I was born in Huntsville, Alabama, but grew up all over the country (and in Germany for a bit) because of my dad’s career in the US Army. Ultimately, we landed in El Paso, TX, which is where I attended high school and where my dad retired from the military. After graduating from J.M Hanks High School (Go Knights!), I attended Texas Christian University (Go Frogs!) in Fort Worth, TX, where I majored in Religious Studies. After college, I attended seminary at Brite Divinity School in Fort Worth, TX and Phillips Theological Seminary in Tulsa, OK.  In May of 2019 I completed my Doctor of Ministry degree at PTS. 

It’s such a blessing to serve at Hillcrest, and I’m excited about the ways we can step out in faith together. Before serving at Hillcrest, I served for 8 years at Smithville First Christian Church in Smithville, MO., 4.5 years as Senior Minister and 3.5 years as Associate Minister. Before serving in Smithville, I served for 4.5 years as the Minister for Youth and Young Adults at Hillside Christian Church in Kansas City, MO. I've also served as Minister to Youth at First Christian Church in Fayetteville, AR, as the Regional Youth Minister for the Great River Region of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), as Associate Minister at First Christian Church in Abilene, TX, and as Area Youth Minister for the Trinity Brazos Area in Fort Worth, TX. All told, I have served Disciples congregations and regions for more than 22 years. My first love in ministry is the work we do for and with young people, and I believe that youth ministry, young adult ministry and family ministry are central to our call to make disciples who serve God and strive for justice in the world. I am also passionate about preaching, writing (curriculum, articles and books), intergenerational ministry, mission, and creative worship. 

My hobbies include yarncraft (knitting and crochet), writing, reading science fiction or fantasy literature, walking, listening to music, taking in an occasional movie, and spending time with my family. My husband, Chuck, is also a Disciples pastor who serves as Minister to Youth at Saint Andrew Christian Church in Olathe, KS and Associate Minister at Overland Park Christian Church in Overland Park, KS. We currently have one “fur child”: a tortoiseshell cat named Willow. In September of 2017 we adopted our daughter, Violet, at the ripe age of two days old.  She is the joy of our lives!

I have been in the Greater KC area my whole life. I was born and raised in Merriam, KS and currently live in Lenexa, KS. I received my MDIV degree from Central Seminary and was ordained at Woodson Chapel Christian Church in St. Joseph, MO.

I started out in ministry as the Children’s Minister at Countryside Christian Church, In 2006 I was the Pastor of Discipleship at St. Margaret’s Episcopal Church, a non-traditional Episcopal church in Lawrence, KS. While at St. Margaret’s I had the opportunity to work with all ages, overseeing the youth and children ministries, working with marriage group and adult Bible studies. In 2008 I was called as the Senior Minister to Woodson Chapel Christian Church in St. Joseph and commuted 4 days a week. At Woodson we started a meal ministry to the homeless and worked with the Hispanic Ministries in the community and helped one of their churches rebuild after a fire.  In 2015 I was called to be the Senior Minister at Blue Valley Christian Church. They had sold their building about a year before I arrived. We started meeting in an Independent and assisted living community (Silvercrest at Deer Creek) to be their church, offer worship, outreach opportunities, fellowship and activities. We volunteer and are there throughout the week. We are involved with both the residents and the staff. On Aug. 2, 2023 BVCC officially merged with Hillcrest and I’m excited that the ministry at Silvercrest will continue through Hillcrest. We have built a relationship with the residents and staff and it has turned into a wonderful partnership and we can see God at work in this ministry. I’m thankful to be Hillcrest’s Chaplain for the ministry at Silvercrest.

My husband, Dennis, and I will have been married for 36 years this December. We have one daughter and two grandchildren. Our grandson, Corbin, just started college Pitt State and is planning on majoring in business.  Our granddaughter, Eleanor, is a sophomore at Shawnee Mission Northwest. We have been fortunate to have them live close by all their lives and we are able to be involved in their activities.