Meet Our Elders

Chris grew up in a Christian home in the suburbs of Indianapolis and came to faith in Jesus Christ in elementary school. In his teens and early twenties, he was a sponge for doctrine and Bible knowledge. Good things for sure, but his relationship with Jesus was centered in his mind and not his heart. However, in his late twenties and early thirties, he came to understand the full meaning of God’s forgiveness of sins, the comfort of God’s Word to a weary heart, and the tangible presence of the Holy Spirit in his daily walk with Christ. As God continues his sanctifying work in Chris, he is learning to find his full identity in Christ, to find more and more areas of his life to put under His authority, and to abide in His love and not be so quick to forget His past faithfulness. Chris’s wife Mandy is a fountain of joy in his life and the phrase “better half” doesn’t do her justice. Since moving to Fort Wayne in 2006, they have grown to love the community and consider it home. The Lord has blessed their time in Fort Wayne with two kids – Cam and Ellie – and dear friends who have become like family. Chris is excited to serve Blackhawk Ministries as an elder for the next several years and looks forward to all that the Lord will do in and through our church.

Steve Connelly is married to Melinda who encourages him to become a better man of God. Together they have five boys: Donovan, Gabriel, Jadon (who was born and went to be with the Lord in 2005), Brennan, and Samuel. Steve and his family are long-time members of Blackhawk, where he has been serving Children's Ministries, Blackhawk Ministries' small groups, and the Security Team for the church and school. He has also served as a Blackhawk Christian School Board member and coached cross country and track for BCS. Steve is humbled to see God's faithfulness, His provision, and the refining He has been showering upon this church and its ministries. He is encouraged by the commitment of Blackhawk Ministries to this Fort Wayne community and is excited to continue the church's impact to reach people for Christ.

Micah grew up in a Christian home in Peru, Indiana, the son of a pastor and grandson of a pastor on his mother's side. Sound doctrine was prioritized in his home, and he accepted Jesus as his Lord and Savior at a young age. It was a blessing having a strong heritage of faith, but it also had the effect of Micah taking his relationship with Christ for granted and not maturing spiritually as much as he should have. At Purdue University, he was blessed to be a part of a church with a thriving college ministry, and his walk with the Lord grew greatly. He also met Sarah, his future wife, through that ministry. Young adult ministry had a huge impact on his life trajectory, which is a big reason why he is passionate about it today. Micah and Sarah were married in 2008 and started attending Blackhawk in 2018 when they moved to this side of town to send their children, Silas & Abigail, to BCS. Sarah grew up at Blackhawk and BCS, and their family has been encouraged to see many familiar faces who are still faithfully serving the Lord here. The Quicks have been privileged to serve in Young Adult ministry, kids ministry, women’s ministry, life groups, BCS school board, missions, and various service projects. It is a joy for them to serve alongside this body of believers, and they look forward to continuing to serve however the Lord leads.

Rick and his wife Diane have been blessed with three sons: Caleb, Josh, and Zach. Rick has been involved at various levels at Blackhawk since 1986 and has served as an elder, shepherding team member, and small group teacher. He is excited to be part of a church where his family is encouraged and challenged to model the life of Jesus. Rick is grateful to witness the multi-generational body of Christ worshipping and serving side by side. He values being part of a church family that has helped develop his three sons, who prioritize their lives to participate and serve in ways that live out the gospel in their relationships outside of Blackhawk.

Curt was born and raised in suburban New Jersey, the oldest of five children. He came to a saving knowledge of his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, at the age of 17. Curt and his wife, Peggy, met in the summer of 2017 and have been married for 8½ years. Both were widowed after 30‑plus years of marriage, and God quickly made it clear that His desire was to bless them with a second gift of marriage. They married on October 2, 2017. Together they have 5 adult children and 13 grandchildren from their first marriages. Curt quickly grew to love Blackhawk, where Peggy had been attending and serving for over 20 years, and he became a member in November 2018. Curt and Peggy serve together on the Hospitality Team and Mercy Team and are members of the Excel ABF class and a small group, where Curt co‑leads both with Mike Rowland. Curt also serves as one of three leaders of the Senior Men’s Bible Study under Elmer Johnson. Curt and Peggy are also active in the Son Rise Riders, the Fort Wayne chapter of the Christian Motorcyclists Association, where Curt serves as Chapter Chaplain. They love riding their 3‑wheel Can Am Spyder every chance they get. Curt is deeply thankful to the Lord for bringing Peggy into his life and leading him to Blackhawk. Through the mentorship and encouragement of many in this fellowship, he has been drawn into a deeper commitment to God’s Word and reliance on the Holy Spirit’s wisdom. He is humbled to be entrusted with the sober responsibility of serving as an elder and helping to shepherd the body of Christ at Blackhawk to the glory of God.

Dale was raised on a family farm in West-Central Indiana. His parents had become Christians a few years before Dale was born, and were committed to serving the Lord as Dale grew up. Dale accepted Christ at a young age and was baptized in a local strip-mining pit. He graduated in Electrical Engineering from Purdue. He met Mary Kay at a summer church camp, and they were married at Immanuel Baptist Church in 1963. They have three adult children (Steve, Mark, and Sarah – all of whom attended Blackhawk Christian School for all 12 grades), 13 grandchildren, and seven* greats. Dale and Mary Kay began attending Blackhawk in January 1971 following a transfer back to Fort Wayne. Dale has served on deacon/elder boards for many years through four senior pastors. In 1974, David Jeremiah asked him to join the Blackhawk staff as Business Administrator, a position he held for over seven years. In that capacity, he oversaw the construction of the Convocation Center and was instrumental in starting the television ministry. He also directed the Sunday morning telecast for 40 years. During retirement, Dale and Mary Kay have been an active part of the Legacy leadership team. In that role, they have assembled and produced the monthly Legacy newsletter since October 2020. Retirement has also allowed them to invest more time in Bible study and Bible memorization, which has facilitated continued spiritual growth in their senior years.

Pastor Dave was born in Canada but raised in the Midwest. After turning his life over to Jesus in junior high, he experienced a call to full-time ministry. Dave married his high school sweetheart, Rebecca, and they have 4 fantastic kids. He has served as the Lead Pastor of Blackhawk since 2023, bringing a heart for God's Word that is evident in his preaching, conversations, and approach to ministry. With deep anticipation and trust in God's faithfulness, Pastor Dave is passionate about leading Blackhawk Ministries into a new season of growth and impact, believing that God has incredible plans ahead for our church and community. Dave enjoys good coffee, great conversations, playing pickleball, hiking, reading, and spending time with his family.