Meet Our New Lead Pastor
We are excited to introduce Jared Fox and welcome him to the Parkview family.
Welcome Jared & Sarah
After a season of prayer, discernment, and anticipation, we are excited to welcome Jared and Sarah Fox as they step into ministry with us at Parkview Christian Church.
From the very beginning, our desire has been to follow God’s leading, and we believe He has clearly guided this moment, bringing together two people whose hearts for Jesus, love for the Church, and commitment to serving others will help shape the future of our community.
ABOUT OUR NEW PASTOR
Jared Fox is passionate about creating environments where people can encounter Jesus, take meaningful steps in their faith, and discover the life God has for them. He brings years of ministry leadership, a collaborative spirit, and a genuine love for people into this role.
Lead Pastor FAQs
ABOUT JARED & HIS FAMILY
Who is Jared Fox?
Jared Fox is our new Lead Pastor! He is a gifted communicator, pastor, and leader with 21 years of ministry experience. He is married to Sarah, and together they have three children – Isaac (16), Ella (13), and Miles (7). They are relocating from the Baltimore, Maryland area and are excited to put roots down in the south suburbs and become a real part of this community.
Where is Jared coming from?
Jared most recently served as the Executive Pastor of Campuses at Mountain Christian Church in the Joppa/Baltimore, MD area – a large, thriving multi-campus church. Over his 14 years there, he helped lead multiple campus launches, oversaw hundreds of staff and volunteers, and regularly preached and taught. He has deep experience building healthy, mission-focused church culture.
What about Jared’s family - will they be involved in church life?
Yes! Sarah and the kids are excited about this new chapter. The Foxes are looking forward to getting connected, building friendships, and becoming genuine members of the Parkview community.
The Search Process
How was Jared selected?
The Parkview Board conducted a thorough, prayerful search process with the help of Slingshot Group, a professional ministry search firm. View Process. Slingshot Group engaged with approximately 150 potential candidates throughout the search process and helped us narrow the candidate list to a select number of individuals for final consideration.
The search committee consisted of four Parkview Board members (Matt Austin, Zach Birkey, Jim Bax, and Mark Michuda)and the staff executive team (Ken Andresen, Kim Bretzlaff, Laurie Kamp, and Bill Brown). As Executive Pastor, Bill Brown also serves as a voting board member and staff representative during this season of transition without a Lead Pastor. The committee’s purpose was to screen and interview prospective candidates and present their recommendation to the full board for review and final determination. The executive team had input in the hiring process, but not a vote. After review by the entire board, Jared Fox was unanimously selected as Parkview Christian Church’s next Lead Pastor.
The members of the Parkview Board Include: Adam Bloom, Jeff Baker, Jim Bax, Jim Oberman, Mark Michuda, Matt Austin, Norm Schlismann, Randy Moll, Zach Birkey, Bill Brown
What made Jared the right fit for Parkview?
Prior to launching the search, Slingshot Group helped the board develop an ideal candidate profile. The profile was used to screen potential candidates for commitment to teaching God’s Word, experience, alignment with Parkview’s Mission (Reach Raise Release), core leadership competencies, cultural-fit, chemistry, and a love for this community. Jared hit the mark in every category. The search committee saw a combination of proven ministry fruit, faithfulness, humility, quality of leadership, and genuine character. He has a blue-collar, no-nonsense mentality, strong teaching gifts, and extensive experience building healthy team cultures.
Why did Jared leave his previous church?
Jared left Mountain Christian Church with their full blessing and support. This was not a departure due to conflict or failure – it was a conviction-based move. After significant prayer and discernment, Jared and Sarah felt clearly called toward a Lead Pastor role. His gifts and heart align with leading and shepherding a local church, and Parkview is where God has led them.
Why did the search take so long?
Lead pastor searches are rarely quick – Slingshot Group, a firm that specializes in church staffing, reports the average takes 10–12 months. That’s because the process demands careful discernment on both sides: the church learning what it truly needs, and candidates determining whether they’re the right fit.
Parkview’s search launched on August 20, 2025. Eight months later, by God’s grace, the board officially confirmed Jared Fox on April 23, 2026.
Vision & Leadership
What is Jared’s vision for Parkview?
Jared is coming in with a posture of listening, learning, and building relationships first. He has expressed deep admiration for what God has already been doing at Parkview and has been clear that he is here to partner with this team in reaching even more people in the south suburbs for Jesus. He is especially energized by Parkview’s multiethnic, multigenerational community and our heart for those far from God.
