CP Team

Meet the CP Team

The Kidology CP Team (Children's Pastors Team) is a volunteer team of children's pastors who share Kidology's passion to equip and encourage those in children's ministry and volunteer their time, expertise and experience on Kidology.org.

They seek to make sure every question in the forum receives a thoughtful answer. They help keep us current with movie and product reviews and keep us sharp with book and events reports. Bottom line, they are fellow comrades in ministry committed to going the extra mile to share with our members from their lives and ministries so together we all can do a better job reaching and teaching children.

Kenny Acock is the volunteer Children's Pastor at West High Baptist Church. Prior to serving at West High Baptist he volunteered in the Children's Ministry at Faith Bible Church for over 14 years. He is single with no family. When not serving God through Children's Ministry he enjoys Sci-Fi, the Phoenix Suns, Arizona Diamondbacks, the New York Yankees, and chocolate. Kenny has a brother who is a member of the Dancin Dads and a twin brother who is a missionary at Agua Viva Ministries in Mexico.

Kenny has worked in many industries, including insurance, banking. He also fulfilled his childhood dream to become a computer programmer. God had other plans for him, however. He served in the Children's Ministry for one summer "to be nice". Even as he was working as a computer programmer he found himself looking forward to Sundays. Over time he began to realize that he was being called to full time ministry to children. Kenny has recently completed his Bachelor's Degree for Christian Leadership at Grand Canyon University. His hope is to serve full time as a Children's Pastor. As a volunteer at Faith Bible Church he served as the chair for the Children's Ministry team at his church, as a Sparks Director (AWANA), and as co-director of VBS.

Kenny's passion is not to simply have fun with kids. He wants every child to receive Christ as Lord and Savior and to help parents in their struggle to raise Christ-like children. He believes that ministry is first about relationships. [Network Forums username: KennyA]

Jamie Doyle resides with his family in Colorado Springs, Colorado. He serves as the children's pastor at Radiant Church. Additionally, he speaks as a guest at children's ministry events and churches.

Jamie was educated at North Central University (Minneapolis, MN), Southeastern College of the Assemblies of God (Lakeland, FL), and the school of hard-knocks in Children's Ministry.

A gospel magic nut, he also has interest in magicians and the the history and working of magic tricks. Musically, Jamie is a Johnny Cash and Larry Norman fan.

Married to Jennifer, Jamie has three kids: Riley, Emma, and Evan. Learn more about Jamie via his website and blog. [Network Forums username: jamie496]

Nancy Keith, who serves as the Kidology CP Team secretary, is the KIDS Church Director at Grove Avenue Baptist Church in Richmond, Virginia. She also teaches music and movement classes to toddler, preschoolers, and their grown-ups. While never married (or maybe, not married yet!) she is the aunt to twelve officially and hundreds that she claims as adopted nieces and nephews!

Involved in Children's Ministry for over 35 years, her specialties are storytelling and music. Her passion is finding new and creative ways to communicate the Gospel to children... leading them down a path to know and love Him as a friend... and serve Him with their lives.

Nancy also enjoys teaching teachers what she has learned. She has taught seminars and workshops at numerous children's ministry events. She attended Virginia Commonwealth University and majored in Music Education. Her hobbies are writing, singing, acting and blowing bubbles!

Nancy sang at a private dinner party at the White House in 1972, but claims to have no responsibility or connection to the Watergate scandal. [Network Forums username: MissNancy]

Jeramy Chapman is married to the most beautiful, amazing, and perfect-for-him woman in the world and has two great kids. Is there anything else that matters?

OK, fine.

Jeramy was born at an early age to the two people he's pretty sure are his parents. While managing to cram 4 years into 5 at college, Jeramy found his calling... youth ministry. During his first job, he got stuck with another part of the ministry in the "all other duties as assigned" line of his job description: children's ministry. After overcoming much fear, he found he actually liked hanging out with the kids. In fact (gasp), dare he say that he found his true calling!? He dare. He dare.

Jeramy joined a startup church, The Journey in Cedar Park, Texas, as its Children's Pastor over 5 years ago and has been trying to Make God Look Good with them ever since. [Network Forums username: TheJourney]

Jessica Klinker is the Director of Children's Ministry at Temple Baptist Church in Lodi, California. She has served in children's ministry for 19 years as a teacher, VBS director and coordinator.

For the past eleven years she has served as a Children's Director, nine years on a full-time basis. Prior to this she taught public school for fourteen years, spending most of her time within grades K-2. She was also a workshop speaker at local and staff conferences in the teaching of Reading.

Jessica's passion in ministry is two fold. The first is in equipping 5th and 6th graders for real ministry. She strives to do this by building a firm service orientated foundation that will enable them to effectively share the Lord with others. The second passion is in assisting parents to be the first teacher in their childs Christian Walk.

Her current fascination is helping children in "How to find the Will of God" for their lives. Jessica also loves teaching Kings Kids (K-5 children's church) and helping teachers realize that you don't have to do a lot of disciplining in church if you make things exciting, interactive and focused on having a relationship with each child. Wearing a superhero suit for 8 weeks doesn't hurt either! Her favorite thing in the world is leading little ones to Christ.

