Staff

Our staff are all people that are experiencing a life of victorious Christianity, and eager to teach you how you may also live this victorious life. These men and women have helped many find a dynamic love relationship with Jesus Christ through preaching, teaching, mentoring, and fellowship.

Dr. Paul Kingsbury – Pastor of North Love Baptist Church and Co-Founder/Chairman Reformers Unanimous

Dr. Paul Kingsbury was raised in a Christian home and came to know the Lord Jesus as his personal Savior at five years of age. At sixteen he surrendered to serve Christ with his life under the preaching ministry of Dr. Jack Hyles of Hammond, Indiana. He began preaching in jails, nursing homes and rescue missions. He attended Maranatha Baptist Bible College and graduated from Hyles-Anderson College in 1976.

While in Bible College training for the ministry, Dr. Kingsbury was introduced to the ministries of North Love Baptist Church in Rockford Illinois, near the city of Chicago. Becoming a member of North Love in 1972, Brother Kingsbury served and was mentored under the ministry of Dr. James Alley. Dr. Kingsbury has been the senior pastor of North Love since 1982, with a congregation that has grown to nine hundred regular attending members. In 1996 Dr. Kingsbury founded Reformers Unanimous along with Steve Curington, and has served as Chairman of the board since it’s inception.

Dr. Kingsbury has been privileged to preach across the United States and in more than two dozen foreign countries in his thirty- six years of ministry. He and his wife Dianne have twelve children, all of whom are serving Christ with their lives, as well as four grandchildren.

He is an active part in the Schools of Discipleship, his warm, Bible preaching, tender heart and balanced approach to the Christian life have a major impact on students. Pastor Kingsbury has a great heart for those with addictions his teaching and preaching can be of great benefit to your flight to freedom.

Steve Curington – Founder

Steve was the founder of Reformers Unanimous addiction program, and the RU Schools of Discipleship. He died suddenly of a heart attack on October 30, 2010. His unexpected death has cast a vibrant ripple effect across the Reformers Unanimous nation of students, directors, leaders, disciples, and well-wishers. Mr. Curington was a powerful force. Steve, a husband and father of five children, was so young to die. He was only 45, but he accomplished more in 15 years of ministry than many do in a lifetime. We mourn the loss of Steve Curington along with the thousands of individuals who have been impacted by his ministry.  We know his work, his writing, his voice, and his reach will live on.

Brother Curington’s teachings are still a key element to our students’ spiritual growth, and development. These are not warmed over truths culled from a book, but these are truths that God gave Steve, these truths are still taught through our curriculum, chapels, and at various times in Friday night class.

Chris Lemke- Director of Housing

Chris Lemke comes to the ministry of Reformers Unanimous as a product of our Men’s Discipleship Home Ministry. Chris was raised in Pennsylvania, schooled at the University of Pittsburgh, and graduated with a degree in Business Administration. During his college years, Chris developed a severe alcohol addiction. Looking to his physician Dr. Tim Gaul for help, he was introduced to the ministries of Reformers Unanimous. As God would so orchestrate, Dr. Gaul is also the RU Director at Bible Baptist Church in Latrobe, Pennsylvania. This local church RU ministry was the catalyst for Chris’ return to the Lord, but he was unable to gain lasting victory. Because of this, Chris decided to go to the Men’s School of Discipleship, located in Rockford, Illinois. God used the RU housing program to bring lasting freedom to Brother Lemke.

After graduating from the Men’s School of Discipleship, Brother Lemke was hired to serve as the executive assistant to ministry president, Steve Curington. For the next three years, Brother Lemke was closely mentored at the hand of Brother Curington and acquired his heart and vision for the ministry to the hurting. Calling upon what he has learned, Brother Lemke now serves as the Housing Director, leading the men’s home, ladies home, and graduates program. His heart of personal experience and compassion for the hurting coupled with his competency in business management provides our housing ministry with a wonderful balance in leadership.

Chris currently resides in Rockford, IL with his wife, Joy—Pastor Kingsbury’s first daughter, whom he was introduced to following his graduation of the Men’s School of Discipleship.

Bryan Braddock- Dean of Men

Bryan Braddock graduated from Francis Marion University with a degree in Economics and English.  After graduation, Bryan worked hard in Real Estate and eventually owned his very own company. However, addiction destroyed his whole life, business, and family. In 2006, Bryan came to the Reformers Unanimous Schools of Discipleship.  Through the relationship Bryan developed with Christ and the truths learned at RU, God restored his family and business. Bryan went home and became a faithful church member, becoming a deacon and the director of the church’s addiction class. In 2009, God called Bryan back to Rockford to work in leadership at the Men’s School of Discipleship. Bryan brings a great deal of practical and professional experience to his job, and has a genuine heart for struggling men. Bryan lives in Machesney Park, Illinois with his wife Tracey, and their three daughters: Hannah, Hayley, and Hayden.

Joy Lemke – Dean of Women

Joy Lemke was raised in a Pastor’s home and attended Christian school her entire life. However, she always felt as if there was something missing. In her late teens she began to observe this missing element in the lives of people struggling with personal issues, a personal love relationship with Jesus Christ. From that time on, Joy felt a distinct burden to help hurting women find this same relationship in Christ. After attending West Coast Baptist college, studying theology and counseling, Joy helped found the RU Women’s School Of Discipleship in 2002. Joy has seen the growth of the women’s home from one woman to over 40, and has a vision of ministering to over 80 women in the new women’s home.