Most of the people shown below are servant-hearted volunteers. A few of us get the blessing of being paid to give the best hours of our day to the ministry, but all of us give countless hours a week with boundless blessings.
Dan McKnight, Pastor
Except for the occasional overly big word that betrays his geeky bond fides, Dan's a pretty normal guy. He's on fire for seeing the Holy Spirit change lives with Jesus' love, so he & Laura moved to Johnson County from Chicago in 2004 to plant a church to do just that. Dan has the spiritual gifts of apostleship, teaching, and leadership, as well as a love of Scripture and a lifelong dependence on Jesus Christ. He lovesplaying Windmill of Death in the neighborhood pool with his boys, watching free Redbox movies with Laura, irreverent late-night TV shows, loud parties with good food, and Biblical word-studies. Dan and Laura live in Shawnee with their two sons, a middle-schooler and elementary schooler. Email Dan here.
German Portillo, Worship Director
German (pronounced 'Herman' since he's from Venezuela—long story!) is crazy about music as a form of worship and about worship altogether. He's passionate about being in a community of faith that embraces struggle, questions, and the pursuit of truth. German also works with Kaw Prairie's high schoolers in the Sunday night WILD ministry. He and his wife Summer live in Shawnee with their two preschool girls, and he's eager to touch Johnson County with the love of Jesus. He loves Taco Bell, video games, and giving his kids piggy back rides. Email German here.
We're blogging our journey. Feel free to stop by.
Diane Lee, Connect Director
Diane has a big voice and bigger smile for such a small body! And she coordinates the leaders of the marketing, welcoming, and congregational care ministries. She & Jim have two grown daughters, one grandchild and counting, and they live in western Lenexa. Diane may not be the first person you see on a crowded morning at Kaw Prairie, but she very well may be the first person you hear! Email Diane here.
Judy Hammer, Children & Family Ministries Director
Judy and her team love changing children's lives with Jesus' love. Judy brings a fun spirit and well-honed corporate management skills to her spiritual gifts of leadership, administration, and music. Originally from rural Iowa, she loves being able to serve "on the Prairie!" Judy loves interacting with kids of all ages and creatingan environment that supports their spiritual development. Judy lives in Shawnee with her husband, Paul, and their two daughters. Email Judy here.
Linda Francis, Nursery Director
Linda is the single mother of three INCREDIBLE boys: a high schooler and two twin middle schoolers. She works as a medical transcriptionist, but she is a former preschool teacher which is her passion. Her medical transcriptionist job is her "grown-up" job and being able to work with the kiddos in Noah's Nursery is her "what I would do if I won the lottery" job. Linda's neighbors call her the 'Dog Whisperer' because her second passion is dogs. She has four now, and her boys keep her from getting anymore. Linda and her family have lived in western Shawnee for 14 years, and she couldn't imagine living anywhere else.
Mark Chrislip, Adult Discipleship Director
Mark's a businessman after God's heart who came to Christ as a young adult—and has been eager to study, practice, and mentor godly leadership ever since. He leads the Cultivate (Adult Discipleship) Cluster, overseeing adult classes, workshops, and small groups. Currently, Mark's also President of Kaw Prairie's Vision Team, nurturing the precious work God's done already at Kaw Prairie in just a few short years. Mark & his wife Diane have three grown children, six grandchildren, and lots of wildlife around them in rural Eudora. Email Mark here.
Jason Moxness, Small Group Concierge
Jason, his wife Paige, and their two daughters and their black lab Pixie live in western Lenexa. Jason knew within the first 5 minutes after walking through the doors at Kaw Prairie (back when it was in an out-of-the-way Shawnee elementary school) that this was where he could experience God like never before and become a part of something very special. He was immediately hooked by the awesome contemporary music, relevant bible-based teaching, and the casual atmosphere. What has kept Jason and his family coming back is the people. "We've never been part of such a great community of people, some brand new to Christ, others from way different church backgrounds, who are here for the same reasons—loving God, taking care of each other, and inviting others to experience the same life change in Christ we've all felt." Email Jason here.
Lisa Brauch, Coffeeshop Manager
Lisa and her husband Bob have been at Kaw Prairie a little over two years. They had decided to pursue a change in their church home, saw the float in the Lenexa Parade, and decided to give it a try! During the day, Lisa is a manager in the Finance Department for a large Olathe-based company. A large majority of her free-time is spent at church at either the coffee shop or with the WILD youth. “I have always wanted to be a barista when I retire; I enjoy people and it always seemed like such a fun, social job. This has given me the opportunity to be a barista, use my management skills and serve others all at the same time…and I didn’t have to wait until retirement!” Lisa and Bob live in Olathe . They have two grown sons and a new daughter-in-law! Email Lisa here.
Dick Frohardt, Operations Manager
Dick was part of the planning team that prayed and worked years ago for a new life-changing church in west Johnson County to be birthed. After a career in government and IT recruitment, Dick earned certification as a Parish Ministry Associate in the ELCA, and now works pro bono at Kaw Prairie, supporting churchoperations, our recent construction project, and Trustee development. He feels incredibly blessed to be a part of Kaw Prairie; he and his wife Diane even let Pastor Dan live with them for several months before his family arrived from Chicago, and German & his family before their house was ready. They have three adult children and nine grandchildren, and live in western Lenexa. Email Dick here.
Tammy Gardner, Facilities Manager
Tammy works in banking & finance by day, and volunteers as our new building's facility manager by night. She & husband Brad have two young adult children, and were among the very first core leaders at Kaw Prairie in 2004. In fact, Tammy's so servant-hearted she helped Pastor Dan get our youth ministry started in their basement right as their daughter moved off to college! If you'd like to rent a room or schedule an event at Kaw Prairie, Tammy's the one to contact! Email her here.
Jeff Turner, Safety Team Leader
Jeff, his wife, Jodi, and 3 children, Grant, Rachel and Tara, live and work in Lenexa. Several years ago Jeff and Jodi were searching for a church that they felt they could contribute in. On a snowy December morning they walked in to Kaw Prairie Community Church and immediately felt at home. As they say the rest is history. Jeff works as a Design Manager for an Engineering Consulting Firm. In his spare time he loves cooking and golfing as often as possible along with fishing on Saturday mornings with his son.
Diane Chrislip, Newsletter Editor
Diane became a Christ-follower in 1977 and has been eagerly following him ever since. Her primary spiritual gifts are encouragement and intercession, and she is passionate about getting others to discover the wonders of God’s Word. She loves being “Ama” to her six grandchildren and usually has at least three books going and about a dozen gardening projects in progress. Diane lives out in the sticks outside Eudora, KS with her husband Mark, two Labrador retrievers, three cats, two gerbils and six chickens. Email Diane with newsletter articles here.