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Adam grew up going to church and thinking that was all that you needed to do as a follower of Christ. It wasn’t until he went to a church camp in high school that he became overwhelmed by the love and power of Christ and realized that God wants all of us, not just an hour or two a week. It was at that camp that Adam gave his life to the Lord and first heard the call to help other teens experience the love of Christ like he did.

Adam has a Bachelor’s degree in Communications from William Jewell College and recently graduated from MAP Seminary with a Master’s of Applied Theology. He has worked in student ministries in various roles and in various areas since his freshman year in college, which has helped him master the art of the all-nighter–lots of caffiene and ice water!

Adam came to Colonial after a brief foray as a bank teller while living in Scottsdale, AZ and dating his soon-to-be wife. While back in KC for a former student’s wedding, he ran into an old friend who told him about a middle school position opening at Colonial. Adam quickly called his bride to be and asked if he could move her from the continually warm and dry climate of the desert to the always changing, sometimes cold, sometimes muggy climate of the Midwest. To his surprise, she said yes! That she agreed will always be looked at by both of them as the work of the Lord.

Adam enjoys watching and playing sports of all kinds. He enjoys going to Chiefs and Royals games and always appreciates when people offer him free tickets…hint, hint. He also has a strange love for the Michigan Wolverines which keeps him out of the whole KU vs. KSU vs. MU controversy. Adam’s favorite way to spend a morning is outside on the porch with a cup of coffee and his Bible.

Favorite Fiction book: Ender’s Game
Favorite Non-fiction book: Moneyball and The Celtic Way of Evangelism
Favorite movie: Memento
Favorite Food: When you live in the mecca of smoked meats you have to say BBQ, right?
Favorite Muppet: Gonzo

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https://www.linkedin.com/pub/adam-reck/3/709/6a5″

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Growing up, Alex was filled with creative wonder and a joyous spirit. She enjoyed playing with the neighborhood kids and having her hands immersed in some art project. Needless to say, her kindergarten aspiration of being a professional figure skater did not pan out.

Alex earned a double Bachelor’s in Religion & Culture and Psychology from William Jewell College with a leadership certificate in completion of Jewell’s 3-year Pryor Leadership Program. Following graduation, Alex took a position as the High School Coordinator at Jacob’s Well Church, where she worked for a year and a half. Alex’s ministry background also includes work and volunteer experience at Kanakuk Kamps (K-2), Fellowship of Christian Athletes, Kansas City K-Life, and Youthfront.

Alex sensed the Lord calling her to full-time youth ministry and when this position opened up, she was excited to apply in light of what she’d heard about Colonial from numerous people in her community. In addition to overseeing 6th-12th grade programming, Alex intentionally invests in the lives of the students at the South KC Campus. From attending sporting events to grabbing coffee with a few girls, Alex meets students in their daily lives with the hope that they will encounter Christ and experience a true relationship with God. She is passionate about mobilizing and emboldening young people to be ambassadors for Christ in their schools, among their friends, on their teams, and wherever they go.

Having played DII soccer, Alex now enjoys training female youth goalkeepers as a coach for Finesse Soccer Academy. She also keeps her hands busy with a side calligraphy/hand lettering business. Outside of work, Alex enjoys being outside, drinking coffee, playing tennis, and hanging with friends and family.

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Favorite book: Little Women by Louisa May Alcott
Food: Cajun and Lebanese
Favorite animal(s): Dog & White Butterfly
Favorite show: So You Think You Can Dance

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Dani graduated with her Masters from Friends University with a degree in Marriage and Family Therapy. She is starting up a private practice and, in the process of building her clientele, she decided to jump on board at Colonial. Dani grew up around Colonial. Her family switched churches in sixth grade, so she transitioned into the youth group. At the time she was super shy, but somewhere along the way she busted out of her shell and never turned back. Dani was on summer staff with Colonial one summer during her college career.

