Our Pastoral Staff


Fred Herron

Senior Pastor

Fred

Fred Herron was raised in the Kansas City area. He met Christ in a life-changing way at a church camp when he was sixteen. It was then he was called to Christian ministry. After graduating from Park Hill High School, Fred attended Baylor University majoring in business administration and religion. While attending Baylor he met Janet, also from Kansas City, and the couple was married in 1982. Upon graduating from Baylor, Fred and Janet moved to Fort Worth, Texas, so Fred could attend Southwestern Baptist Seminary. Fred's first pastoral job was in Hampton, Virginia, where Fred served as an associate pastor in a Baptist church. In 1990 Fred and Janet moved back to Kansas City dreaming of starting a new Vineyard church somewhere in the Northland.

Fred spent many hours, days, weeks, and months contacting people both by going door-to-door and phoning old acquaintances. His Vineyard ministry began with five people in Fred and Janet's small apartment's living room. After a season, and with more people, Sunday evening meetings began in a commercial building just south of KCI airport. By the end of September 1992, Fred, Janet, and the congregation of 50 people initiated Sunday morning services in Lakeview Middle School. In June 2001 Fred received his Doctor of Ministry Degree from Fuller Seminary. By the fall of 2001, a congregation of around five hundred people moved into their first new building. Today, approximately 2,500 people attend Vineyard Church during the four weekend celebrations and Brighton Campus.

In addition to having a keen sense of humor, Fred is an avid reader. He also thoroughly enjoys bike riding and bike racing and has a deep love for the mountains--hiking and fishing.

Email Fred



Other Pastors

Curt Bartlett Worship Pastor   Roger Sodsod Small Group / Discipleship Pastor
Mark Duncan Junior High Pastor / Facilities   Jeremiah Toole Brighton Campus Worship Pastor
Tim Dykes Assimilation and Missions Pastor   Kevin Townsend Brighton Campus / Young Adult Pastor
Cameron Erlandson Senior High / Evangelism Pastor   Tony Wilks Executive Pastor
Ben Gonzales Ecuador Missionary   Roger Wilson Children's Pastor
Gary Heese Pastoral Care/Prayer Pastor   Jim Riegel Pastor Emeritus
Steve Jones Young Adult Worship Pastor    




Curt

Curt Bartlett

Worship & Arts Pastor

Curt Bartlett is our Worship & Arts Pastor. As a guitarist/singer/writer/producer, Curt has toured and recorded with some of the top contemporary Christian artists over the past 30 years. His vision for the Worship & Arts Ministry is to help facilitate God's presence through the artistic and heartfelt expressions of song, drama, video and contemporary media. He and his wife Jackie have four lovely daughters - Brooke, Rachel, Kristen and Caroline. His hobbies include baseball, motorcycles and all things Apple (Mac).

Email Curt


Mark

Mark Duncan

Junior High Pastor and Facilities Director

Mark Duncan is our Junior High Pastor and Facilities Director. Mark takes no greater joy than to be involved in students' lives and their spiritual development--one step at a time. Mark is native to Kansas City and is married to his wonderful wife, Janelle. He has two children, Alyssa, 7, and Tyler, 5. Mark was an airline mechanic for 18 years and holds a Missouri real estate license. In addition to student ministry, some of Mark's interests include sports--go figure. Mark is an avid softball player playing in over 100 games a year. He has also led the Vineyard men's softball team to numerous championships. Mark also loves football and just about anything else competitive. Lately, he has been fine tuning his ninja skills--just kidding. Mark's favorite vacation spot is Waikiki Beach.



Email Mark


Tim

Tim Dykes

Connections and Missions Pastor

Tim Dykes is our Connections and Missions Pastor. He is eager to take people from visitor to fully-engaged members of the church serving in the areas that God has created them for. Tim wants to see you grow in Christ and serve Him with joy. In addition to getting people connected, Tim enjoys tennis, reading and traveling.












Email Tim


Cameron

Cameron Erlandson

Senior High and Evangelism Pastor

Cameron Erlandson is our Evangelism and Youth Pastor. Cameron holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Bible/Theolody from Moody Bible Institute in Chicago and earned a Master’s Degree in Organizational Leadership from Regent University in Virginia Beach, VA. Cameron has been in pastoral ministry since 1999 having served at Bethel Bible Church in Evergreen Park, IL and Central Christian Church in Mesa, AZ before coming to Vineyard. He and his wife, Sharla, have been married for 11 years and have two amazing children, Caleb, 8, and Kiersten, 6. Passionate about preaching God's Truth, Cameron also loves to spend time with his family, play sports, and read.

