Series: New Testament Christianity Today

July 17, 2013

Christian Standard

40 Under 40: Jamie Snyder

JAMIE SNYDER Lead pastor,  Lakeside Christian Church,  Lakeside, Kentucky I have long subscribed to the Christian leadership axiom, “The best indicator of future performance is past performance.” Now, to be sure, it is not the only indicator; but the track record of any emerging Christian leader should not be ignored, especially in the area of their character. This being true, it is encouraging to see the picture and name of Jamie Snyder on CHRISTIAN STANDARD”s list of “40 Leaders Under 40.” Even from his student days at Ozark Christian College, Jamie has been a young man with genuine humility and

July 15, 2013

Christian Standard

40 Under 40: Ben Simms

BEN SIMMS Executive vice president and chief operating officer, Lifeline Christian Mission, Westerville, Ohio Vision. Passion. Humility. These are three qualities that come to mind when I think about Ben Simms. I believe his vision for ministry is God”s vision because it includes the entire world. An ever-increasing number of people are called “visionary,” but their vision is often limited to one concept, project, or area of ministry. Not so with Ben Simms. He is able to see potential and possibilities when others focus solely on the obstacles and difficulties accompanying any opportunity. Passion is an indispensable attribute in ministry, but unbridled

July 15, 2013

Christian Standard

40 Under 40: Beth Jarvis Silliman

BETH JARVIS SILLIMAN Globalscope team leader, Christian Missionary Fellowship, Tübingen, Germany Unterwegs is a faith community in Tübingen, Germany, where students are embraced with love and acceptance, but it”s also a ministry that pushes them to consider the relevance of Christ and his church in today”s world. Beth Jarvis Silliman has led this CMF International Globalscope team and ministry since its inception in 2008 while her husband, Daniel, works on his PhD at the University of Heidelberg. Her role involves leadership development and discipleship of her team members and student leaders, teaching responsibilities, and helping to lead and organize all

July 14, 2013

Christian Standard

40 Under 40: Melissa Sandel

MELISSA SANDEL Director of ministries, West Side Christian Church, Springfield, Illinois Five years ago, the growth of West Side Christian Church”s staff required that I expand the senior staff leadership team. I hope timing isn”t everything, because I promoted Melissa Sandel to director of ministries on April 1, 2008. Melissa jokes that her role is the world”s longest-running April Fools” Day prank! Melissa was only 26 years old when promoted from small groups director to senior staff. Her initial challenge was to supervise a diverse ministry staff, including employees whose tenures began when she was a child. While many leaders

July 14, 2013

Christian Standard

40 Under 40: Brad Prunty

BRAD PRUNTY Lead planter, The Westline Movement, Community Christian Church,  Naperville, Illinois During his senior year of college, Brad Prunty and two of his classmates came to a church planting agency I serve and said, “We want to plant a church here together.” We hated to disappoint them, but it was clear they needed some seasoning and experience, so we turned them down. But Brad didn”t give up (nor did his friends). After working his way through the “followership” path at Community Christian Church in Chicagoland, Brad progressed to become the congregational leader of what is now a very strong part of

July 13, 2013

Christian Standard

40 Under 40: Nick Parsons

NICK PARSONS Recruitment,  Orchard Group, New York I have been fortunate to watch Nick”s leadership grow since his days in college. Nick has shown himself to be very courageous while pursuing wisdom as a foundation for his work. He has lived in Los Angeles, Thailand, and Japan and has displayed his wise and strong leadership in each of those contexts. He cofounded Mustard Seed Global Fellowship and has seen it become a healthy church planting group in Japan. He is now working with Orchard Group on both recruitment and deployment of new church planters. I expect a new momentum for

July 13, 2013

Christian Standard

40 Under 40: Sean Palmer

SEAN PALMER Lead minister, The Vine, Temple, Texas Sean Palmer is a preacher and an author. He is an advocate for many great endeavors. He loves Jesus. He loves Jesus” people. He loves his wife and his two beautiful daughters. And, yes, Sean Palmer is my friend. But none of that is what makes Sean one of the “40 Leaders Under 40″ being profiled here. No, what makes Sean a man to watch is that he is dangerous. Sean is unafraid to speak the truth. He”ll speak it in love, but he will not pull punches. He is brave and

