Senior Pastor
Michael Pitzer
Pastor Michael is a native of Downs, Illinois, married to his wife Amy, and blessed with three young children. With over 25 years of ministry experience in the Bloomington-Normal area, he is passionate about loving God, loving neighbors, and witnessing to the next generation of Christ followers. His heart for Scripture is captured in his favorite passage, Psalm 51:10-12:
“Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.”
Serving as the pastor of Living Hope Christian Church, he leads with humility, integrity, and a deep commitment to Biblical truth and family-oriented ministry.
LIVING HOPE LEADERSHIP
Ken Bays
Ken is a native of McLean County and has lived in Downs since 1985, graduating from Tri-Valley High School. He serves as a Board Member at Living Hope. Ken met his wife, Cindy, at the Bloomington Schnucks where they both worked prior to their graduations from Illinois State University. They have two adult children, Benjamin and Kylie.
Among Ken’s many interests are technology, camping, vehicles, and community.
Janice Bettisch
Janice is a native of Downs. After graduating from Tri-Valley High School, Janice started work for State Farm and spent 37 years there until retiring in April 2019. She keeps busy by volunteering for several organizations. She also enjoys reading and spending time with her two granddaughters.
Janice serves as Secretary of the Living Hope Board and also serves on the Finance and Outreach teams. One of her favorite verses in the Bible is Isaiah 41:10:
So do not fear, for I am with you;
Do not be dismayed, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you and help you;
I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
Dan Dawson
Dan is an elder at Living Hope Christian Church. He grew up in Chicago and graduated from Lane Tech. After high school he moved to Fort Myers, Florida, where he met and married Mary Heap Dawson, who grew up in the Downs area. They moved to Heyworth in 1983 and were active in the Christian Church in Heyworth until they began attending Living Hope in 2004.
Dan is active on the Community Outreach committee and Mary is involved in the music worship.
Dan and Mary have one daughter, Melissa, who is married to John Zahrt. They live in Winamac, Indiana, and have 2 beautiful daughters.
Dan enjoys flying single engine planes, and is a member of the Crosswinds Flying Club in Bloomington.
Dennis Files
Dennis serves as Living Hope’s treasurer and one of its elders. He holds a Master of Divinity degree and an MBA. Dennis spent 30+ years working in the financial services industry in Bloomington before retiring in 2017. He is an avid University of Oklahoma Sooners football fan.
Dennis and his wife, Lynda, first met in Springfield, MO. They spent the early years of marriage working full-time in campus ministry, serving on two state campuses in Missouri, before they both entered the business sector.
Dennis & Lynda have two daughters and six grandchildren. They greatly enjoy their family, and especially time with the grandchildren, all of whom live nearby. If they aren’t in Bloomington, you’ll likely find them at the Lake of the Ozarks.
Dennis’s favorite Bible verse is Psalm 12:1-2 (NET)
I look up toward the hills. From where does my help come? My help comes from the Lord, the Creator of heaven and earth.
Andy Traeger
Andy was born and raised in Bloomington and graduated from Normal Community High School in 2007. He met his wife, Christy, at Greenville College (now known as Greenville University) where he also played basketball for four years. He earned a degree in business with a minor in accounting in 2011.
Andy and Christy began attending Living Hope in 2016, and they have two children, a son, Tatum, and a daughter, Collins. Andy has always had a heart for ministry and helping others to grow in their relationship with Christ. He assisted with youth ministry for nine years at a church in Normal, and he
enjoys serving in the Bloomington/Normal Great Banquet community.
Andy is the Dealer Principle at Barker Buick GMC Cadillac in Bloomington and Barker Chevrolet in Lexington. He enjoys building and working on cars, fishing, and spending time with his family.
His favorite verse is Romans 12:2:
Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mine. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is – his good, pleasing and perfect will.