In her free time she loves to spend time with her family (husband Matt and children Camille and Ryan), read, watch old movies and torture her children with loud rock and roll music. [Network Forums username: Jessica Klinker]

Joni Lum is the Children's Minister at Chinese Baptist Church of Central Orange County, in Irvine, California. She has committed her life to not only encouraging her own kids, but those at CBCCOC, to love and serve the Lord as they seek to grow "in wisdom, stature, and favor with God and man."

Her dream is to assist parents to bring up the next generation of leaders in the church by helping kids to have a personal and committed relationship with God. She is passionate about kids discovering their spiritual gifting and using their talents to serve the Lord while they are young, so that they will grow to live a life of service to our Lord. In addition, her goal is to integrate the children into the larger church ministry so that they will, as youths, commit themselves to membership in this body.

She especially enjoys working with preteens, planning large church events, developing new programs/events, and serving within the local Asian-American church community.

"Auntie" Joni earned her Masters in Educational Leadership (Christian Education) at Golden Gate Baptist Theological Seminary in 2005 and was the 2004 Western Baptist Association of Christian Educators scholarship award recipient. She earned her Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration (Marketing) from California State University, Fullerton. During Joni's free time, she homeschools her four children, enjoys trying out new recipes, and reading.

Joni is married to Mark, her high school sweetheart. They have four kids ranging in age from 7 to 15. Prior to having their own kids, Joni and Mark have served in Children's and Youth ministry since they were in high school. [Network Forums username: jonimom4]

Todd McKeever serves at an incredible church called McArthur Assembly in Jacksonville, Arkansas. In his role as a full time children's pastor, he brings oversight to a growing children's ministry by the name of Take TWO Kids Ministries. Todd gets to see a few hundred kids each Sunday coming in to have a real experience with the life changing Savior - Jesus.

Todd has an ever growing heart to "Train families to Worship God and Obey His Great Commission and Great Commandment" through creative and relevant ways in order to allow each to experience real inner-tainment for the heart. Todd has been a full time children's pastor for over 15+ years covering states like Iowa, Florida, Missouri, the greater DC area and now Arkansas. Some of the great God-given opportunities that Todd gets the privilege of actively being a part of would include: Being the CP Team Captain for Kidology; serving as a contributing editor for K Children's Ministry Magazine; a National Trainer for Character Connex; and a National Trainer for Kids Quest USA along with several opportunities to speak at camps.

Todd is married to the best wife that God could have picked for him, whose name is Rachel. They have been given two incredible gifts from God by the names of Camille and Zachary (who at the time of this writing are 7&10 years old). Some of the things that Todd enjoys doing would include: Fishing with family, reading about leadership, blogging, playing on Twitter, and Facebook. [Network Forums username: PastorTMcKeever]

Alan Phillips is currently serving as the children's pastor at Richmond Community Church which is a contemporary high-impact, multi-site church in Richmond, Virginia. Alan has over 17 years experience in ministry, 11 years of this being full-time and 6 years being in a bi-vocational capacity. Alan received in 1992 an Associates degree from Midwest Bible Institute in general Biblical studies.

He has a real desire to see whole families grow closer to God through great family oriented initiatives in his ministry and others. Alan has been married to his wife Rebecca for 12 years and has three great kids. He loves to play golf, hang out with close friends and go fishing with his children. He also loves to stay active on the Internet through his Facebook page, Twittering (too often his wife says) and blogging as often as he can. [Network Forums username: haprp]

Scott Phillips currently serves at The Tabernacle Church in Laurel, Maryland, as the After-School/Summer Camp Director, Building/Events Coordinator, and Children Church Coordinator & Leader/Teacher.

Scott has served in various churches both in the State and overseas while in the US Air Force (retired). Scott describes himself as a "gap-filler" and has served in every area of ministry including: church clerk, visitation and outreach ministry member, Mens Ministry director, Sunday School teacher & Superintendent (both adults and children), Mid-Week Teacher, Registrar & Acting Dean for Church Bible School, Technology Training Director & teacher, Drama Team, Puppets, Kitchen staff/crew, janitorial crew (floors & rooms), Sound System & Tape Production, Events Coordinator, Web-Page Developer and Overseer, Pioneer Leader & Director, Choir, Yard & Ground Maintenance, and so on.

Scott has served faithfully in his current church since 1993 (returning to the United States) and as a Deacon since 1998. He received his ordination as a Minister this past September from the Harvest International Ministerial Fellowship.

While Scott is involved in many different ministries, his passion and calling are to the children. He strives to develop his own skills and knowledge to become more effective in that ministry.

