Newell Cerak

The Gaylord area was rocked in the spring of 2006 when Newell's college daughter was thought killed in a terrible car accident near Upland, Indiana. The tragedy lead to a "standing room only" funeral held at the the Gaylord Evangelical Free church. What no one knew at the time was that Whitney Cerak was alive! Her body had been misidentified as another girl. Through a heart wrenching sequence of events Whitney was reunited with her family after being thought dead.

Newel Cerak is a New Jersey boy from the town of Clayton. He graduated from Taylor University (Indiana) and came to Gaylord in 1989 after serving as the youth director of the Upland Evangelical Mennonite Church.

He serves as the Pastor of Young Adults (High School through college-age) and has been working with youth for 28 years. He feels that God has called him to continue serving in this capacity for some time to come. He attributes his good health and good looks to God and the youth.

His wife, Colleen, actively serves with him. They have two daughters.