Ellen Dehm

Hey there!  My name is Ellen Dehm and I am the Children’s Ministry Director here at PBC!  I love kids and I love family.  I am originally from Fairbury, a small town not too far from here, but I now live in Pontiac.  I am happily married to a wonderful man Josh, and we have 3 beautiful daughters.  I have a variety of life experiences that have molded me.  My greatest impact being, parents who live out the gospel because of a solid belief in Jesus.  They created a firm foundation for me, and I’m forever grateful.  From childhood up I had an example of active faith, through them.  Our home always had an open door policy and I witnessed both parents coming along side innumerable individuals, to care for them in times of need, as best they could.  As a child, seeing lives changed by selfless acts, changed me.  My parents later, as I was entering my pre-teen years, stepped in to the world of foster care and again, important values were deeply being set in as I witnessed how it looks to respond to scripture and, “care for the fatherless.”  I knew I wanted to model this love, and that it was a command from our creator to simply, love others.  By their example I learned the value of serving others and how big of an impact a small gesture can make.   I come from a big family where babies are celebrated, children are a joy, and we fight for people.  I have worked with children in many settings, most recently being the operator of my own in-home daycare. I have trained and worked as a direct support person to care for those with special needs and my husband and I are licensed foster (adoptive) parents, where trauma-based care has become something we take seriously, and desire to keep growing in. Serving in the Children’s Ministry Department here at PBC has “filled my heart with greater joy” (Psalms 4:7).  When kids eyes are filled with wonder through the stories of creation, when they begin to understand the depths of God’s love, or they show love and mercy to others because they become so struck with the awareness of the great sacrifice Jesus made for them… it is so breathtaking; this opportunity before me, to see first hand, God changing world and gathering us back into his arms!  I am so thankful to be a part of a team, ministry, and church who’s goal is to always go beyond ourselves, in service of the King.