Lead Pastor: Bill Shoemaker
Pastor Bill joined the West Church team in January 2020, just in time for the pandemic. He has been a Jesus follower since 1980. He shares from his own experience, strength and hope that Jesus has given him since then. He seeks to teach God’s word in ways that are honest, clear and practical. He looks to Jesus’ model of service as the pattern for leading in the church. He has a heart for helping people grow in their faith and learning how to pass it on to others. He loves the people and the community of West Church.
Pastor Bill and Donna came to us from Manahawkin, NJ where he served as Community Life Pastor. Prior to that he spent 18 years in the auto sales industry. They enjoy spending time with their family, walking their dogs, hiking and visiting the shore. They have two adult children, Nate and Becca and two grandchildren, Amelia and Fiona. Pastor Bill received his training at Westminster Theological Seminary in Philadelphia, BA and Northeastern Bible College in Essex Fells, NJ. You can reach him at bill.shoemaker@westchurchpeabody.org.
Associate Pastor: Rick T. McDonnell
Pastor Rick was converted to Christ in his junior year at Boston College under the ministry of Campus Crusade for Christ. After graduating with a B.S. in Business Management, Rick went on Staff with Campus Crusade for Christ. He served in the campus ministry at the University of Connecticut from 1976-1978. It was there that he met Kathy Carey and was married in August 1978. He then entered Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary and graduated in 1982 with a Masters of Divinity.
For 25 years Pastor Rick has served as the Associate Pastor overseeing Christian Education, Small Group Ministries, Youth Ministry and Community Outreach. He preaches and teaches regularly an Adult Sunday School Class, disciples men, leads missions trips, does pastoral visiting and serves a variety of ministry tasks as needed for the good of West Church.
His first pastoral ministry was at the Pittsford Congregational Church in Vermont from 1982-1989. He left the pastoral ministry for a season working as a Honda car salesman, and then managing a retail leather goods store in Rutland, Vermont. He was instrumental in starting the Reformed Bible Church in Rutland, Vermont and served there part-time before coming to West Church in June of 1992.
Rick and Kathy McDonnell have been married since 1978. Kathy serves as the Worship Team Chair; and facilitates the Worship Team and special music in the church. Rick and Kathy have 2 delightful children Ryan and Katelyn who they are so proud of; and who are both happily married and live nearby. They have a three grandchildren, who they enjoy deeply.
Pastor Rick enjoys going to the gym for daily exercise and evangelism, is a die-hard New England Patriots Fan and enjoys tennis, walking, being outside, eating good food and reading theology books and mystery novels. Rick and Kathy love the people at West Church for they are their spiritual family.
Office Administrator: Becky Brown
Becky Brown joined the West Church office as Office Administrator in 2019. She has been a part of the West Church of Peabody community since 2008, when her family moved to Peabody from Virginia. Becky has served on the Women’s Retreat Committee and in the KingdomKids, Sunday School, Pioneer Girls, and VBS ministries.
Becky met her husband, Matt, while attending Messiah College. They have been married for twenty years and have two caring and fun-loving teenagers, Samantha and Daniel. As a family, they enjoy listening to audio-dramas and music, playing board games, hiking, and going on road trips.
Worship Director: Patrick Bourckel
Patrick grew up in the Baltimore area and studied music education at Wheaton College, where he met his wife Jen. He graduated from Gordon-Conwell Seminary in 2012 with a degree focused on the theology of worship, and has served in church music and operations roles since then. The family lives in Saugus with their 4 joyful children. They love to make food, take walks, and sing together.