Meet The Pastor
Lead Pastor Eric Tober
Eric’s early childhood was growing up on the far southside (Matteson) of Chicago and in Freeport, Bahamas where he learned to swim in the ocean and sing at St. Mary’s School by the Sea. Eric’s father left the family in the Bahamas so he, his mom Helen, and sister Robin returned and spent the rest of his youth growing up just outside Chicago in the small town of Manteno living with Eric’s grandparents, and a semi-crippled and loving Uncle Charlie.
Eric comes to Faith with over twenty years of experience serving churches in Wisconsin, S. Carolina, Va, Ct, Ill. and Pa. Eric is experienced in various positions of ministry from Youth pastor, Associate pastor, Church-planting pastor to Lead pastor. Eric has traveled to Europe, India, and China in missions work and pastor training as well as doctoral studies in Israel and Jordan. He has also spoken in the Big Ten & NFL chapels and No Regrets men's conferences.
Eric earned B.A. and M.A. Degrees in Religion (M.Div equivalency) and a Doctor of Ministry degree from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School. Eric’s doctoral project is “The Role of Preaching As A Valued Component In A New Testament Model of Discipleship” (2008). Eric studied Advanced Expository Preaching under Haddon Robinson and D.A. Carson. While Eric served on the EFCA Board, he also had the honor of serving on the Tenure Committee of Trinity International University in Deerfield, Illinois.
Eric met his wife and childhood sweetheart, Chris, at a dance recital for his sister, Robin when he was in seventh grade. They have three adult children: Jessica (married to Aaron), Heather (married to Ben), and Derek (married to Casey) and two grandkids, LJ & Sophia. Chris and Eric do marriage retreats for local churches as well as for pastors and wives.
Eric enjoys travel, dinner and a movie, playing guitar, listening to all kinds of music, Ford Mustangs, and sports of all kinds but especially basketball. Eric also participates in triathlons. Eric has participated in local theatre where he got the lead role as Fred, the lawyer, in Miracle on 34th Street and as the Advertising Executive in Twelve Angry Men.