Gregg, Diane, Ainslee and Eli - Fall 2006 Gregg L.J. Hemmen was our pastor/shepherd from August, 1994, through October, 2007. He was born on July 10, 1964 and lived the first 25 years of his life in and around Steamboat Rock, Iowa. Most of you have probably not heard of Steamboat Rock as it only boasts about 355 residents but it has some of the best swimming holes in the Iowa River and the area can grow some of the best sweet corn you have ever tasted. Gregg's high school graduating class had 15 people. So, at the very least Gregg can say he was in the top 15 of his graduating class.
After high school, Gregg planned on farming in central Iowa for the rest of his life. He enrolled in Ellsworth Community College and received an A.A.S. in Farm Operations and Management. But the more he became involved in his local church, the more he was drawn to serving a church in a more focused way. Gregg quit farming and went back to school in 1989 at the University of Sioux Falls in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. There he received a bachelor's in Religious Studies. From there he enrolled at North American Baptist Seminary where he received a Master of Divinity (the normal preacher's degree) and a Master of Arts in Counseling. While in Sioux Falls, Gregg met Diane. They dated for 4 ˝ years and were married on May 7, 1994. In August of 1994, Gregg became the pastor of Cane Creek Baptist Church.
Since being in North Carolina, Gregg has continued to try and hone his skills as a pastor. He completed doctoral work in 2001 through Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary in Boston.
Gregg's wife Diane is the Associate Pastor for Youth and Congregational Life at University Presbyterian Church in Chapel Hill. Yes, they are a blended-faith family (Baptist and Presbyterian) but they serve and work for the same God. Gregg and Diane are the proud parents of Ainslee Janssen Hemmen, born on March 22, 2002, and Eli Janssen Hemmen, born November 24, 2003. Ainslee loves dancing, baking with her grandmother, reading books, and being in charge. Eli loves dirt, tractors, Thomas the Train, and his sister…probably in that order.
Here are some pictures from Gregg's trip to Iowa in October ’05. Here are photos from Gregg's 2006 vacation!
You can still send email to Gregg: Gregg@canecreek.org
Kraig McBroom
Kraig McBroom began his service as Minister of Music for Cane Creek Baptist Church in 1983. Mr. McBroom received his Batchelor of Music Education degree from UNC - Chapel Hill, and has done graduate work at Duke and Penn State Universities. Since working with infamous choral/bandleader Fred Waring, he has been teaching choral music for the past 24 years. Kraig has served as musical director for the Steve Gatlin productions in Myrtle Beach, S.C., and also directs a community vocal ensemble there, "Vocal Edition."
After growing up in Durham where he was very involved in the music and youth programs at Grey Stone Baptist Church, Kraig entered the music ministry while in college. He served as Minister of Music at Grace and Lowes Grove Baptist Churches in Durham before coming to Cane Creek. Kraig believes that music provides a vital ministry to the church, and is a great source of evangelistic outreach.
To send email to Kraig: Kraig@canecreek.org
