Youth
Meet Our Leaders
STAFF
James Allen
Associate Pastor to Students
A veteran of the U.S. Air Force, James felt called to ministry while on a mission trip to the Czech Republic in October 1999. He and his wife, Julie, were houseparents at the Omaha Home for Boys for three years prior to being called to Metro East as the Associate of Student Ministries in 2007, working primarily with Middle School students. Much has changed in that time, and he is now the Associate Pastor to Students at Metro East.
James graduated from Trinity International University (Deerfield, IL) with a Bachelor of Arts in Intercultural Ministry and Liberty Baptist Theological Seminary (Lynchburg, VA) with a Master of Arts in Religion and is currently pursuing his Master of Divinity as well. James and Julie have been married since 2001 and have three children: Nathaniel, Lydia, and Elizabeth.
ADULT LEADERS
Sherry Mendenhall
6th Grade Morphis Sunday School Teacher
Bio to come.
Roscoe Mendenhall
6th Grade Morphis Sunday School Teacher
Bio to come.
Tracy Stevenson
7th & 8th Grade Girls Sunday School Teacher
Bio to come.
Todd Fawver
7th & 8th Grade Guys Sunday School Teacher
My wife Tina and I have three children ranging from middle school to a high school teacher. We found MEBC when we moved from Chicago to Andover in 2005. I’m excited to be a part of the middle school guys’ Sunday School family. We are all students of the Bible and need to continue to study the Word. I’m pleased to be a part of MEBC!
Angie Peluso
9th & 10th Grade Girls Sunday School Teacher
Bio to come.
Jodie Karsak
9th & 10th Grade Girls Sunday School Teacher
Laid-back, fun, athletic, a little smart, responsible and independent wife of Ben and mother of Jake and Kacie… who likes to sleep in, run, mow the yard and act silly with Ben and kids… who needs a little chocolate and a little time alone from time to time… who shares stories about her life when teaching… who loves to see God working in the hearts of the youth.
Zach Burnham
9th & 10th Grade Guys Sunday School Teacher
Wednesday Night Youth Group Leader
Bio to come.
Tiffany Johnson
11th & 12th Grade Girls Sunday School Teacher
Wednesday Night Youth Group Leader
Bio to come.
Benjamin Johnson
Wednesday Night Youth Group Leader
I work in the Technology Department for the Derby School District. I enjoy computers, both in fixing them and helping others learn how to use them better. I am somewhat of an oddity in the IT field in that I fix both Mac’s and PC’s, although I own a Mac! I am a motorcyclist I have a 1983 Suzuki GS450E. I have a dog her name is SUSE, after the Linux flavor, she is half lab and half golden retriever. She likes to go to the park and sometimes I bring her to church. At Metro I help out on the Tech team in the sound booth and with computer support. Connect with Benjamin on FaceBook
Kelly Thorne
Wednesday Night Youth Group Leader
Bio to come.
David Thorne
Wednesday Night Youth Group Leader
Bio to come.
James Thorne
Wednesday Night Youth Group Worship
Bio to come.
Carey Kenyon
Wednesday Night Youth Group Worship
Bio to come.
Scott White
Pinch Hitter
Obsessed with loving Jesus, Pastor Doug Holt’s personal trainer and nutritionist AND accountability partner. Lover of Jesus and lover of youth. Personal ministry statement: “Live in such a way that those who know you and don’t know Jesus will come to know Jesus because they know you.”
Julie Allen
LIFE Group Leader
As the wife of James and mom of Nathaniel, Lydia, and Ella, Julie’s life is full and filled with love. She loves spending time with her family playing at the park, going to the zoo, playing games, spending time with friends, and being in ministry with James. Teaching the middle school girls on Sunday mornings and learning more about their lives is something Julie really enjoys being a part of each week.
All of our Adult Leaders go through an extensive interview, have background checks done, and also agree to a Ministry Covenant as part of their commitment to our Student Ministry as they help students grow in their faith through biblical community, relationship building, and accountability through our programs and events.