For the past 5 years the Overseers and Site Leaders have been working on a plan for Pastor Paul Johnson’s retirement from full-time ministry and what that would mean for the future of our network. We decided to divide Pastor Paul’s job duties into two categories and to look for a candidate to fulfill the role of Lead Pastor of Woodridge and a second candidate to fill the role of Lead Pastor of Aspen Grove. The Overseers are excited  to report recommendations of this 5 year succession planning process and are calling a Special Members Meeting on Wednesday May 31 at 6:30pm for the following purposes:

• To receive new members. A membership class will be offered Sunday, May 21 at 10:30am at Woodridge. There is a link provided below for the class. Please reach out to  with any questions regarding becoming a member before our May 31st meeting.

• To receive Paul Johnson's resignation as Lead Pastor of Aspen Grove effective October 29, 2023 and resignation as Senior Pastor of Woodridge Church effective October 1, 2024. Paul will become the Pastor of Generosity for Aspen Grove and one of our regular speaking Pastors.

• To confirm the unanimous decision of the search team mandated by our constitution that Drew Johnson become Lead Pastor of Aspen Grove. We will vote to confirm this decision and Drew will officially become the Lead Pastor on October 29, 2023. The search team was made up of Overseer members Michelle King, Becky Hunter, and Rich Rizzardi and Site Pastor members Paul Johnson and Aaron Sorenson. 

• To confirm the unanimous decision by our search team that we hire Zac Bush to become the Lead Pastor Designate of Woodridge Church on August 1, 2023 and Lead Pastor of Woodridge Church 14 months later on October 1, 2024. The search team was made up of our Overseers (Paul Johnson, Michelle King, Peter Swanson, Rich Rizzardi, Brent Bills, Miranda Brouwer, Luke Sullivan, and Becky Hunter) and Leadership Team (Aaron Sorenson, Amy Trepau, Jana Haugen, Paul Johnson, Drew Johnson, and Megan Thorp).

Below are links to two special web pages created for Aspen Grove Network attenders to learn more about who Zac is, see a video hello from Zac and Cassie Bush, watch some of Zac’s sermons, view recommendations from people who know Zac well, and hear from some our Overseers and Site Leaders about the process and their own recommendations of Zac. You can also start reading answers to questions that have already been asked about Zac and this process. 

The second link introducing Drew Johnson includes a video from Drew and recommendations.

Each page also includes a form for you to ask your own questions about Zac, Drew, this process, and the future of Aspen Grove. The Overseers and Leadership Team are open to your comments and questions. 

Meet Zac Bush

Meet Drew Johnson

Sign Up for Membership Class

We also want to invite you to a couple opportunities to meet with Zac and his wife Cassie and Drew and his wife Lauren before the Members Meeting. Some of our Overseers and Leadership Team will be present at each of these too.

Finally, we want to encourage you to pray. Every new season brings transition and change. And, this summer and fall will bring some of the most significant changes our network and Woodridge have ever experienced. Please join us in praying for God’s leadership and guidance of our network and our church communities. Pray for the continued unity of our board, our staff team, and our church. Join us in praising and thanking God for taking care of us and providing for us. 

On behalf of the Overseers and Leadership Team.