Watch these two videos of Pastor Colin Smith's decision to step down from his position as Senior Pastor, and The Board's recommendation of Senior Pastor Candidate Brad Wetherell.
Announcement 1
Pastor Colin Smith announces stepping down as Senior Pastor of The Orchard.
Announcement 2
Announcing Senior Pastor Candidate Brad Wetherell.
have a question about this pastoral transition?
get to know brad wetherell
Brad is a gifted preacher and has demonstrated strong and effective leadership with a collaborative work style. He is a strategic thinker and is committed to faithfully following Christ. Brad is also a man who is committed to prayer.
The role of the Board in this process has been to identify the candidate and make the recommendation to the membership. Now, the responsibility shifts to our members. According to our Bylaws, it is the member’s role to vote on the Senior Pastor candidate. This is a decision that belongs to all of us.
Brad Wetherell was raised in Glen Ellyn, Illinois. He came to know Christ at a young age and began to discern a call to ministry toward the end of high school. This call was confirmed at The Orchard, where he has served in pastoral ministry since 2011.
Brad first came to The Orchard while he was a student at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School pursuing his Master of Divinity. He visited The Orchard Arlington Heights in August 2010 and has never left. He began volunteering as a small group leader for freshman guys. One year later, he joined the staff as a pastoral intern. When Pastor Tom Olson (the High School Pastor at the time) was asked to lead The Orchard Barrington, Brad stepped in as the interim High School Pastor. After a thorough search, Brad was hired as the Pastor of Student Ministries at The Orchard Arlington Heights in June 2012.
After nearly 5 years in that role, Brad was invited to serve The Orchard as the Itasca Campus Pastor where he faithfully served for three years. Brad started serving as the Arlington Heights Campus Pastor in June 2020.
Brad was ordained by our denomination, the Evangelical Free Church of America, in 2018. Brad received his Doctor of Ministry from The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in 2022.
In addition to his responsibilities at The Orchard, Brad leads the Steering Committee for The Gospel Coalition’s Chicago Regional Chapter, which gathers like-minded pastors from the Chicago area for encouragement, fellowship, and prayer. Brad is also the author of a forthcoming book on the transforming power of a believer’s union with Christ (published by Crossway, 2026).
Brad and his wife, Kristen, met at The Orchard and have been married since 2014. They have three children: Joanna (7), John (4), and Lydia (2). In addition to raising their three kids, Kristen is a gifted author who has written many books for both adults and kids. Both Brad’s and Kristen’s parents are members of The Orchard Arlington Heights.
Brad loves spending time with his family, from routine days off to annual vacations. When they have a date night, he and Kristen like finding new restaurants where they can share good food and conversation. In his free time, Brad enjoys reading, running, and golfing. As a life-long fan of the Chicago Cubs, he also enjoys reminiscing about November 2, 2016. Above all, Brad loves Christ and considers knowing Him and serving Him the greatest privilege and joy.
Preaching Schedule
Hear Pastor Brad Wetherell preach in person in the coming weeks:
| Date | Location |
|---|---|
| February 2 | Arlington Heights |
| February 8 & 9 | Barrington |
| February 16 | North Shore |
| February 23 | Vernon Hills |
| March 2 | Itasca |
| March 9 | Marengo |
| Date | Location | Time |
|---|---|---|
| February 2 | Arlington Heights | 3:30-4:30 pm |
| February 8 | Barrington | 6:30-7:30 pm |
| February 13 | Arlington Heights | 6:30-7:30 pm |
| February 16 | North Shore | 12:15-1:15 pm |
| February 23 | Vernon Hills | 5-6 pm |
| March 2 | Itasca | 11:15 am–12:15 pm |
| March 2 | Barrington | 5-6 pm |
| March 9 | Marengo | 11:30 am – 12:30 pm |
Q&A Session Schedule
These sessions will provide an opportunity for you to get to know Pastor Brad Wetherell. You may ask questions at the Q&A Sessions or submit questions in advance to seniorpastortransition@theorchard.church.
Senior Pastor Transition Contact
A celebration of god's faithfulness
May 4, 2025
5:30-8 pm
Renaissance Schamburg, 1551 Thoreau Dr N., Schaumburg, IL 60173
Join us as we celebrate what God has done through Pastor Colin at The Orchard in the past 28 years and welcome our new Senior Pastor through worship and prayer. This will take the place of our Annual Membership Meeting. All are welcome. Cookies and coffee will be served from 5:30-6:30 pm.
Send a note of thanks to Pastor Colin and Karen.
If you’d like to express your appreciation for Pastor Colin and Karen, blank notecards will be available by February 23 for you to pick up at the Welcome Center at your local campus. Please return to church by Sunday, April 13 so we can deliver them to the Smiths.
To glorify God by growing in faith, hope, and love, through the gospel of Jesus Christ.
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