By Paul Black
SPRINGFIELD – Bishop Frank J. Beard, in consultation with the Conference Council on Finance and Administration, the Conference Personnel Committee and the Cabinet of the Illinois Great Rivers Conference announced Jan. 25 the appointment of the Rev. Mike Potts as the new Conference Director of Administrative Services, effective March 1.
“Rev. Potts has a strong history as an entrepreneur,” Beard said in making the announcement. “He is a hard worker, a team builder and has a keen eye for oversight and management. During the interview process, he spoke of the position as a calling to ministry.”
The bishop noted that Potts “emerged as the cream of a great crop of applicants.” Beard added, “His gifts in areas of financial management, administration and leadership makes him an ideal hire.”
Potts is currently Executive Pastor at Champaign New Horizon UMC, was selected from a field of 39 applicants for the position. He has been part of New Horizon’s transition as a successful new church start. Working in partnership with the General Council on Finance and Administration in the search process, candidates were screened and four finalists were interviewed by the IGRC Personnel Committee’s interview team.
Born and raised in Illinois, Potts has been involved in small business ownership, corporate business management as well as not-for-profit and local church leadership. He has a passion for creating healthy work environments which empowers and enables teams to accomplish their collective goals together.
In 2004, God led Potts and his family to a life-changing decision when he left the corporate world to serve Jesus Christ through the local church when he became Executive Director of New Horizon UMC. After becoming a provisional deacon in June 2017, he was appointed to New Horizon as Executive Pastor. He served as a member of the Conference Council on Finance and Administration since 2011 and chaired CCFA from 2014 to 2017.
Mike Potts is married to Jamee and they have a daughter named Allison. He is a graduate of Eastern Illinois University and has post-graduate degrees from the University of Illinois and United Theological Seminary.