July 13, 2013

Christian Standard

40 Under 40: Daniel Overdorf

DANIEL OVERDORF Dean of the School of Congregational Ministry and professor of preaching, Johnson University, Knoxville, Tennessee I have known Daniel Overdorf since helping his family move to Knoxville decades ago when his father became minister of the Woodlawn Christian Church. Daniel was a preschooler then, and many remember him as a mischievous little boy. That might surprise many who know him now as gentle, kind, and always with a welcoming smile. As dean of the School of Congregational Ministry and professor of preaching, he exercises leadership through his commitment to the centrality of preaching in the life of the

July 12, 2013

Christian Standard

40 Under 40: Rachel Oblon

RACHEL OBLON Missional life pastor, Parkcrest Christian Church, Long Beach, California Rachel may be one of the best young leaders you have not yet heard about, but my guess is your children will remember her if they”ve been to Christ In Youth conferences. They have been moved by her stories, conviction, and passion as they”ve heard her speak over the past several years. What they don”t get to hear about are the ways this young woman, who is barely 30, influences a church of people who are mostly older than she. She leads with humility, coupled with a conviction of

July 12, 2013

Christian Standard

40 Under 40: T.D. Oakes

T.D. OAKES Worship arts pastor, Mission Church, Ventura, California Patient. Friend. Servant. Kind. Caring. Creative. Generous. Consistent. Shepherd. Humble. Developer. Fully present. Party waiting to happen. Super talented. Jack-of-all-trades. Includer. I have known T.D. since I was 18 years old, and have been privileged to call him friend for more than 16 years. And each of the above words fits him perfectly. We”ve worked together, laughed together, cried together, prayed together, served together, given together, sacrificed together, dreamed together, learned about parenting together, baptized friends together, tried to become better husbands together, moved together, planted a church together . .

July 11, 2013

Christian Standard

40 Under 40: Justin Miller

JUSTIN MILLER Lead pastor,  Real Life Christian Church,  Clermont, Florida If you asked Justin Miller how he plans to influence ministry in the coming years, he”d likely shrug his shoulders and respond quizzically, “I don”t really know. I guess we”ll just keep doing what we”ve been doing.” And precisely what have Justin and Real Life Christian Church been doing? Well, over the past dozen years, Justin and the Real Life team have sensed a call to revitalize declining””or downright dead “”churches through an endeavor they call Vision Orlando. It started with their home campus in Clermont, where Justin grew up and

July 11, 2013

Christian Standard

40 Under 40: Erin McDade

ERIN McDADE Assistant director of emester in Ministry/storyteller,  Mountain Christian Church, Joppa, Maryland Someone has said leadership is essentially influence. Another axiom is that leadership boils down to character. Erin McDade embodies both at once! Her powerful influence flows out of her genuine love of Jesus and other people. The result is a contagious spirit that brings life to others. Her sincerity and authentic joy overflow in a way that is infectious to any team. Her insights deepen discussion; her people skills help a team move forward. When a person brightens the room and strengthens the gifts of others on

July 10, 2013

Christian Standard

40 Under 40: Genilyn McCaffrey

GENILYN McCAFFREY Professor of worship ministry,  Manhattan Christian College,  Manhattan, Kansas I can remember sitting in Genilyn”s interview for the worship faculty position at Manhattan Christian College. I asked what she wanted to be known for in the years ahead. Her answer was very clear and concise, “I want my students to be known as theologians, pastors, and artists; and in that order.” She continued, “Too often we find someone who is good artistically, and cut them loose to lead worship. As a result, the depth of the overall quality of worship is lacking, and I want the students I send out

