Northminster's Pastors
Rev. Dr. William M. (Mike) Youngblood
Senior Pastor
Mike is a native of Independence, MO. He received his undergraduate degree in Philosophy from the University of Missouri at Kansas City; his Master of Divinity degree from McCormick Theological Seminary in Chicago; and his Doctor of Ministry degree from Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary in Austin, TX.
Before coming to Northminster, Mike served parishes in Niles, IL, where he was ordained to the Ministry of Word and Sacrament in 1972; Iowa City, IA; Topeka, KS; and Warren, OH.
Outside his congregational commitments, Mike has served as Moderator of Northern Kansas and Eastminster Presbyteries and as the Moderator of the Committee on Ministry of the Presbytery of Chicago. Currently he serves as Moderator of the Presbytery Coordinating Commission of Chicago Presbytery. He is also adjunct faculty in the Association of Chicago Theological Schools’ Doctor of Ministry in Preaching program.
Nationally, he was elected Chairperson of the National Committee on the Self-Development of People of the Presbyterian Church (USA).
Mike is married to Lori, a middle school literacy coach. He and Lori have two sons: Nathan, a Research Coordinator at Northwestern University, and Jacob, a senior at the Chicago College of the Performing Arts, Roosevelt University, Chicago.
Rev. Jessica C. Gregory
Associate Pastor
Jessica received her Master of Divinity from McCormick Theological Seminary. During her time at McCormick Jessica served as part-time youth coordinator at Fourth Presbyterian Church in Chicago and sang in the McCormick choir. Previous to seminary Jessica was a high school history teacher and track coach at Gage Park High School in Chicago Public Schools. She also taught GED classes at Albany Park Community Center. Jessica received her B.A. with honors from Knox College in Galesburg, IL and from there moved to Chicago to do her student teaching.
A native of Chesterfield, Missouri (a St. Louis suburb) Jessica has been an active Presbyterian from her youth serving as an elder at St. Mark Presbyterian Church, attending General Assembly as a Youth Advisory Delegate and moderating the Presbytery of Giddings-Lovejoy Youth Council. Upon moving to Chicago she joined Fourth Presbyterian Church where she served as a Deacon, a commissioning class teacher and youth leader. During her time at Fourth she met her husband, Ryan, who was also an involved youth leader. They live in East Rogers Park close to the lake paths where Ryan bikes and Jessica runs. In April 2010 Jessica and Ryan welcomed their son Nathan into the world. The three of them enjoy being outdoors.