Getting involved in the community is a great way to cultivate one’s spirit. Perhaps no one exemplifies this notion better than Jason Yurechko. Yurechko is currently a director of faith formation at Nativity of Our Savior Church and School in Portage. However, he has had a strong presence in Northwest Indiana for years, from creating his own media design business to being involved with the Gary SouthShore RailCats to being a member of a local cover band.
“As a director of faith formation, I envision my role as a ‘faith horticulturalist,’ or someone who plants seeds for others,” Yurechko said. “I am here to inform and guide. In reality, this has been my mentality in all the various roles I have had over the years. Just seeing how people serve others is a reward in its own right.”
Growing up in Hebron, Yurechko attended Andrean High School. After graduating, he went to Ball State University to study graphic design. While there, he was involved in many activities such as football, ice hockey, student government, and St. Mary’s Parish in Muncie.
After graduating, he worked at various jobs in Northwest Indiana and downtown Chicago. Yurechko states that he has worked for every Chicago professional sports team except for the White Sox and Blackhawks. Additionally, since 2003 Yurechko has devoted his time to being the on-field announcer for the Gary SouthShore RailCats.
“Despite working in Chicago for so many years, my heart will always be in Northwest Indiana,” Yurechko said. “For the past 16 seasons, the RailCats have always been a great home for me.”
Yurechko also provides his vocal talent for a local cover band named Misbehavin’, which primarily plays songs from bands like The Blues Brothers.
About 11 years ago, he began his own business called Higher Ground Creative Media, specializing in providing business-to-business and business-to-consumer marketing, design, and media services for small to medium companies in the Midwest.
“Creating and growing this business has really taught me how to apply my daily outlook and my faith to various aspects of my life, especially my relationships with others,” Yurechko said.
In hindsight, Yurechko stated that the foundation of his work and the center of his life has always been his faith and his relationship with Christ.
“What truly guides me is not just my personal relationship with Christ, but my relationship with Christ with others,” Yurechko said. “In other words, it is the opportunity to serve. All of my work these past years and the relationships I have cultivated represent my faith in Him. I can't wait to see where the good Lord is going to put me next.”
Yurecko is happily married with two wonderful kids and is always looking for more ways to give back to the community.