was baptized, confirmed, and raised, in Trinity UMC in Elkhart. It was during his senior year of high school that he received his call to ministry. He attended Ball State University and Bethel College (Mishawaka, IN), and Christian Theological Seminary pursuant to ordination in 1991. Pastor Alex and his wife, Carla, have been married 27 years and have three children.

They come to Speedway UMC from Mt. Comfort UMC in Greenfield where Pastor Alex served for 2 years. Prior to that, he served in the more northern part of the state, most notably in Hobart and Hammond in the northwest corner of the state. Pastor Alex brings a strong set of leadership skills to Speedway including, preaching, teaching, and motivating others for service in the community.

Favorite Movie: Harry Potter series
Favorite Book: Writings by Marcus Borg, John Shelby Spong, Bart Ehrman, Philip Gulley, and James Mulholland, and others who come from a progressive theological background
Favorite Sports Team: Detroit Lions
Favorite Vacation Destination: Montego Bay, Jamaica
Favorite Restaurant: Any kind of pizza!

Why Work for Speedway UMC?

Although I was appointed to Speedway by Indiana Area Bishop Julius Trimble, my leadership style and experience serving like-minded churches make us a good “fit.” Actually, when I found out two years ago that I was being appointed to the Indy area, I researched some of the UMC’s in the area and thought, “Speedway seems like a good place for my gifts and abilities.” Soon afterward I was told I was going to be serving Mt. Comfort in Greenfield. While there I worked closely with Pastor Ethan Maple to merge the church he was serving and the church I was serving. Once that was completed, It was time for me to move on . . . to Speedway.

What is your most exciting moment to Date at Speedway UMC?

Getting to play guitar with the Praise Team during worship . . . specifically when we played, “Come As You Are,” by Nirvana. 

What most excites you about the future of Speedway UMC?

I am most excited about growing the influence of the presence of God in the Speedway community through following Jesus’ example of taking God’s love to the streets. Churches have fallen victim to the “if you build it, they will come” mentality. The reality is the Church needs to be where the people need to experience God’s love the most – homeless shelters, food pantries, women’s shelters, rescuing people from human/sex trafficking, and so much more.