"How We Do It"

PRAISE THE LORD!! This page is designed to give you an inside look at the wonderful people that make Metro Praise a great church to belong to.  We use the approach to leadership as found in 1 Timothy 3 and Titus 1, namely Elders and Deacons. We divide the Eldership into three main catagories: Apostolic, Pastoral, and Governing.  

The Apostolic Elders are like Paul to Timothy and they oversee the Pastoral Elders, the Pastoral Elders oversee the church as a whole, the Governing Elders oversee the various ministries, and the Deacons serve and assist the Elders in the work of the ministry.

joe wyrostek

pastoral elder - general overseer

On Nov. 5, 1995 Joe Wyrostek was powerfully saved from a life of crime and drugs at the age of 18 when his mother led him to faith and repentance in Jesus Christ.  He then whole-heartedly gave his life over to God and His call into full time ministry.  From that time forward he began to feed the needy in his home town and preach in jails, shelters, and on the streets.

From 1996-1998 Joe went to Bible College in New Orleans and graduated with an A.A. in Church Planting.  Then from 1998-2003 Joe pastored an inner city church he had started in his house.  There in New Orleans Joe and his team saw 100’s of people both young and old receive the gift of God’s great salvation, performed over 75 outreaches, gave away over 40,000 lbs of food, brought over 50 men and women off the streets, started an urban Master’s Commission with 7 students, raised over $100,000 a year for the ministry with 4 full time staff members, and held the largest weekly inner city youth services in New Orleans, with over a 100 in attendance from 9 different neighborhoods.  

The church grew to over 30 adults and 100 students, with over 500 children being reached with sidewalk Sunday schools. Metro Praise New Orleans saw God move in the French Quarter and in 9 different low-income neighborhoods.  Today the fruit still remains.

After Joe felt lead to merge the church with another pastor he went to work in Chicago as a student ministries pastor from 2003-2004.  Over the next 9 months God graced Joe to take the youth ministry from 70 to 150 students, start a college and career ministry with 6 people and grow it to over 50 young adults and to start a Master’s Commission with 7 students.  After doing what God sent him to do as a student pastor Joe resigned and started his 2nd church by the grace of God in March of 2005, Metro Praise Chicago. 

Joe is 31 years old with over 11 years of pastoral/evangelistic experience.  He has written three books, "Seven Steps to Spiritual Growth", "Disciples Making Disciples", and "Date Like A Christian" and has preached many message with the heart of Revival!!  Today Joe lives with his beautiful wife Nancy in Chicago and they together pastor Metro Praise.  To contact Joe please Click Here.

nancy wyrostek

pastoral elder - general overseer

On Nov. 3, 2000 Nancy Wyrostek rededicated her life to the Lord at the age of eighteen at a youth convention. Although she did grow up in a Christian home, it was not until that night where she felt God calling her to surrender everything for Him.

Immediately after giving her heart to Jesus, Nancy faithfully attended her youth group where she was taught and mentored under the leadership of her youth pastor.

In the months to follow Nancy went on her first mission’s trip to New Orleans, LA for a Mardi Gras Outreach. Through this trip (and many more to New Orleans and Mexico) Nancy’s heart to reach the lost grew incredibly and she felt God’s leading into the ministry.

As a leader in her youth group, Nancy helped administrate and lead teams on mission trips and her passion for the lost lead her to begin an evangelism team called “Chicago for Jesus.”  Throughthe years she continued to serve and lead in the youth ministry.

Currently Nancy leads the woman's ministry, oversees the 201 discipleship class, and co-pastors the church with Joe and continues to makes disciples that make disciples.  To contact Nancy please Click Here.  

ismael lopez

senior governing elder - worship leader/latino ministry

Ish (nickname) was brought up in a Christian home, but didn't embrace Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior until the age of nineteen when a friend helped bring him back to the Lord.  He was set free from partying and unbelief and given a true heart of love for Jesus.  Since then Ismael has sought out ways to be a servant and be useful in the kingdom of God.

Ish uses his musical talents that God has given him to serve the church and the Lord as the Sunday morning worship leader and oversees all the other worship teams.  He helps the other ministries in leading worship by teaching them musical skills and encouraging the leaders and musicians to go after God's presence.

Together with his wife Robyn they are the assistants to the pastoral elders helping oversee and govern the disciples along with the various ministries.  Ish also started the fellowship ministry called, "The Bridge" that meets every Tuesday, has one-on-one discipleship in his home every week, and he oversees the Latino ministry every Tuesday.  To contact Ish please Click Here.

robyn lopez

senior governing elder - the bridge/nursery/usher

Robyn became a born again Christian at the age of seven.  Though she went through rough times in life, Jesus was always faithful and she never strayed from His loving hand.  Losing her mother at an early age, she was drawn closer to God, and being the oldest girl in the house, by God's grace she helped raise her brothers and sisters.

Robyn grew up going to River Community Church and became a youth leader there and then moved to Belmont Assembly of God and then also served as a youth leader.  While at Belmont the Lord sent Ish into her life, who  would later become her husband, and together they worked in the young adult ministry as small groups leaders and helped serve in many different ways.  

Together, they both felt called to join Metro Praise, which was already a year old, and began to help in many different ways such as:  nursery, ushering, music, and multi-media.  Today Robyn oversees the ushering ministry, the nursery, multi-media, and the Bridge.  To contact Robyn please Click Here.