July 10, 2013

Christian Standard

40 Under 40: Ethan Magness

ETHAN MAGNESS Pastor of spiritual formation and director of Semester in Ministry, Mountain Christian Church, Joppa, Maryland Ethan Magness is difficult to describe. He was a math major and an athlete (swimmer). He is an intellectual and he pours himself into people by throwing parties. He really isn”t into sports but annually joins our NCAA basketball brackets contest and almost always finishes in the top three. As pastor of spiritual formation, Ethan is a gifted teacher who launched GrowingU at Mountain Christian Church to teach Scripture and discipleship, but he focuses on training small group leaders and teachers rather than

July 9, 2013

Christian Standard

40 Under 40: Greg Lee

GREG LEE Lead pastor,  Suncrest Christian,  St. John, Indiana Having been privileged to know and serve side-by-side with Greg from his senior year at Lincoln Christian University through 2005, I feel I know this leading servant, and I certainly value highly his many contributions to the kingdom of God. A Christian leader and lover of his family””exemplary. A son and father who invests generously in his family and keeps his priorities balanced and guardrails in place””yes. A man of consistent, godly character””solid as a rock. A pastor characterized by patience and incarnated compassion””totally. A colleague who respects his leaders and

July 9, 2013

Christian Standard

40 Under 40: Abhijeet Lall

ABHIJEET LALL Director of the children”s ministry, Central India Christian Mission Abhijeet Lall works with Central India Christian Mission (CICM) as director of its children”s ministry. Abhijeet loves working with the youth in India. Just 23, Abhijeet has a high connectivity factor with young people. Sixty-five percent of India”s population is under 25 years old. Abhijeet”s challenge is to present the gospel in a way that communicates to India”s youth in an attractive way. Abhijeet and his wife, Katie, are currently investing all their energy in reaching the millions of unreached youth in India through the children”s ministry. Abhijeet is

July 8, 2013

Christian Standard

40 Under 40: Kurt Kuykendall

KURT KUYKENDALL Pastor, Westcoast Christian Church, Surrey, British Columbia Determined, diligent, and faithful are words that come to mind as I consider the ministry of Kurt Kuykendall””and he”s just getting started! Kurt grew up in a small town in northern Alberta but felt called to serve in the “big city” of Toronto. In his first full-time ministry, Kurt served with me as a youth minister and then felt called to serve on the launch staff of a new church plant I was undertaking in Greater Toronto. This was quite a project and a huge step of faith for this young,

July 8, 2013

Christian Standard

40 Under 40: Caleb Kaltenbach

CALEB KALTENBACH Dallas, Texas Caleb Kaltenbach shares attributes with many of his fine young peers from across the country: strong preaching and teaching skills, motivational leadership, focused energy, and gentle humility. As to his unique influence, I believe there are two items. First, Caleb has a distinctive and well-thought-out philosophy for biblical education and ministry preparation. He has made a strong commitment to living this out through teaching ministry courses to college students and making use of ministry interns a high priority. As a board member for Dallas Christian College, he brings a high level of constructive engagement relating to the spiritual

July 7, 2013

Christian Standard

40 Under 40: Kyle Idleman

KYLE IDLEMAN Teaching pastor,  Southeast Christian Church,  Louisville, Kentucky Kyle Idleman is a young man with some amazing talents. His influence is widespread both within and outside our fellowship of Christian churches. I am blessed to get to share the preaching responsibilities at Southeast Christian with Kyle. His preaching feeds and inspires. His first book, Not a Fan, became a best seller and his new release, Gods at War, is encouraging thousands of readers. Although his preaching ability along with his writing and video teachings are what most people note about Kyle, I am even more appreciative of his unswerving

July 7, 2013

Christian Standard

40 Under 40: Jordan Howerton

JORDAN HOWERTON Jordan Howerton Band Jordan Howerton is on a worship mission. Jordan grew up in the church, the son and grandson of preachers. Leading others to the feet of Christ in worship came naturally. As leader of the Jordan Howerton Band, Jordan has been serving the church for more than six years. While the band is emerging as one of the nation”s most sought after, authentic, and energetic worship bands, what sets Jordan on a path of influence as a leader is easy to identify. To Jordan, leading, singing, writing, playing, and recording are not achievement arts. They are

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