Leadership

Pastors  |  Deacons  |  Staff

ELDER

Pastor Will Pareja

Lead Pastor • Elder

How long have you been at Addison? Since 2012
Married since: 2002 to Rachel
Children: W. Haddon, Gabrielle, and Jacob
Favorite pizza in Chicago: Bartoli's
Favorite restaurant in Roscoe Village: Sinya Mediterranean Grill
Born: Cartagena, Colombia
Raised: Chicagoland
Education: BA/MA in Biblical Studies; Master of Divinity
Favorite book of the Bible: Hebrews
First book recommendation (outside of the Bible): The Gospel by Ray Ortlund, Jr.
Favorite sport: CrossFit (and whatever interests my kids)
Responsibilities at Addison: Member; Pastor- ministry of Word and prayer; shepherding; training leaders
Favorite Podcast: The Church Politics Podcast & Work Life with Adam Grant
I was born into a moderately devout Catholic home in Cartagena, Colombia. Several years later, after my parents came back to the United States, a faithful neighbor friend invited my mother to study the Bible with her. Within six months, Jesus Christ had saved my mom out of a works-based understanding of salvation, right here in Chicago. God graciously saved my dad, too, shortly thereafter. A few years later, I attended a summer vacation Bible school where the college-aged, fire-and-brimstone preacher called us to faith and repentance. The Holy Spirit deeply convicted me out of my self-righteous salvation project at that time and brought me to repentance and faith in Christ as a 10-year-old.  

Rachel and I met in our mid-20s during my graduate school years in South Carolina. We married in the winter of 2002. God graced me, and gave me one of my greatest means for survival in her! God brought along our firstborn, William Haddon, while serving him in Mexico in 2003. We passed through a bitter providence with the stillbirth of Nicolas Augusto in 2006. God in his kindness and mercy, however, blessed us with Gabrielle Analise in 2007. Then, Jacob Martin rounded out our team in 2014. Our home has been a theatre of Christ’s redemption. We love to play, sing and dance together and have a ton of fun.

God led us to Addison Street Community Church through one of my closest friends, Kevin Oberlin, whose parents, Ralph & Mary, came to faith through this church over 40 years ago. I've been privileged to lead this church since November 2012.

DEACONS

Lucas Hertz

Deacon • Director of Music & Media 

How long have you been at Addison? Since 2019
Family: Married to Carol since 2014, daughter Sophie (b: 2021)
Favorite pizza in Chicago: Bartoli's Pizza
Favorite restaurant in Roscoe Village: McDonalds. Just kidding. Probably would  go again with Bartoli's Pizza.
Born and Raised: Born in 1992. Porto Alegre, Brazil
Education: Bachelor Degree in Graphic Design
Favorite Book of the Bible: Galatians
Favorite Movie: Unbreakable (2014)
First Book Recommendation: More Than a Carpenter - Josh D. McDowell, Sean McDowell
Favorite musical artist: Hillsong Worship, Anberlin, Thrice, Oficina G3, Asaph Borba
Hero: Jesus.
Favorite Sport: Soccer
Responsibilities at Addison: Serve by leading the congregation in worship.

Javier Cortez 

Deacon 

How long have you been at Addison? Since 2021
Born and raised: Reno, Nevada
Education: Moody Bible Institute, Pastoral Studies
Favorite books of the Bible: Leviticus and Hebrews
First book recommendation outside the Bible: Worship Community and the Triune God of Grace - J.B Torrence
Favorite sport: Baseball
Favorite podcast: Cultish by Apologia Studios
Favorite musical artists: Keith and Kristen Getty, Luke Combs, Sovereign Grace Music.
Favorite pizza in Chicago: Bartoli’s Pizzeria
Favorite restaurant in Roscoe Village: Burrito House
Role at Addison: Deacon + Pastoral Intern

Annie Morton 

Deacon 

How long have you been at Addison? Since 2021
Favorite pizza in Chicago: So far, D'agostino's
Favorite restaurant in the church neighborhood:  Taqueria El Asadero. Best. Tacos. Ever.
Born + raised: Reno, Nevada
Education: Moody Bible Institute with a Bachelor of Arts in Human Services
Favorite book of the Bible: 1 Samuel
First book recommendation outside the Bible:  Delighting in the Trinity by Michael Reeves
Favorite sport: To watch, Football; to play, Tennis
Favorite podcast:  The Elisabeth Elliot Podcast
Favorite musical artists: City Alight, Bread (I promise, it's a real band)
Roles at Addison: Deaconess + Ministry Intern

Eric Gendron 

Deacon 

How long have you been at Addison? Since 2020
Favorite pizza in Chicago: Lou Malnatis
Favorite restaurant in Roscoe Village: Village Tap
Born: Fort Wayne, Indiana
Raised: Bryan, Ohio
Education: Moody Bible Institute with a bachelor's in Youth Ministry and a minor in Bible
Favorite book of the Bible: Romans
First book recommendation outside the Bible: A recent favorite of mine has to be Desiring God by John Piper
Favorite sport: Ultimate Frisbee.
Favorite Podcast: Chicago's Gospel Podcast. Outside of that I listen to Mike Winger.
Favorite musical artist: Phil Wickham
Role at Addison: Deacon 

STAFF

Adam Wheaton

Pastoral Resident 

How long have you been at Addison? Since 2020
Family: Married to Kenzie since July 2022
Favorite restaurant in and near Roscoe village: John's Place
Born: 1994
Raised: Binghamton NY
Education: BA Pastoral Studies
Favorite musical artist: Shane & Shane, Bon Iver, Relient K
Favorite books of the Bible: Titus, John, Hosea
Favorite movie: Pride and Prejudice
First book recommendation After the Bible: Prayer - Timothy Keller; A Gospel Primer for Christians - Milton Vincent
Heroes: Charles Spurgeon, George Müller
Favorite Sport: Hockey
Responsibilities at Addison: Set an example of a faithful church member, Assist my pastors in caring for the flock

Daniel Oludemi

Pastoral Intern 

How long have you been at Addison? 3 years (2021)
Favorite restaurant in and near Roscoe village: Big Boy Gyro’s
Born: 2001
Raised: Tinley Park, IL
Education: Moody Bible Institute, Pastoral Studies with an Interdisciplinary in Biblical Studies
Favorite musical artist: Fred Hammond
Favorite books of the Bible: Isaiah, Hebrews, Psalms, Hosea, Deuteronomy, 1-2 Corinthians, 1-2 Peter
Favorite movie: The Lorax
First book recommendation After the Bible: On the Incarnation by Athanasius
Heroes: Rev. Dr. Eric C. Redmond, Rev. Dr. Charlie Dates
Favorite Sport: Basketball
Responsibilities at Addison: Pastoral Intern

Maxwell Muller

Pastoral Intern 

How long have you been at Addison? 2 years (2022)
Favorite restaurant in and near Roscoe village: Pequods Pizza
Born: 2001. Menasha, Wisconsin
Raised: Menasha, Wisconsin
Education: Moody Bible Institute Graduate - Biblical Studies
Favorite musical artist: Jordan Davis
Favorite books of the Bible: OT: Psalms  |  NT: Hebrews/John
Favorite movie: Remember the Titans
First book recommendation After the Bible: Pilgrims Progress
Heroes: Sophia Schwartzbauer and Spiderman
Favorite Sport: Spikeball
Responsibilities at Addison: Intern (one of Adam's minions)