Matthew Deprez is the Lead Pastor at Inspire. He has been in full-time ministry since 2005 and married his wife, Megan, in 2007. Everybody agrees she's way cooler than him and likes to make fun of his weird obsessions, like racquetball, documentaries and tattoos. After struggling through years of infertility, God opened the door for them to adopt both of their sons (Isaiah and Silas) from birth, and they're passionate about adoption advocacy.
In addition to pastoring, Matthew also spent a few years working for the Fuller Youth Institute, where he resourced and trained thousands of church leaders at some of the largest churches in the United States. Holding a Master’s Degree in Family Ministry, Matthew has become a nationally recognized speaker and thought-leader, and has spoken at some of the leading family ministry conferences in the world. He is passionate about intergenerational ministry and has pioneered research studying the way grandparents shape the faith of their grandchildren. Matthew has authored or coauthored multiple books and is an ordained minister in the Wesleyan Church.
Matt is so committed to serving Jesus and others! His servant heart is evident in his role as Executive Pastor as he oversees the daily operations of Inspire Church including all the building maintenance, First Impressions/Connections, Care Coordination, Treasurer, Worship Ministry and Missions. His desire to honor the calling on his life to ministry is evident in everything he does. He has an incredible wife and two amazing kids and they love to spend quality family time together.
Colin is passionate about making Disciples who make Disciples so Growth & Development Pastor is the perfect fit for him! He loves helping people take next steps in their faith and firmly believes small groups are one of the best ways to do that. He has an incredible wife, Lindsey, and an amazing son, Holden, who are his pride and joy. A native Michigander and avid outdoorsman, you can usually find him using his free time for hiking, mountain biking, paddle boarding, kayaking, fishing, hunting, or in general, basking in the glory of the Creator in the midst of His creation.
Esther puts a lot of energy into creating safe and fun environments where kids can learn about Jesus! It’s a place where faith, imagination, and learning go hand-in-hand and it’s a place where loving God is cool! We think church should be fun for kids and Esther creates experiences that are blast for kids of all ages! Esther is married to Ben and together they have 4 sons. They've been missionaries in Africa with Africa Inland Mission and their passion for sharing Jesus with others is evident in all they do! Esther does an amazing job making sure your children are loved and well taken care of while you enjoy the service!
Linda has always had a great love for people and thinks it has something to do with her Italian heritage. She loves meeting new people and making others feel special. Linda, and her incredibly supportive husband, Jim, share four awesome children: Shaun (28), Anna (25), Julie (24) and son-in-law Bryce (27). In her free time she loves reading, drawing and painting in her art room and hunting for rocks and fossils.
Having grown up as a Wesleyan “PK,” Val truly finds great joy in serving at Inspire, be it through Care ministry, praise team/band, in the nursery, or on the LBA (church board). Having retired from over 30 years of teaching elementary school, Val happily fills her time with her roles of Scott Jensen’s wife, mom of 4 young adults (plus their spouses), and grandma of (currently) 3 adorable granddaughters. What does she do for fun? She loves taking care of her granddaughters, spending time with family and dear friends, making music (whether singing or playing or both), listening to music, cooking & baking, reading, and driving
Tiffany brings a smile to work with her every day. Her outgoing personality adds a positive atmosphere to our church office. Tiffany loves praise and worship, diving into a good devotional, and sharing Christ through relationships with friends and family. She is an active member here at Inspire Church, where she and her family serve in many ministries. In her spare time, you can find her working in the church garden, or on her hobby farm with her husband Jason. She enjoys animals, canning, and learning food preservation methods. Jason and Tiffany are parents to 5 children, and one grandson, who fills their heart with joy!
Moving back home to the West Michigan area in 2021, it wasn't long before Mike and his family found Inspire Church. Along with his wife, Joni, and their two boys (Miles and Otis), they love living on family farmland, just west of the city of Big Rapids.
At the age of 14, Mike experienced God's call to serve in worship ministry. From that time forward, He has been serving the local church. From student ministries to church planting, and church revitalization efforts to strong and long-established churches, Mike has followed God's leading, trusting the Holy Spirit to empower at each step of the way.
Alongside serving at Inspire, Mike also serves full-time with our denomination, The Wesleyan Church, helping to engage churches in the global mission and supporting the Wesleyan church around the world.
