Leadership & staff

I am currently the director of Jr High Ministries. I got saved as a teenager from a non- Christian home, so youth group has always been a passion of mine. I grew up in Chicago, Illinois and then moved to Joliet, Illinois where I was a police officer for 28 years. I married Kim Fox in 1999, and we have 4 wonderful kids, 2 boys and 2 girls.

The Lord called me into full-time ministry when I retired from Joliet Police Department. We always loved to travel as a family and over the years did plenty of road trips and traveled to all the 48 continental states. Besides Youth Group, my wife and I serve in the Young Adult ministry as well, and we have been Life Group leaders for pretty much our whole marriage.

After coming to faith as an adult, I continue to strive to have a strong foundation of faith that shapes my life and ministry. For over a decade, I served as a volunteer in the children’s ministry before officially joining the church staff in 2019. Currently, I have the joy and privilege of overseeing the children’s ministry, where I’m passionate about helping kids grow in their faith and develop a personal relationship with Jesus. It’s my heart’s desire to create a fun, safe, and spiritually rich environment where children can learn about God’s love and truth.

My husband and I have been married for 30 wonderful years, and we’re blessed with three children and six joy-filled grandchildren. Family is incredibly important to me, and I love spending time with them whenever I can. Outside of ministry and family, I’m always up for a good thrift store treasure hunt. I love  finding unique items and giving them new life. Whether in the church or the community, my greatest passion is to help children discover who God is and how much He loves them.

Lynn came to know Christ at age 35, came to Harvest in 1998 and came on staff in 2000. She likes to say she has done every job at Harvest, serving as assistant to Pastor Scott, and to Pastor Matt, Media Coordinator, Special Events, Bereavement and served as Office Manager… but Lynn shares she truly felt the call of God on her life when she was asked to start Celebrate Recovery at Harvest 23 years ago and has served as Director of Celebrate Recovery since that day! Lynn says there is nothing better than seeing people come to know Christ and watching God change lives week after week, year after year! Lynn, a widow, resides in Sandwich and has two married daughters and 5 grandchildren (which is her other calling!). 

Pastor Matt Drietz grew up in Minnesota, enjoying the lakes and forests, and developing a love for camping ministry. There was a moment during those years when he had the opportunity to lead some campers to Christ, and he realized that this must be a "normal" part of his life forever. After marrying Amanda, his wife now of nearly 30 years, and graduating from college, he began serving as a Youth Pastor in a church in Minnesota for five years. 
 
Through the work of the Holy Spirit, they moved to Illinois and began serving at Harvest New Beginnings Church in August 2002. Matt and Amanda have six children, with five adult children and the youngest currently coming up through Jr. High. After serving as both the Jr. High and Sr. High Pastor at Harvest for 23 years, Matt will be handing over the Jr. High ministry and will focus on Sr. High Ministry starting in September 2025. 
 
Matt's passion has always been to equip young people to live out their faith and make disciples, and he looks forward to focusing on one group. Matt and Amanda enjoy working on their 130-year-old house and getting outdoors to experience God’s creation whenever they can. 

Mickey Farlow has served in pastoral ministry for 47 years in a variety of roles and church settings in Illinois, Ohio, Michigan and Iowa. From Senior Pastor to Associate Pastor to Youth Pastor to interim pastor, he has seen pastoral life from many angles and has a passion to use the insights he has gained to encourage others. He currently serves at Harvest New Beginnings as Evangelism, Discipleship and Counseling Pastor, directing the Counseling Ministry which has grown from one trained biblical counselor (himself) to 19 counselors which serve the Harvest family as well as the surrounding communities.  
Mickey grew up on a farm in central Illinois, graduated from Faith Baptist Bible College, received his BA degree from Cedarville University and a Master of Ministry from Baptist Bible Seminary. Outside the office, he loves to read, share the gospel wherever he can, serve in the community as a substitute teacher in the public schools as well as doing biblical counseling at Wayside Cross Mission in Aurora. Mickey was married to his lovely wife, Joyce, 40 years prior to her going home to the Lord in 2015. He has three grown children and 11 grandchildren. 

Neal Rozema was born and raised in Palm Springs, California. He spent much of his childhood and teenage years moving around from place to place. He gained a passion and heart for people of all backgrounds and where they are in life. Neal attended Oral Roberts University, where he earned a B.A. in Ministry and Leadership with an emphasis in Evangelism and Outreach. Neal has also completed a Master of Christian Ministry and is working on a Master of Divinity, continuing to gain knowledge and understanding as he shepherds God’s people with wisdom and grace.
 
Neal has served in a variety of ministries at Harvest New Beginnings, including Men’s 180, sports ministry, visitation ministry, midweek prayer, and as a deacon. Neal’s passion is to love people as Jesus does, meeting them where they are but never leaving them there. He seeks to help people go deeper in their relationship with Christ and find the freedom and purpose only He can provide.
 
Neal and his wife, Carrie, have been married for 18 years and have been blessed with five beautiful children. When he is not serving at church, Neal loves biblical speaking and teaching, equipping believers to walk boldly in their faith, and seeing lives changed by the power of the gospel.