Walter Sheets
Our Senior Pastor

Walter joined the Pana First family in August of 2011 as our Senior Pastor. He had previously been the pastor of this church from June of 1994 to November of 1996. He has also pastored in Royalton, IL; Decatur, IL and Mattoon, IL. In 1994 he was ordained as an elder in the Church of the Nazarene.

Before becoming a full time minister, Walter was employed as the General Services Manager for Hewlett Packard Company in St. Louis and was a vice president of Office Plus. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration with majors in Human Resource Management and Economics; a Master of Business Administration degree and an earned Doctor of Ministry degree.

Walter is a gifted administrative leader and teacher of God’s Word. He invites you to join us each Sunday as he teaches God’s Word.

Barbara Sheets
Our Associate Pastor

Barbara joined the Pana First family in August when she and Walter accepted the call to lead our church. She has served as the Director of Christian Education for churches in Mattoon and Decatur. She has also been an instructor of Speech Communication for SIUE and several community colleges.

Barbara holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Education and a Master of Arts degree in Speech Communication. She also holds an earned Doctor of Ministry degree and is ordained in the Church of the Nazarene.

As a gifted speaker and teacher, Barbara has been a guest speaker at several church and civic functions. She is also the author of a book entitled Beyond Our Daily Bread.

Who Are These Nazarenes?

The Church of the Nazarene is a Protestant Christian church in the Wesleyan-Holiness tradition, tracing its roots to an anniversary date of 1908. It was founded to spread the message of scriptural holiness (Christlike living) across the lands. Today the Church of the Nazarene is located in 151 world areas.

The Church of the Nazarene is a Great Commission church. We believe that God offers to everyone forgiveness, peace, joy, purpose, love, meaning in life, and the promise of heaven when life is over by entering and experiencing a personal relationship with God through Jesus Christ. We are called to take this message to people everywhere.

The Church of the Nazarene is also a holiness church. We believe that Christians can experience a deeper level of life in which there is victory over sin, power to witness and serve, and a richer fellowship with God, all through the infilling of the Holy Spirit. More...