PASTOR JOHNNY LECKIE
Hi, my name is Johnny Leckie and this is my lovely wife, Leona. I have been in ministry for many years, and Leona is an experienced public school teacher. I also have a website and podcast for ministry leaders called “MinistryBackpack.com,” and work with Severe Needs/Autism Students as a Para-Educator during the week at Arkansas Elementary.
I grew up in Shreveport, Louisiana and Leona was born and raised in Anchorage, Alaska. We met in college and were married the day after we graduated. We lived in Texas afterwards, spending most of that time in Fort Worth. While in Texas, I earned my Bachelor of Arts Degree from East Texas Baptist University and my Masters Degree from Southwestern Seminary.
We have lived in Aurora, Colorado since 2014, and we love it! We love the mountains, the whole Denver Metro area, the vibe, and particularly the people of Aurora – and we are so thankful that God has called us to serve and make our home here in Colorado.
I love creating and playing music, watching classic and modern movies, reading mysteries and ministry books, and writing. Leona is an amazing cook, loves polar bears and “Peanuts” characters (especially Sally), reading and watching mysteries, and is a big fan of ice cream! Leona and I both love hiking in the mountains, camping, coffee and campfires.
We also love being a part of Compass Church! Pastoring Compass Church has been the great adventure and ministry joy of my life. The people of Compass are friends, family and neighbors who know that the only “perfect person” allowed at our gatherings is the One we’ve gathered to worship: Christ Jesus. That understanding has created a welcoming and joyous environment of creativity, passion, ministry and mission, and it’s amazing to see how God is working in the lives of people here. I can’t wait to see what God does through Compass in the days ahead!
We’d also love to have you on the journey with us as we follow Jesus with all of our hearts, and develop more, stronger and closer followers of Christ!
CONTACT PASTOR JOHNNY | Johnny@CompassDenver.com
ASSOCIATE PASTOR BOB NELSON
Hi, I’m Bob Nelson and this is my wonderful wife, Joy. I have served in several areas of leadership in our “sending” church – the church where I found the truth of God’s love for me. I recently earned a Master’s degree with a Biblical Counseling emphasis. I work in finance but have had a diverse work background: park ranger, police officer, museum security department supervisor. Joy helps people foster their creativity through cardmaking and other crafts and also provides respite care for a family with a child with special needs.
I am a Colorado native and Joy is from Missouri but has called Aurora home for quite some time. I hike and run, read a lot and write a little, and I immensely enjoy things that combine those activities. Joy loves crafting of many sorts and a book/movie/series with a good mystery to it. We both enjoy the arts and are huge fans of the theater. We met in a creative writing class and our first date – a play our professor was in – was just supposed to be extra credit for class, not a date!
Colorado is my home and my heart wanders to the wilderness often when I am sitting at my desk. I love being so close to God’s majestic handiwork. I have lived in Aurora for most of my life and I have seen it change in so many ways, both for the good and the bad. My hometown has so many opportunities to bring a little bit of the Kingdom of Heaven to earth so that its residents can feel some of God’s healing touch.
This is why I am so excited to be a part of Compass Church. It’s a wonderful group of people who know we’re not perfect but rather that we’re all on a journey to bring some of that healing to Aurora, Colorado and the world.
CONTACT PASTOR BOB | Bob@CompassDenver.com