Lisa Kruse-Safford, Lead Pastor

Lisa grew up believing in God, but it was not until the eve of her 20th birthday that she became a disciple of Jesus Christ. Kneeling at the altar in Sycamore United Methodist Church after an evening with the junior high youth, she said, “Lord, I’ve lived my life my way for 20 years, now I want to live it your way.”

Jesus must have heard that prayer because at the end of her college years, instead of pursuing a career in finance, she became a missionary. From 1990-1992, Lisa lived and worked in Richmond, VA at Wilson Inn, a boarding house for women in crisis and transition. It was during those two years that she heard the call to pastoral ministry. In 1992, she entered seminary in Washington, D.C. and began the process to become a minister in the United Methodist Church. At seminary, she met Geoffrey Safford, who worked in the bookstore on campus where she would regularly go between classes. They realized after a few weeks of dating that they were meant for one another and in May 1993, they were married in the chapel at Wesley Seminary.

Lisa began serving as a pastor in 1994 when she accepted an appointment to Centenary UMC in Jarratt, VA. It was during those 5 years in Jarratt, that Geoffrey and Lisa became parents; Moriah was born in 1997. When Moriah was 2, the family moved to Illinois to be closer to family. Lisa was appointed to Community UMC in LaMoille, IL in 1999, where the family stayed for another 5 years. Miriam was born in 2001. Lisa’s next appointment was for 6 years in Poplar Grove, IL where she served as senior pastor for the North Boone Co-Active Ministry (Blaine, Hunter, and Poplar Grove UMCs). Then in July 2010, the family came to Cornerstone Church when Lisa was appointed Lead Pastor.

What drives Lisa in ministry, forming and informing her work, preaching, teaching, and service is this: for all people to come to know that God’s love for them is so vast that it is everlasting and unconditional in Jesus Christ our Lord. And in coming to that realization and celebration, that every day, we live our lives in such a way to honor and glorify this God of love.