Wayne Kent retiring from the position of Lead Pastor First Christian Church

In June 2022, Wayne Kent will retire from the position of Lead Pastor.
Brian Talty will assume the role of Lead Pastor at First Christian Church in July 2022.
The congregation of First Christian Church was founded in Decatur, IL in 1834 and has had 44 lead
pastors during that time. We are pleased to announce pastor #45. Pastor Brian Talty has been named the new Lead Pastor, replacing Wayne Kent who has served the congregation for more than 28 years. While Wayne will retire from full-time pastoral ministry June 30, 2022, he will remain both in the community and the church.

From left: Wayne Kent & Brian Talty

 Wayne Kent
Pastor Wayne Kent and his family arrived in Decatur on January 1, 1994. Since then, the church has
changed significantly:
• At the time of Pastor Kent’s arrival, he was the only full-time employee. Now there are more
than 40 full-time and part-time employees.
• The church moved from a smaller building located in downtown Decatur to a new facility at
3350 North MacArthur Road in 1996.
• Attendance has grown from less than 200 each Sunday to its present size that features three
identical weekend worship services offered both in person and online and in multiple venues.
• The congregation’s community impact is known through endeavors like Club 305, an afterschool program for students from Parsons Elementary School, and JumpStart, a free annual
back-to-school medical clinic for all school children in the community. First Christian Church also
manages the chaplaincy ministries of Decatur Memorial Hospital, Crossing Healthcare, and the
Cancer Care Clinic, providing a non-denominational approach to chaplaincy services for those
organizations.
• First Christian Church also is engaged in global missions in Kenya, Cuba, Central Asia, and
Poland/Ukraine.
Wayne Kent was also the host of Direct Line, a radio ministry of First Christian Church heard weekly on
WSOY News/Talk 1340am for 17 years with the final airing in January 2022.

 Brian Talty
Pastor Brian Talty is no stranger to First Christian Church. He has served in a variety of pastoral roles
during his 18-year tenure since arriving on staff in 2004. His new role as Lead Pastor come July 2022 was announced to the congregation in January 2021 to allow for an 18-month leadership transition period.
The congregation has embraced this announcement with enthusiasm and excitement for the future.
Pastor Wayne says of Brian, “The church leaders and I had extensive conversations with Brian over a long period of time. We fully believe he will lead our congregation to new ministry moments, helping our church write a new chapter in our story. The congregation graciously took on many of my ministry ideas, and I expect that will occur with Brian’s capable leadership in the years ahead.”
Brian is married to his lovely wife, Jessica, and they have four children ages 10-16.

Upcoming Pastoral Transition Events
• WEEKEND OF JUNE 18/19, 2022
Pastor Brian Talty will be installed as Lead Pastor during weekend worship services: Saturday
5pm and Sunday 9am & 10:30am.
• WEEKEND OF JUNE 25/26, 2022
Pastor Wayne Kent’s 28 years of ministry as Lead Pastor of First Christian Church will be
celebrated during weekend worship services: Saturday 5pm and Sunday 9am & 10:30am.
• SUNDAY, JUNE 26, 2022 FROM 6-8PM
Open house in honor of Pastor Wayne and Leslie Kent