What is Jared like as a preacher and leader?
Jared is a warm, authentic, and engaging communicator. He is passionate about the Gospel, loves people deeply, and has a contagious energy for mission. He leads collaboratively and builds strong team cultures. Those who know him describe him as real, humble, fun, and deeply committed to Jesus. You can watch some of his messages on YouTube. (see videos at the bottom of this page)
What Will Change?
Will this still be “Parkview Christian Church” after this transition?
We are thrilled that Jared will bring us new dreams, fresh language, and different abilities that will only enhance the mission of Parkview to Reach people with God’s Love, Raise them to follow Jesus, and Release them to impact their community. We have always been a church that has adapted how we do ministry to meet the needs of our community – but the mission never changes.
How will this change affect our current staff?
Each staff person will process this transition differently and your care for them matters more than you know. One of the reasons the church has done so well and will continue to do so during this transition is because we have such a committed and capable team. While there is no reason to anticipate any immediate major changes, staff turnover will happen naturally – as it does every year and would even without succession.
Timeline & Key Dates
When does Jared officially start, and what does the transition look like?
Here’s the full picture of what’s ahead:
- July 2026 – After concluding his time at Mountain Christian Church, Jared and his family will spend July enjoying family vacation and relocating to the south suburbs. This is an intentional month of transition – moving, getting the kids settled, and beginning to put down roots in the community they will call home.
- August 1, 2026 – Jared officially joins Parkview as Lead Pastor. He will be working full time, meeting staff, and visiting each of our campuses, and connecting with people in the community throughout the month.
- August 8/9, 2026 – Commissioning Weekend – Join us for a very special Commissioning Weekend when Jared will be formally installed as Lead Pastor of Parkview. This is a celebration for the whole church family – we hope you’ll be there and bring someone with you.
- September 12/13, 2026 -Jared preaches from the Parkview stage for the first time as our Lead Pastor. We can’t wait!
Why won’t Jared preach right away if he starts August 1?
Great question! Jared is ready and eager. But our Board intentionally asked him to use August to get his family fully settled: kids in school, the Fox family connected to the community, and relationships with staff and campuses built. We believe setting Jared and his family up well from the start is an investment in the long-term health of our church. He’ll be active and present all month – just not on the stage yet.
Getting Connected
How can I get to know Jared and Sarah?
Jared has made clear that building relationships is his top priority. Look for opportunities to connect in the coming months – starting with the Commissioning Weekend, August 8/9. He is genuinely eager to meet the people of Parkview.
How can I support this transition?
We have three asks of our Parkview family.
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- Pray for Jared, Sarah, Isaac, Ella, and Miles as they make this significant life move.
- Extend grace and warmth as they settle in. Continue to serve, give generously, and invite others – the mission doesn’t pause.
- And plan to be there for the Commissioning Weekend, August 8/9. Your presence and enthusiasm matter more than you know.
Get to Know Jared & Sarah
What does a perfect day-off look like for the Fox family?
We love a slow morning, a large breakfast and a fun outdoor adventure. Whether a bike ride, a good hike or exploring a new area – we are always down for an adventure. At some point, we are probably going to connect with some friends, meeting up for grub, good conversation and community.
What’s one thing about Chicago or the southside that you’re most excited to explore as a family?
We’re total foodies, so one of the things we’re most excited about is diving into the incredible food scene around Chicagoland. We love trying new restaurants, discovering hidden gems, and experiencing the flavors and cultures that make a city unique, and from everything we’ve heard, Chicago is basically paradise for people like us. We’re also really looking forward to exploring the parks and trail system. Long walks and bike rides are kind of our thing, so we can’t wait to get outside, enjoy the city, and probably work off at least a few of those deep-dish calories along the way.
You’ve been in ministry for over 20 years. What’s a moment where you saw God show up in a way that still gives you chills when you tell it?
In 2017 we had the opportunity to lead through a campus launch in our neighborhood. We opened the doors to that campus and God immediately began blessing the work of the team. The campus quickly grew to four weekly services, and we started to experience an insane move of God in our neighborhood. One Sunday, I was standing in a pool on stage, celebrating with folks as they were stepping into the waters of baptism. I was blown away when the next person into the waters was a neighbor that we had been praying for and doing life with for a long time. It was a sweet moment and a part of a lengthy story of faithful neighboring – eating meals together, hanging out in the back yard, simply doing life together and talking about Jesus.