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griselda rubio

governing elder - crossover young adult ministries

Griselda gave her life to God on April 8th 2007 in a mighty way.  It was during a powerful service at Metro Praise that a guest Pastor stopped in the middle of his message and told her personal information that only a few people knew. At that moment, knowing that God was speaking to her, she chose to repent of her sins and surrender her whole life to God.  From that day forward she has been following the Lord with all her heart.

Since that day Griselda has had a tremendous heart for the lost and for the work of the ministry.  Griselda has served faithfully in Elevate Student Ministry encouraging the young people to live a life pleasing to God and to be a disciple that makes disciples.

After having a vision to start a ministry for her age group, young adults between the ages of 18-30, she started the Crossover Young Adult Ministry.  Today, she is the teaching and preaching Elder of this ministry and oversees a great team of disciples that meet every Sunday at 7pm.  Her ministry is followed with signs, wonders, and a strong presence of God's glory!!  To contact Griselda please Click Here.

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adolfo alvarez

governing elder - elevate student ministries

Adolfo's father passed away when he was a young child and he grew up in a home of fighting and loneliness.  Growing up without a father Adolfo grew resentful towards God as he entered his teen years. Eventually he began to live a rebellious life of drinking and partying. Full of anger and bitterness he even cursed out God in front of his old Catholic Church.

Then when he was 21 years old a co-worker invited him to a Elevate youth service and he began to hear about the love God.  He also began to feel the powerful life changing presence of God.  After visiting the services for about a month, he finally gave into the drawing of Holy Spirit and God totally changed and transformed his life.  At the next service Adolfo brought in the bottles of alcohol he used to drink and threw them away in front of the whole church and publicly committed his life to Jesus.

Since that day Adolfo has been a faithful disciple of Jesus Christ, serving in everyway that the church needs him.  Today Adolfo has been ordained to be the preaching and teaching Elder of Elevate, the same ministry he was saved in!!  He leads a great team of leaders and young disciples every Friday into God's presence and oversees all their activities including: small groups, outreaches, discipleship, and worship band.  To contact Adolfo please Click Here.

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sue-ellen rubio

governing elder - kings kids children's ministry/elevate

In April 2006 at the age of 23 Sue-Ellen rededicated her life to Jesus Christ at Metro Praise.  Previously, she had known the truth, but Sue-Ellen turned away from God and lived a life full of sin and self-abuse.  After repenting of her sins and yielding her life 100% to God, she has never looked back!!  Her life is marked with great fire and passion for God and a great love for the lost.  

Sue-Ellen has been ordainded as the teaching and preaching Elder of King's Kids Children's Ministry that meets every Sunday morning and also serves as the assisant Elder over Elevate Student Ministries.  Plus, Sue-Ellen helps organize the Adopt-A-Block outreach ministry that meets every Saturday in various parks.  To contact Sue-Ellen please Click Here.

ricardo rivera

deacon - prayer ministry/worship band/crossover

Ricky (nickname) remembers growing up in the fear of the Lord and always making Jesus the Lord and Savior of his life and because of God's great love and faithfulness Ricky never turned His back on Jesus. In His high school years Ricky received the baptism of the Holy Ghost and fire and was never the same again.  

As a young on fire man he become a youth leader and great mentor to other young adults. He also pioneered a young men's discipleship group that lead many young men to live a radical life for Jesus Christ.  While a youth leader he met Rachel, who would soon become his wife, and they both would marry as high school sweet hearts.  Eventually, Ricky and Rachel joined Metro Praise and began to serve and help the vision.

Today Ricky serves as the leader of the Sunday morning prayer ministry, plays the bass in the Sunday band, makes disciples that make disciples, and serves as a helper at Crossover.  To contact Rick please Click Here.

rachel rivera

deacon - worship band/crossover

Rachel gave her whole heart and life to the Lord in junior high school when she decided to yield her all to God.  She then began to use her gift of singing and playing piano to lead worship at her youth group.  For over five years Rachel was faithful to the youth ministry and while she was leading worship she also started a drama and human video ministry that touched hundreds of people's lives with the love and Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Her strong desire for God's glory and an on fire passion for souls led her to many mission trips such as the Philippians, El Salvador, and New Orleans.  After much prayer her heart for souls was drawn to Metro Praise along with Ricky, where they began to get involved in weekly evangelism and one-on-one discipleship.

Today, Rachel is still leading worship and is going from glory to glory with her own heart felt composed songs and helps lead Crossover with her gracious gift of mentorship.  To contact Rachel please Click Here.  

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andrew scienski

deacon - crossover/sound/maintenance

Andrew was brought up in church and had attended a Lutheran grade school, but always growing up with the knowledge of God and God's law did not stop him from doing his own thing once he got into high school.  In high school Andrew lived for himself and did what seemed right in his own eyes.  Though through his own eyes he wasn't "that bad" he knew he wasn't in a right relationship with God.

Once graduating high school Andrew began to drift further and further away from God, harldy ever attending church and only using his knowledge of God and the Bible to defend his selfish living.  When Andrew attended Metro Praise he began to feel the presence of God and come under conviction for his sins.  Eventually as a result of one-on-one discipleship and a inner hunger for more than just head knowledge Andrew totally yielded his life to Jesus Christ.

Since then Andrew has been a faithful servant of Jesus Christ, he has served in any way that can help the church.  His love for music led him into the sound and recording ministry of the church and his love for young adults knowing Jesus led him help start Crossover.  Today he is a vital part of what happens behind the scenes of both the Sunday morning service and Crossover, plus he oversees the work done to the church, and has opened his home for Crossover small groups and one-on-one discipleship.  To contact Andrew please Click Here.