LEADERSHIP
Michael Johnson
Pastor of Rantoul Community Church
Michael grew up in the suburbs of Chicago and later spent over a decade in Champaign-Urbana, working in the restaurant industry. He came to know Jesus in his early 30s, and not long after, met Chasity, who was serving with a college ministry in DeKalb, Illinois. They married in 2013 and soon felt God calling them toward church planting. Michael served as a pastoral resident at Christ Community CU in Champaign-Urbana for five years, and in 2018, their family felt led to Rantoul. In October 2020, they planted Rantoul Community Church, where Michael now serves as pastor.
Michael Kelly
Elder at Rantoul Community Church
Michael grew up in Dwight, Illinois before making his way to Champaign-Urbana to attend the University of Illinois. After graduating with a degree in Early Childhood Education, Michael moved to Rantoul where he taught preschool for seven years, before being moved to St. Joseph, Illinois. Michael met Laura while they were both volunteering at a summer camp in Eastern Kentucky. They married a few years later, in 2008. Michael and Laura joined Rantoul Community Church the summer before its launch in the fall of 2020. In 2022, Michael returned to Rantoul as a teacher at Rantoul City School’s early childhood preschool program.
Thomas Schmid
Elder at Rantoul Community Church
Thomas grew up on a farm near Cissna Park, IL. He has worked in the trades since high school, for 12 years as a Diesel Technician and now as a CNC machinist in Fisher, IL. Thomas and Stephanie grew up together in Cissna Park, reconnected while both attending Parkland College, and got married not long afterwards in 2017. While attending Christ Community Church in Champaign-Urbana, Thomas began to see how the Gospel transforms hearts and calls us to live missionally. When Thomas and Stephanie heard that Michael and Chasity were moving to plant Rantoul Community Church, they were excited to put their roots down in Rantoul to play a role in spreading the good news of Jesus.