Email Cameron


Bennie

Ben Gonzales

Ecuador Missionary

Bennie and Patty met in Hawaii at University of the Nations, a missions school. Seventeen years later they find themselves full circle, back on the mission field planting churches in Ecuador. Bennie served as youth pastor, (and various other hats) at Vineyard for nearly ten years until he and Patty felt called to plant the first Vineyards in Ecuador. They and their daughters, Ashley and Trinity, have been on the field since June 2007 and will continue to serve for a minimum of seven years.

Please check out their website www.gonzalesfam.com to learn more about their mission, to see pictures, and to read their blog. If you would like to be on their prayer list please email quitovineyard@gmail.com.

Email Ben


Gary

Gary Heese

Pastoral Care/Prayer Pastor

Gary and Carla began serving as missionaries in Youth with a Mission (YWAM) at the YWAM base in Kona, Hawaii in 1989. They returned to Kansas City in 1993 and continued serving in local churches in the areas of inner healing and counseling. The highlight of their time in missions was their time working in South America.

They returned to Kansas City in 1993 and shortly after, their fourth grandchild was born. They now have 6 granddaughters and one grandson. Carla enjoys quilting with her sister, Donna, time with her grandkids and romantic dinners with Gary at Hy-Vee. Their daughter Patty, her husband Ben, and daughters Ashley and Trinity have moved to Ecuador to plant a Vineyard Church. Gary enjoys bow hunting and fishing with his sons and water skiing. Gary also enjoys the outdoors when riding his motorcycle.

Email Gary


Steve

Steve Jones

Young Adult Worship/Leadership Development Pastor

Steve Jones is our Young Adult Worship/Leadership Development Pastor. He is also a songwriter who has written such Vineyard songs as Saving Grace and Free. Steve is also the lead singer for the band, Autumn in Repair. Some of his musical influences are Ryan Adams, Ryan Delmore, Pete Yorn, Damien Rice, Our Lady Peace, Raine Maida, Lovedrug, Rachael Yamagata, Bob Dylan, Bob Howard, The Beatles, and Augustana. Favorite movies include Jeremiah Johnson (a commentary on life alone in the mountains), The Village (a commentary on what values are worth building a community upon), and Pan's Labyrinth (a commentary on what it is like to realize you are truly a princess of a magical underground kingdom... i can't explain it... it just resonates. i'll work it out in therapy). Favorite authors/teachers include Rob Bell, Brennan Manning, Brian McClaren, Tim Keel, Kurt Vonnegut, and Jack Keroac.

Email Steve


Roger Sodsod

Roger Sodsod

Small Group / Discipleship Pastor

Roger oversees our small groups, discipleship classes, men's ministry, women's ministry, our website, and serves on the executive pastoral team. He is passionate about building authentic community in Christ through an expanding small group system that evangelizes seekers, matures believers, and releases Spirit-filled leaders. Originally from Winter Park, Florida, Roger is married to Jackie, and they have a 7 year old son, Aiden, and a dog, Sadie.

Roger has a Bachelor of Music degree from the University of South Florida and a Master of Music degree from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. While beginning his career as an opera singer, the Lord abruptly called him into ministry (at an Encounter God retreat). Roger is a graduate from the Vineyard Leadership Institute and completed his pastoral internship at The Vineyard Church in Urbana, Illinois (senior pastor: Happy Leman). Prior to coming on staff at our church, Roger was the Director of Small Groups and Webmaster at New Horizon United Methodist Church in Champaign, Illinois. In addition to small groups, some of Roger's interests include reading, movies, Apple computers, modular origami, and training in Youn Wha Ryu with Aiden. Favorite scripture: Philippians 3:8-14 (read the Message translation)

Email Roger


Jeremiah TooleJeremiah

Brighton Campus Worship Pastor

Jeremiah is our Brighton Worship Pastor and has been involved in leading worship, running sound, and service production for the past 13 years. He is very passionate about worship in the local church and songwriting for our worship time together.

In his spare time, you can find him working as a music producer in his home-studio BearTrack Recording, and writing for his own music project, BearFace (seems fitting, right?). He also enjoys reading and his favorite authors are C.S. Lewis, Rob Bell, and Donald Miller. His favorite music comes from U2, The Rocketboys, Midlake, Radiohead, Bruce Springsteen (a guilty pleasure), and Bing Crosby. He's also a sucker for a good war film, old or new.

Side-note: if you need assistance relating to color, Jeremiah is NOT the guy to help you out. His colorblindness will not enhance your decision making.



