The Bible teaches that every local congregation should be under the oversight of a group of elders (Acts 14:13 and Titus 1:5).
The purpose of the elders in the church is to provide leadership and to protect the church from false teachings. The apostle Paul advised the Elders of Ephesus in this way, "Be on guard for yourselves and for all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood. I know that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock; and from among your own selves men will arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after them." (Acts 20:28-30)
The qualifications of an elder are given by Paul in Titus 1:7-9. "For the overseer must be above reproach as God's steward, not self-willed, not quick-tempered, not addicted to wine, not pugnacious, not fond of sordid gain, but hospitable, loving what is good, sensible, just, devout, self-controlled, holding fast the faithful word which is in accordance with the teaching, so that he will be able both to exhort in sound doctrine and to refute those who contradict."
The church of Christ in Salem is blessed with four men who meet these qualifications and who have chosen to serve in this capacity at this time.
Bernie Bryant
Bernie has been a Christian since he was twelve years old. His formal education includes attending Olney Central College, where he received an Associate of Arts Degree. Bernie then attended Eastern Illinois University where he received a Bachelor of Science Degree. He received his Masters of Science Degree from Southern Illinois University in Carbondale.
Bernie taught Social Studies at Salem Community High School for 33 years. He retired in June of 2009. He was a deacon for several years before he was appointed an elder in 2007. His main responsibility since becoming an elder has been scheduling men for worship service and making sure services run as smoothly as possible. He has been married to Linda for 30 years. She is a teacher at Salem Community High School . Linda has been teaching since 1976. Bernie and Linda have three children. Alex, a graduate of St. Louis College of Pharmacy, is a clinical pharmacist in the infectious disease unit at St. John's Mercy Hospital in St. Louis . He is to be married to Tara Vincent of Fairmont , West Virginia in October of 2009. Ethan, a graduate of Harding University in Searcy , Arkansas , is an accountant working for Thompson-Dunavent accounting firm in Memphis , Tennessee . He is married to Anna Langston of Searcy , Arkansas . Adrienne, a junior at Harding University , is majoring in elementary education.
John Harvester
John was born in Pocahontas , Arkansas and became a Christian at age 14. While in Arkansas , he attended Arkansas State University and graduated from Harding University in Searcy, Arkansas in 1976. While attending Arkansas State, he met his wife, Mary Helen (McGrew) Harvester.
John and Mary Helen are parents of two children, Jennifer and Jason. Jennifer continues to live in Salem and Jason currently lives in Arkansas. John has enjoyed several business positions in the local area and his family has enjoyed being part of the community for several years. Salem continues to be home and his family looks forward to continuing to work with the Salem Church of Christ.
Mark Howe
Mark graduated from Salem Community High School in 1979. Upon completion of high school he joined the United States Marine Corps. While serving in the marines, he became a member of the church of Christ in Jacksonville, NC. Mark is currently serving full time as an Operations Sergeant Major in the Illinois Army National Guard.
Mark became an elder for the Salem church of Christ in 2003 after serving as a deacon for several years. He has been married to his wife, Dianne, for twenty-eight years. She is a teacher for the Salem Elementary School District. They are the parents of four sons. Beau, married to Lauren, is living in Memphis, Tennessee after completing his bachelor’s degree in Communications from Harding University. Brandon, married to Siretha, works for the city of Salem and has been blessed with a lovely daughter, Olivia. Caleb is attending Kaskaskia College on a drama scholarship where he performs regularly in theater productions. Collin is going to college in Witchita, Kansas where he is involved in music and bowling besides his studies. All are faithful Christians.
Mark has always been active with the youth, including several mission trips and the YES program. He also helps with coordinating the Bible class curriculum for the membership at the Salem congregation.
Don Riggs
Don was born in Morganfield, Kentucky on July 12, 1934. He was baptized into Christ at the age of sixteen in Evansville, Indiana. He married the former Stella Pogue on July 2, 1955 in Evansville. Don and Stella moved to Chicago in 1956 where he studied Master Machinist and Tool & Die making at the Allied Institute of Technology.
Don and his family moved to Salem, Illinois in February, 1959 where Don accepted employment with Stanford Engineering Company. He became a deacon for this congregation in 1960. He accepted the office of elder in 1978. Don has done part time preaching for several congregations in the area. Much of his time has been devoted to teaching a cappella church music and song leading.
Don and Stella's oldest daughter, Angie, is married to Ron Vicke. They live in Rome, Georgia and have two children, Matthew and Sarah. Ron serves as an elder for the Oak Hill church of Christ in Rome.
Don and Stella's youngest daughter, Dianne, is married to Mark Howe and they live in Salem, Illinois. They have four boys, Beau, Brandon, Caleb, and Collin. Mark serves as an elder for the Salem church of Christ.
After forty years of employment with the same company, Don retired in 1999. Through the years he worked as a machinist, machine shop foreman, industrial engineer, production planner, and purchasing agent.
E-mail: rdwriggs@ussonet.net
Deacons
The Bible also teaches that deacons should be appointed to serve the church.
The apostle Paul also spoke of their qualifications in 1 Timothy 3:8-12. "Deacons likewise must be men of dignity, not double-tongued, or addicted to much wine or fond of sordid gain, but holding to the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience. These men must also first be tested; then let them serve as deacons if they are beyond reproach... Deacons must be husbands of only one wife, and good managers of their children and their own households."
The church of Christ in Salem is blessed with two men who meet these qualifications and who have chosen to serve in this capacity.
Dick Mc Kinzie
Dick was raised by his grandparents, Mr. & Mrs. George Sears, and attended school in the area. He graduated from Salem Community High School in 1953. He attended Southern Illinois University briefly before joining the US Air Force. After his four years in the Air Force, he started working for a local retailer installing antennas.
He married Dorothy Sheffield in June of 1957, and they have four married children. Pamela (Alan Donaldson), Edward (Rebecca Degan), Steve (Sherri Ethridge), and Mike (Missy Weeks). Pam and Alan have three children, Emily, Jean-Luc and Jordan, and they live on Carlyle Lake. Ed and Rebecca have three children, Sabrina (Robert Long) who lives in Edmond, Oklahoma, Scott and Connor, and they live in Lithia, Florida. Steve and Sherri have four children, Chelsea, Stevie, Kaylee, and Kyle, and they live in Granite City. Mike and Missy have two children, Taylor and Brittany, and they live in Salem.
Dick is retired after owning and operating his own retail business, Salem TV Repair, for over thirty-five years. He was a Quasar and Zenith Dealer.
Dick has been a Christian since 1963. He was installed as deacon at the Salem church in April of 1978. He is in charge of the Benevolence programs of the church.
Bob Reeder
Bob was born in Muncie, Indiana in 1947. He grew up on a grain and dairy farm outside of Muncie. He met his wife Ruth Ann Tate while attending Freed-Hardeman College in Henderson, Tennessee in 1965. He became a Christian while attending the University. They were married in 1966 and have three children, Robin, Ryan Keith, and Rebecca. They have five grand-children, Travis, Reath, Ryan Scott, Reva and Taylor. They also have one great grand-child, Brea. All live in the Salem area.
After working various jobs, he became employed for Union Pacific Railroad in 1978. Bob worked for the railroad as an engineer for over 20 years and retired in 1998 due to an injury. He became a deacon in 2008. He helps with the maintenance and repair for the church.
E-mail: robertkreeder@yahoo.com