Leadership

Nate Loucks, a pastor at State Street and the President of the Pax Center, planted State Street in downtown LaPorte in 2009 with a group of friends and family. He graduated from Bethel College, earning a B.A. and M.Min., and completed the New Kind of Preacher program at Northern Seminary in Lombard, IL. The Indiana University O'Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs certified him in Nonprofit Executive Leadership.

Nate served the City of LaPorte as a Human Rights Commissioner and held positions on the boards of the NWI Food Council, Family Advocates, Inc., and the Singing Co. of LaPorte County. Leadership LaPorte County honored him with the Spirit of Leadership Award. The Greater LaPorte Chamber of Commerce named him 2017's Outstanding Young LaPortean, and the South Bend Regional Chamber of Commerce included him in the Michiana Forty Under 40. He also received the Ray and Lucy Swanson Community Service Award.

Nate is the father of three children: Nora, Finley, and Harrison.

In 2011, Becky Crain took up a part-time worship leader position at State Street. She expanded her role to include teaching and discipleship in 2016 when she assumed a full-time associate pastor role. Becky graduated from Lincoln Christian University and Middle Tennessee State University, and Bethel College awarded her an MA.

For seven years, Becky directed children's programs and spent nine years as a full-time educator before she joined the State Street staff full-time. Leadership LaPorte County counts her as a graduate, and she volunteers her time at the Pax Center. Becky and her husband Joel are parents to three children.

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Taylor Emmons started working at State Street in June 2019, though she has been a community member for many years. Taylor has her undergraduate degree in Behavioral Science from Purdue University Northwest.

Taylor is married to Jared and has three children.

Since 2021, Michelle Minich has been serving as the Youth Director at State Street Community Church. Before that, she directed the Youth Ministry at St. Teresa of Avila Catholic Student Center in Valparaiso. Her experience also includes roles at Rockland Community Church in Golden, Colorado; First Presbyterian Church in Boulder, Colorado; and Saddleback Church in Lake Forest, California.

Valparaiso University's Theology Department invited Minich as a guest lecturer on Youth Ministry. She holds Bachelor's Degrees in Psychology, Theology, and Youth and Family Ministry from Valpo, and a Master's in Youth, Family, and Culture from Fuller Theological Seminary.

Michelle, her husband Nick, and their daughters Faith and Charlie live in LaPorte.

Since 2015, Kathy Claeys has been serving as the Director of State Street Preschool, after leading preschools in the area for many years. Kathy's compassion, kindness, and ability to make education fun for preschool children distinguish her. She is a mother to six adult children and Roger's wife.

Adam Hannon is a Detective with the LaPorte County Sheriff's Office. He's married to Shannon and has two daughters.

Neal Loucks is a retired former business owner and entrepreneur. He's married to Juanita. They have eight adult children. 

Mark Secor is the Chief Financial Officer of Horizon Bank. He’s married to Julie Secor (our first children’s director) and has two adult children.