Rev. Dr. Juancho C. Campañano assumes the pastorate at First United Methodist Church of Western Springs on July 1, 2020. Dr.
Campañano brings to the pastor’s office a wealth of expertise, gifts, talents and experiences in the fields of ministry, pastoral care and chaplaincy. Juancho started ministry in 1983 when he received his first preaching license. In 1987, he was ordained in the United Church of Christ in the Philippines and served as parish pastor, seminary professor and conference minister. In 1995, Juancho and his family migrated to the United Sates and served as a pastor with the Presbyterian Church, USA and the United Methodist Church through the Northern Illinois Conference. Before his appointment to FUMC of Western Springs, he served as the Senior Chaplain and Spiritual Care Manager of J.U.S.T. of DuPage. In 2017, he became the Chaplain/Director of Mission and Spiritual Care for the Methodist Hospital of Chicago and Bethany Retirement Community. Juancho holds a Master of Divinity, and Master of Theology degrees and a Doctorate of Philosophy degree in Theology, Ethics and Leadership. He is also a Board Certified Chaplain from the Association of Professional Chaplains. He is also a Certified Marriage and Family Therapist and a Certified Fire and Police Chaplain. Juancho also taught Philosophy, Ethics and Religion in several colleges/universities in the Chicago area. Juancho has authored two books: One, “Speaking from the Heart” (2015) and a second one, “Punctuation Marks for Living” about to come off the press in early 2020. Juancho and his wife, Rev. Digna S. Campañano live in Aurora, Illinois and is gifted with two grown and married daughters – Hesed Dianne Conway, RN, lives with her husband, James, in Boston, MA and Kharis Christi Cottrell, MS, lives with her husband Matthew, in Cincinnati, OH. Juancho loves and cares for people, very good in what he does, creative and fun to work and learn with. He is very excited to be the pastor of First Church and join in the team called in making disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world.