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John Tader

Class of 1981

In 1975 my family moved to Florissant, MO for the sole reason of enrolling my siblings and me in NCCS and engaging us in the thriving ministry of Ferguson Church of the Nazarene.  I attended NCCS through my junior high and high school years, graduating in 1981.  I graduated in the top ten of my class.  (A graduating class of 11!)  It was during these memorable and formative years in a good Christian school, Christian home, and a strong youth group that my relationship with God developed.  I’m forever grateful for the opportunities that were placed before me as a result of those valuable years.  

During my high school years I enjoyed many meaningful experiences, relationships and friendships.  My memories of NCCS friends, teachers and mentors are forever etched in my being.  Through the influence of some of my NCCS friends and a “match-maker” teacher, I was compelled to invite a girl named Laura to one of our infamous annual lock-ins!  In a momentary lack of judgment, she agreed to attend with me, and that night a relationship began that set the course for the rest of my life.  Laura (Clerc) became my wife in 1983 following our sophomore year at Mid-AmericaNazareneCollege and remains the love of my life.  It was at Mid-America that I studied ministry, graduating in 1985.  I then earned my Masters of Religious Education degree at Nazarene Theological Seminary, graduating in 1989.  

In 1990 we moved to the Chicago area where I pastored the HickoryHillsChurch of the Nazarene for more than 4 years.  We then moved to Jefferson City, Missouri in 1994 where I pastored the Jefferson CityChurch of the Nazarene for more than 8 years.  I am currently the Pastor of Discipleship Ministries on the pastoral staff at CollegeChurch of the Nazarene in Olathe, Kansas, where I have been serving for the past 10 years.  It is a humbling privilege to be in Christian ministry.  I still wake up nearly every morning and wonder how and why God chose to allow me to serve Him in this capacity.  (I’m certain that many NCCS alumni are equally bewildered at such a reality…  if you were to line up the NCCS students of the 1970s and guess which may be called to ministry, I’m pretty sure I would have been the last suspect!)

God has blessed us with a loving family including 3 children and their spouses, 2 grandchildren, and another on the way!  Steven & Samantha Tader with children Daxon & Annabelle, Elizabeth & Tanner Stevens & ?baby, and Rebecca & Jordan Seifert.  They are all living abundant lives and enjoying growing, healthy homes and marriages.  We are fortunate to have all of them living in the Kansas City area very near to us.  It brings great joy and privilege to enjoy close relationship with our children and grandchildren!

Jeremiah 29:11 declares that God has planned for us a hopeful prosperous future.  As I look back upon the way He has directed my life, I can be nothing short of grateful for His loving guidance.  That loving guidance included the foundation of faith that I received from godly mentors and peers at NCCS.  I continue to anticipate the future that God has planned for me!