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Holy Cross Staff |
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Rev. Dr. Michael D. Peck
Senior Pastor
Pastor Mike has been serving as Senior Pastor at Holy Cross since May of 1998. He is a graduate of the University of Kansas, Wartburg Theological Seminary in Dubuque, Iowa, and Luther Seminary in St. Paul, Minnesota where he graduated with distinction with a Doctor of Ministry in Congregational Mission and Leadership. Prior to Holy Cross, he has served congregations in Leonardville, Olsburg, and Prairie Village, KS. Pastor Mike is married to Lisa, and they have two sons: Nathan and Joshua. Mike's ministry is driven by a desire to see the people of God fully embrace the radical claims of baptism and recognize that they have a role to play in God's mission to heal this messed up world.
Pastor Mike is an avid runner, skier, and oenophile. He enjoys reading, working in the yard, and spending time with his family.
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Rev. Jonathan W. Wolf
Associate Pastor
Pastor Jon has been serving Holy Cross since August of 2010. Originally from the East Coast, he graduated from the University of Maryland and the Lutheran Theological Seminary in Gettysburg, receiving his M.Div in May of 2010. Stemming from early days founding a mission-development church, Jon's life and loves have been found in the church, even including his wife, Karen. They welcomed their first child, Grace Anne, in December of 2011 (is there a more Lutheran name than that?). Jon's call is fired up by the Spirit moving within God's people to engage in God's mission to heal, build, serve, and work together to Love God, Love Neighbor everywhere. Pastor Jon loves spending time at home cooking, watching movies, sports, and The Big Bang Theory (nerds unite!). Feel free to follow him on Twitter @preachingwolf.
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Amy Viets
Director of Children’s Ministry
Amy joined the Holy Cross staff in July, 2004. With a degree in elementary education from Emporia State, she had previously taught fourth and fifth grades and kindergarten, as well as working as a special education para-educator. She is thankful for the opportunity at Holy Cross to combine her experience in education with her passion for helping families grow in faith. Amy’s other interests include combining her love of writing with her work in family and children’s ministries. Her articles and essays have appeared in several religious and parenting publications locally and nationally, and she has published a book of family devotions titled Making Faith Fun with ACTA Publications. Amy and her husband, Bruce, live in Overland Park with their children, Layney, and Garrett. Their oldest daughter, Kayla, is at Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois.
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D.J. Whetter
Director of Youth Ministries
D.J. joined the Holy Cross staff as Director of Youth Ministry in 2009. He has degrees in Broadcast Journalism and Political Science from the University of Kansas. His true passion, however, is youth ministry. While pursuing his degrees at KU, D.J. spent two years as the co-director of Youth Ministries for Trinity Lutheran Church in Lawrence. After college, he joined the 6News-Lawrence staff where he spent four years as a TV sports reporter and anchor. Ministry is a family affair for D.J. His father, Dave, serves as the Senior Pastor at Salem Lutheran Church in Lenexa. D.J. lives in Shawnee with his wife, Lori, their daughter, Addison and their dog, Wrigley (yes…D.J. and Lori are Cubs fans). Aside from a love of all sports Chicago and the Jayhawks, D.J. and Lori love to travel, cook and spend time outdoors. |
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Barbara Nelson
Director of Music Ministries
Barbara is a graduate of Concordia College in Moorhead, Minnesota, with a degree in secondary music education. She taught vocal music in public and private schools before becoming the Director of Music Ministries at Holy Cross. She teaches private voice and piano lessons, is an active accompanist, an adjudicator for KSHSAA music contests and festivals, and a member of ALCM, MTNA, and KCMTA. Barbara is grateful for so many musicians willing to use their gifts in the Holy Cross music ministry, bringing life and meaning to the worship services, and developing a deep music fellowship in the church. Interests other than music that Barbara enjoys are golf, family activities, cheering for the Minnesota teams, and traveling. She resides in Overland Park with her husband, Curt. They have two grown daughters, Laura and Krista.
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Anthony Badell
Contemporary Worship Coordinator
Anthony has been with the Holy Cross staff for three years. He is a graduate of Concordia College in Moorhead Mn, with a music degree and a religion minor. He lives in the Waldo area in Kansas City, Mo with his wife Jill, and their boxer dog, Toby. Anthony has felt called to facilitate and nurture worship since high school and through college. He is passionate about writing thoughtful, contextual, and maybe even good music for this congregation. He feels blessed to be a part of such a dedicated, active, and accepting community as Holy Cross.
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Wendy Kenton
Director of Administration
Wendy and her family have been members of Holy Cross since moving to the area in 1998. Wendy holds a degree in Business Administration from University of Nebraska, Kearney. Wendy has worked at Holy Cross since October, 2002 and enjoys singing in the Holy Cross adult choir. She also serves as Financial Director for the South Johnson County Chapter of Thrivent Financial for Lutherans.
Natives of Nebraska, Dave, Wendy & Rachel are all Husker fans. Rachel attends Bethany College, and Dave enjoys a career in the mortgage lending industry. The Kenton family, including cats Sammy and Jordan, resides in Overland Park.
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Cindy Hileman
Communications Coordinator
Cindy, her husband Steve, and kids Bethany, Tyler and Grace have been members of Holy Cross since 2002. Cindy has a B.S. in Civil Engineering from the Missouri University of Science and Technology. She first worked as a civil engineer, then a full-time homemaker before joining the staff of Holy Cross in June of 2007. Outside of work, Cindy and Steve spend the majority of their time trying to keep up with two teenagers and a college student. She also enjoys cooking, crossword puzzles, and reading.
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Sherri Armel
Administrative Assistant
Sherri joined the Holy Cross staff in June 2007, following six years at Atonement Lutheran Church as membership administrator, and four years as director of children's education at Faith Lutheran Church. She also is a staff writer for The Kansas City Star, and compiles the Johnson County police blotter twice each week.
Sherri and her husband John live in Lenexa and have two wildly playful young cats, Jade and Jazz. Her husband is president of Brooks Publishing Co. Inc. in Lenexa. Their son, John, lives in Los Angeles, and is in the accounting field.
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Sherry Pearce-Meyer
Director of Resource Management and Development
Sherry joined the Holy Cross staff in December 2004. She is a degreed Accountant and a graduate from Pittsburg State University. Prior to this position, she has over 16 years of accounting experience in various industries. Sherry and her family have been Holy Cross members since October 2003. She just remarried in May 2011 to Allen Meyer. When not working, she enjoys playing tennis and keeps busy with the activities of her two children Alexis and Zachary. The family resides in Overland Park.
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Dr. O. Wayne Smith
Organist
Wayne Smith is organist/pianist for Holy Cross He has a DMA from the Univ. of Maryland, College Park. He has performed for former First Lady, Mrs. Gerald Ford; the National Gallery of Art, Washington, DC., and for various Washington diplomatic occasions.
Dr. Smith taught piano for Graceland College, Lamoni, IA and was a co-founder and piano division chair for the Music/Arts Institute, Independence, MO. He currently maintains an independent piano studio of twenty-five students. In addition, Wayne is an accompanist for the Kansas City Ballet’s youth outreach program, and is the staff accompanist for The William Baker Festival Singers of Kansas City. He is also a staff organist for the Community of Christ Auditorium and Temple in Independence.
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