He is currently focusing his attentions on completing a program in Childrens Ministry through Childrens Ministry University Online at Valley Forge College. [Network Forums username: sgphillips]

Megan Rayment was born in Australia and has not yet found a reason to leave (although world travel may be in the retirement plans). Her husband, Andrew, and her have two amazing teenagers, Steph and Jacob. They all worship and serve in various different roles at St Mark's Anglican Church Emerald, Victoria, where Megan has been working with kids since 2005. Andrew has his own hairdressing salon and Megan tries to care for the financial/admin side of the business.

Megan first taught Sunday School when she was 15, and has had some role or another in kids ministry since then (which is just short of 30 years). She has taught Sunday School, which in Australia has become Kids Church (they are not two different things here); been involved in after school kids clubs from team member to leader to director; taught Christian Religious Education in State Schools; established and run Playgroup ministries in two Churches and been the keynote speaker for a number of Churches kids programs and family camps. After 10 years in the retail and corporate banking world, she found her true calling (motherhood) and has had an adventure-filled 18 years since. Much of what has happened in her kids min roles has been formed from her own children's involvement, but Megan wasn't ready to move on when they did!

Growing up in a Christian home is a privilege and responsibility Megan holds close to her heart, and her aim is to enable as many kids as possible do the same thing! So her ministry to kids usually overflows to their parents as well. Working in a strongly outreach-focussed church has often challenged her ingrained patterns and beliefs, and she is thankful that God has chosen her as part of the great adventure in her local area. She is passionate about the kids in our churches understanding the great privilege they have, and about assisting parents in the amazing role of discipling their children.

Oh yeah, in her spare time she would love to rock climb and jump out of planes, but usually she does patchwork, reads or spends time in coffee shops with friends. [Network Forums username: Mingin]

Nicki Straza is Children's Pastor at Freedom House in Brantford, Ontario, Canada, where she runs the L.A.F.F Academy.

Her passion and energy are contagious as she brings over 20 years of kids ministry experience to the table. Starting as a preschool Sunday school teacher as a 10 year old, Nicolette quickly learned that there was nothing more important that raising up the next generation, even if they were only a few years behind her. Since then she has worked with travelling clown and drama teams, engaged kids and youth through summer day camps, VBS, summer ministry teams and more.

Nicki believes that kids in ministry become adults in ministry and believes her destiny lies in helping kids young and old reach their greatest potential! Her passion to raise up and equip leaders in our complacent culture has become her focus as she continues to be inspired to write curriculum, teach in the public schools and motivate and inspire kids and youth everywhere she goes.

Nicki lives with her husband and two beautiful children in Brantford, City of God! [Network Forums username: Nic4kids]

Andy VanDerLinden is Children's Pastor at Aurora First Assembly in Aurora, Colorado.

Andy came to Christ through the witness of the woman who is now his wife and her family. ("Thank God for In-laws!" Andy says.) Soon they were off to Bible college together knowing only they wanted to be trained to serve the Lord. Andy started as a volunteer in children's church and as often happens, soon found himself hired as the children's pastor. On the eve of his first Sunday as the new children's pastor, And says "I had no idea what I was doing. I was scared to death!" As often happens, he turned to the Internet and discovered Kidology.org. Soon, Andy says, "a calmness began to come over me... I could do this thing... I'm not alone." Now, several years later, Andy is in his third position at a church with over 1000 regular attendees.

Andy is married to Kristine and they have their own mini-children's ministry three kids, Emily, Loivia and Ethan. [Network Forums username: Kidzuma]

Glen Woods is the Children's Pastor at Portland Open Bible Church in Portland, Oregon. He is bi-vocational, working by day at a local business. Usually he can be found providing various forms of customer service in the office and warehouse, driving forklift, or driving one of the company trucks throughout the city.

Glen has served in the children's ministries of two churches in his volunteer ministry career, the first for 13 years, and his current one for 12+ years, much of that time in leadership. In order to try to serve God in the church and community more effectively, Glen has pursued a few degrees, including his D.Min. at Western Seminary in Portland. His complete ministry CV can be found here. Glen is passionate about exploring the intersection of theology and culture in the practice of childrens and family ministry, particularly with a view toward mission and spiritual formation. He is most passionate about leading people of any age into a newborn life of discipleship with Jesus Christ. Glen also enjoys serving children's ministry leaders and churches around the world via web-based consulting and onsite ministry training for local churches.

In his spare time, he enjoys reading, writing, teasing his nieces and nephews, and taking photos during walks in the city or in the wilderness. Glens writing is most frequently expressed through blogging, poetry, and a fantasy novel. [Network Forums username: Glen Woods]

Henry Zonio and his wife Erin currently serve at Redwood Park Church in Thunder Bay, Ontario, with their four children.When Henry surrendered his dream of being a pediatrician to become a children's pastor, those who knew him best said, Well, finally!

Henry has been in childrens ministry since he was 15, and has been a children's pastor for eight years. Through his relational style of ministry leadership, Henrys passion is to encourage parents to lead their children in a growing relationship with Christ and to influence churches to expand their vision to involve kids in the entire Body of Christ. Henry writes a children's ministry blog at elementalcm.com. [Network Forums username: henryjz]