She is so excited to join alongside us as we continue to make Colonial a Student Strong church. It is her greatest honor and joy to get to know the students and join them in their pursuit/discovery of who Jesus was, is, and is to come.

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Molly was a curious, energetic, and loving child, always using her imagination. She grew up with an insatiable desire to nurture and care for others. Summers spent at Portage Lake Bible camp were also formative in heightening her awareness of God’s calling for her in everyday life.

Molly earned a degree in Christian Education and Ministry from Wheaton College. She also spent six months in Kitwe, Zambia working with a non-profit creating and implementing a teacher training curriculum using Jesus as the model teacher. The Pitkins came to Colonial when Molly was still in middle school. She found a home within the youth ministry and prayer team. As Overland Park’s high school youth leader, Molly loves creating spaces where students can encounter God through teaching and community.

Exploring nature through biking and hiking is one of Molly’s favorite things. She also delights in capturing meaningful moments through photography and art projects. Molly loves finding reasons to celebrate even the littlest things in life.

Favorite Movie — Father of the Bride
Favorite Food — Chips, Guacamole, and Taquitos
Favorite Color — Purple
Favorite Baby Animal — Penguin
Favorite Smell — Spring Flowers

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Becca grew up going to Colonial and was nicknamed the ‘I don’t know girl’ for her go with the flow (people pleasing) personality. Her dreams of becoming a professional soccer player and Broadway star were ruined upon entering middle school when she found herself as a small fish in a huge ocean of talent.

Becca majored in Family Studies and Human Services at Kansas State University (GO CATS!) Becca was a leader for YoungLife’s middle school ministry, WyldLife, while in college and it was there that she fell in love with students going through the awkward transition years of middle school. Becca was on Summer Staff for two summers during college. They loved her so much they brought her on full time after she graduated!

Becca has an obsession with coffee and ice cream (but not coffee flavored ice cream). Becca and her husband Matt have a wild frisbee playing border collie named Wally and are expecting their first child in October 2015.

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Michael has been excited about Colonial ever since his friend Becca told him about Summer Staff in college.  Eventually the stars aligned and God revealed to he and his wife in many ways that their next place and ‘assignment’ was in Kansas City. This fall his wife  Krista will teach social studies at Grandview High School. Michael remembers jumping out of his chair telling Krista about the opening on the youth team, and he’s excited to be a part of the rich culture, ministry and mission that he’s heard about and experienced firsthand. He also can’t wait to be part of the Colonial team and bring the  light of the gospel to this city.

Michael’s wife Krista is from Overland Park and graduated from Blue Valley. He is from the great city of Topeka, and graduated from a high schooled called Washburn Rural. He and Krista met in Manhattan, KS and did ministry together for 3 years. They started dating after she graduated and he put a ring on it when they lived in Nashville. They’ve been married for 6 years. Right after they moved to Joplin, they got a golden retriever named Daisy, and a little over two years ago their precious daughter Ellie came into their lives. Michael also have a twin sister! He proudly brag about being 60 seconds older than her. His half sister Laura attends Washburn University and will graduate next year.  They’ll be living with Krista’s parents until they close on their house and they live in the Lenexa area, and they are thrilled we’ll be living so close to them!

Michael heard about Jesus all throughout his childhood, but was constantly told that if he was a good person he’d make it to heaven. He’s a goals guy, so he made it my goal as a kid to be pleasant, liked by everyone, and to get involved in a ton of things. It wasn’t until he really heard about the gospel at his home church in Topeka that he really understood what it meant to follow Jesus and live his life according to His plan for him. He always went to a camp in Salina every year and through a series of conversations, trusting God he wouldn’t die on the zipline, and hearing the camp speaker talk about Jesus in a way he’d never heard before, he gave his life to Christ at that camp in 2003. Since then it’s been a series of ups and downs, but through his successes and utter failures he continues to take one foot in front of the other toward Jesus and tries to lead his family toward Him every day.