Executive Staff

Senior Pastor Scott Nichols

Scott Nichols, along with 35 committed men and women, planted Crossroads Community Church in Lombard on October 21, 2001. Seven years later, on August 10, 2008, Crossroads opened its new home on Gary Avenue in Carol Stream.

Today, as on our first day, Crossroads is determined to honor God by proclaiming the good news of Jesus Christ, baptizing those who repent and believe, and teaching followers to obey all God has commanded.

We are committed to four foundational pillars:

• Proclaiming the Good News of Jesus Christ
• Worshiping the Lord Jesus with joy
• Applying the Word of God to life
• Growing followers of Jesus Christ.

Scott holds a Bachelors degree in Theology from Southwest Baptist University and a Master of Arts in Ministry from Moody Bible Institute Graduate School. He is currently working toward his Doctor of Ministry degree from Southern Seminary. His loves in ministry include preaching, leadership development and evangelism. He has written small group studies, magazine articles and training guides. Scott's joy will be to finish strong and honor God with all he is and does.

Pastor Scott is married to Vicki and is father of two, Brooke Elizabeth and Isaiah Scott. The family lives in West Chicago. Scott loves reading, watching old movies and St. Louis Cardinals baseball, playing basketball, walking, and doing projects around the house.

Pastor Grant Tillotson

Grant Tillotson is our Campus Pastor at Crossroads Church in New Lenox and Pastor of Small Groups. He joined Crossroads on June 1, 2009.

Grant grew up in Winfield and is a graduate of Wheaton North High School and Wheaton College. He taught biology and math and coached football at the Stony Brook School on Long Island, New York.

After confirming God’s call on his life for the ministry, Grant enrolled in Trinity Evangelical Divinity School in Deerfield, Illinois. He graduated with a Masters of Divinity degree in May 2009.

Grant has been married to Megan since November 2009 and they currently reside in Naperville. Grant loves reading, working out, the Chicago Bears and coaching football.

Pastor Robert Paye

Robert Paye is our Pastor of Outreach to the Community. He joined the staff in October 2009.

A Liberian, Robert accepted Jesus Christ as his Savior and Lord through a church planted by the Worldwide Evangelization Crusade (United Liberia Inland Church).

He received the call to the pastorate during high school. He then studied at African Bible College (Liberia) where he received his B.A. in Biblical Studies. He served as pastor, schoolteacher, and membership recruiter for the Association of Evangelicals of Liberia (AEL) during most of Liberia’s 14-year civil war, during which he almost lost his life.

Wheaton College Graduate School enrolled Robert as a Billy Graham Scholar in 1999. He graduated from Wheaton with an M.A. in Biblical Theology in 2001.

He served as Associate Pastor of Bridgeway Community Church in Carol Stream from 2004 to 2009. He is studying toward a Ph.D. in Intercultural Studies at Trinity International University.

Robert and his wife, Marie, founded Gainers Ministries to help rebuild Liberia, their war-torn homeland. Robert serves as director and current projects include building a library and a children’s medical center.

Robert and Marie live with their five children, Dato, Robin, Muabon, Dyeato, and Jiajay, in Carol Stream. Robert loves reading, writing, walking, soccer, and watching basketball.

Eric Marquez

Eric Marquez is our Pastor of Worship Ministry. He joined Crossroads in March, 2010.

Eric has served in worship music ministry for the past 15 years, forming and leading worship teams throughout the Chicago area through New Life Community Church. Eric is a member of the worship band called Dangerous Surrender, which travels regionally to minister to churches.

Eric and his wife, Connie, have served as missionaries to Spain and Brazil and are part of Safe Families, an organization that helps troubled families by temporarily giving custody of a child or children to a “safe family” while the parents get the help they need to be better parents.

Eric and Connie have four boys, Manuel Francisco, Eric Martin, Jr,, Jaden Samuel, and David Isaiah. They also have two foster daughters, Deshunna and Danyshia. The family lives in Chicago. Eric loves the arts, especially music, as well as Bears football, White Sox baseball, and being outdoors.

Lori Wright

Lori Wright is the Children’s Ministries Director at Crossroads. Lori has her bachelors degree in Psychology from the University of Illinois and her minor in Christian Education from Lincoln Christian University. She has served children and their families both in the public school system, special education, and in various church ministries for 20 years. Her loves are teaching God’s word with creativity, mentoring parents to effectively disciple their children, and training young people to be servant leaders in their churches and schools.

Lori lives in Wheaton with her husband Chris, who leads the church planting center at Crossroads and trains other church planters in the region. They have three children, Noah, Jonah, and Hannah. Lori loves cooking, coffee, reading, music, and exploring the city of Chicago and its museums and restaurants with her family. Lori joined Crossroads in 2011.