Our Staff

We welcome your call or email to any member of our church staff. Or if you prefer, you may contact us using our online Contact Form.

Senior Pastor

Chad DeWeerd

pastorchad@thefriendschurch.org

A recorded minister in the Evangelical Friends Church- Eastern Region, with 21 years in the pastorate, Pastor DeWeerd has served the past eleven years as senior pastor of The Friends Church, a dynamic fellowship of believers in Broadview Heights, OH. Under his leadership and the Lordship of Jesus Christ, the congregation has enjoyed spiritual health and steady growth in the church and in the lives of its people. Prior to his call to ministry, Pastor Chad was both a P.G.A. golf professional and U.S.P.T.A. tennis professional as well as playing intercollegiate athletics for the University of Michigan. His educational background includes studies at the University of Michigan, the Moody Bible Institute and Michigan Theological Seminary.

In addition to his pastoral responsibilities, Pastor Chad’s personal evangelistic ministry in song and sermon has helped extend the impact of the local congregation to its community and abroad. Recently recognized by Promise Keepers as one of the “100 Most Influential Pastors”; he serves as a point man for men’s ministries as both a worship leader and sought after speaker. With a heartfelt passion for Christ and a “hands-on” compassion for people, DeWeerd has made the “Great Comission” his life mission. From regularly ministering amongst the inner-city homeless of The City Mission to traveling abroad to foreign lands, Pastor Chad has responded to Christ’s call to “Go, into all the world...” beginning with our neighborhoods and reaching out to even the remotest parts of the earth. Over the past decade, his travels have taken him behind the former Iron Curtain with musical teams, leadership training and as an evangelist ministering amongst the people of Hungary, Romania and Albania. 

Whether as a singer who happens to preach or as he prefers, “a preacher who happens to sing” DeWeerd is committed to effectively communicating the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Through a unique blend of contemporary and traditional sacred music along with the power of a clear presentation of God’s Word, Pastor Chad continues to challenge both the church and the unchurched to "find and further their faith" through: crusades, concerts, television appearances, sports clinics, as a recording artist and as host of the weekly radio ministry, “In The Name Of The Lord” which recently celebrated its 10th anniversary on the air.

DeWeerd’s involvement in the newly formed U41 (United For One) praise band, marks just one of the numerous recording projects he has been privileged to have been a part of, including a solo gospel album entitled, “I’ve Come To Serve.” He even had the opportunity to lend his voice talents to the soundtrack recording of the upstart musical, “The Birth” portraying the role of Jesus.

In addition to his musical and evangelistic ministries, Pastor DeWeerd has purposed to utilize his past professional athletic experience to open doors and hearts to the gospel. “GOLF: A Lesson Tee For Life” is an outreach golf ministry designed to share the similarities between the game of golf and faith. Complete with ‘trick shot” demonstrations, hands-on instruction and biblical insight for living, this clinic has been conducted for businesses, community youth programs, sports banquets, high school golf teams, civic organizations, church groups and the likes. Pastor Chad also founded “Second Serve” a similar ministry based on the fundamentals of the game of tennis intended to teach and promote the grace of God at work when life…“serves up a fault.”

As satisfying as these ministries can be, DeWeerd’s daily prayer continues to be… “Lord, help me to love You more than I love serving You.” It’s from this relationship as a child of God that he considers his role as husband to wife Debbie and father of seven children: Cody, Miranda, Jordan, Madison, Conner, Jamison and Carson to be his greatest gift and joy! And it’s from this heart that Pastor Chad DeWeerd comes to share with congregations he ministers to; preaching God’s Word and leading in worship with a contagious love for life, people and the Lord.

Elder of Outreach 

Robert Osicka

Robert (Bob) F. Osicka, a servant of God- was born and raised in the Cleveland Ohio area, born-again April 11, 1983. Bob was elected Outreach Elder in 2005. He has always worked as an Information Technology professional and is currently employed at First Energy Corporation in Akron, Ohio. Bob has been on one mission trip to Mexico and looks forward to others in the future. In addition to his leadership responsiblities at church, Bob serves on the Board of Directors of Love Inc., of Western Cuyahoga County and volunteers at The City Mission. Bob says, "I feel very blessed by God in family, church, work, and life in general." These are blessings he has shared during his marriage of 39 years to wife, Mary Ellen. Together they have three grown children and two grandchildren. Bob's desire is to "make Christ real to others."