Email Jeremiah


Roger Sodsod

Kevin Townsend

Brighton Campus / Young Adult Pastor

Kevin is the Brighton Campus and Young Adult Pastor. He and his wife Diane have been married since 1990 and have lived here in Kansas City since 1991. They met while Kevin was doing mission work one summer in college in upstate New York. Kevin was born and raised in the Houston, TX area and will always be a proud Texan at heart. He graduated with a religion degree from East Texas Baptist University and received his Master’s from Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary here in KC. Kevin worked full time in the ministry for several years as Campus Minister here in the northland. He went on to serve as Associate Pastor of Students and Discipleship at Winnwood Baptist Church for nearly eight years. The past few years Kevin has enjoyed growing his own company, selling online. Diane and Kevin both enjoy traveling and baseball, especially traveling to watch baseball.






Email Kevin

 


Tony Wilks

Executive Pastor

Tony

Tony serves Vineyard Church by overseeing our strategic growth, buildings & grounds, stewardship programs, communication systems, and staff administration. Originally from Garden City, Kansas, Tony graduated from Kansas State University as Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Architecture. Tony has been the design architect on several fire stations, city halls and multiple churches in the metro area, including the revised master plan for our building & grounds.

Tony is married to Beth and they have three children--Matthew, Julia and Andrea. Tony loves being a husband & dad, camping with friends & family, traveling, teaching, and watching good action movies.

Obscure facts: he was once a fire fighter, a disc-jockey, head chef in a cajun restaurant, loves motorcycles--but doesn't own one anymore (don't ask), rebuilt a 74 Camaro and now loathes driving a mini-van.

Favorite Quote: "Life is a grindstone. Whether it wears you out, or shines you up--depends upon what you are made of."

Favorite Scripture: Micah 6:8 "What does the Lord require of you? To act justly, to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God."

Email Tony


Roger Wilson

Children's Pastor

Roger Wilson

Roger was born in Fairview Oklahoma, raised in Kansas City, and has attended Vineyard for several years. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Management from Baker University. He carries 10+ years of management experience in the financial services industry, and has been an active volunteer in student ministries for 10 years. He is passionate about families, and supporting them through Children’s Ministry. He also serves on the executive pastoral team. Roger has been a follower of Jesus since age 16.

Roger and his wife, Jennine met as teenagers, and have been married for fifteen years. They have one child, Dominic. He loves to spend time with his family doing anything, loves to cook, and is an NFL fan (go Chiefs).

Other Favorites... Books: The Bible, My Side of the Mountain (Jean Craighead George), Farmer Boy (Laura Ingalls Wilder), Hinds Feet on High Places (Hannah Hurnard), and My Utmost for His Highest (Oswald Chambers). Movies: A River Runs Through It, Better Off Dead, A Christmas Story, and It’s a Wonderful Life. Music: U2, Jars of Clay, Reliant K, Harry Connick Jr, and the Foo Fighters.

Email Roger


Jim Riegel

Jim Riegel

Pastor Emeritus

Jim and Darlene have recently retired but are still active in several volunteer roles at Vineyard Church. They have been a part of Vineyard Church since early 1997. During those years he worked with assimilation, small groups, pastoral care, leadership development, administration and preaching. Jim is a veteran church planting pastor in and out of the Vineyard movement, having planted 3 churches. He has also been a youth pastor, lead pastor of an existing church, associate pastor of a 3,300 member mainline denomination church, sending pastor of 2 successful church plants, and area pastor to Vineyard pastors. Jim enjoys hanging out with his wife and best friend, Darlene – taking walks with their dog, watching movies, working in their yard, listening to audio books, and traveling. Jim is also an avid sports fan. Jim and Darlene have 4 children and 7 grandchildren, with whom they enjoy spending time.

Email Jim



Staff

denise
Denise Bearce, Administrative Assistant -
Youth Ministry (Cameron Erlandson & Mark Duncan)





Krystal Ragone, Administrative Assistant - Welcome & Assimilation Ministry (Tim Dykes)
   
kerryn
Kerryn May, Administrative Assistant to Senior
Pastor, Fred Herron






connie
Connie Mueller, Administrative Assistant -
Pastoral Prayer & Care Ministry (Gary Heese)
   
susie
Susie Schroeder, Director of Communications & Administrative Assistant (Tony Wilks)

Debbie Maynard
Debbie Maynard, Business Administrator

   
lisa
Lisa Kunkel, Administrative Assistant -
Children's Ministry (Roger Wilson)


Dawn Uthe

Dawn Uthe, Administrative Assistant - Attendance & Assimilation Ministry (Tim Dykes)

   



Jenny

Jenny Siercks, Administrative Assistant - Facility Scheduling & Purchasing


Angie Evans

Angie Evans, Small Group Administrative
Assistant (Roger Sodsod)

   
 




Paula Munyan,
Worship Administrative
Assistant (Curt Bartlet/Steve Jones) & Small Group AdministrativeAssistant (Roger Sodsod)