---

REV. DR. MICHAEL DUNN
SENIOR PASTOR

Dr. Dunn currently lives in Jefferson City. He recently served as Senior Pastor at First Christian Church-Houston from 2001-2021. While there, Dunn oversaw an increase in giving that funded new ministry programs, helped direct a building program that doubled the size of an existing preschool program, and was active with various community groups and ministries, including Rice Village Business Owners, Medical Clinic of Houston, Houston Sports Authority, Houston City Council District C, Rice University Police Department, and the Texas Medical Center.
 
Prior to his service in Texas, Dunn served as Senior Minister at Downtown Christian Church in Johnson City, Tennessee, for ten years. Dunn received his Doctor of Ministry and Master of Divinity degrees from the Emmanuel School of Religion. Dunn and his wife, Dawn, have four adult children.

You can contact Dr. Dunn at [email protected].

---

REV. HEATHER PATTEN
ASSOCIATE PASTOR

Rev. Heather Patten joined the FCC JCMO staff as Associate Minister of Christian Formation and Connection in October 2023, bringing more than a decade of ministry experience with her. She's a life-long Mid-Missourian, who graduated from Fulton High School way back in the mid-'90's. She earned a Bachelor's degree in Sociology and Religious Studies from Fulton's Westminster College in 2002 and worked in the public library for several years before finally deciding to answer God's call to ministry. She graduated from Lexington Theological Seminary in 2021 with a Masters in Theological Studies.  Heather was ordained in the Mid-America Region of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in March of 2024 after almost a decade of serving churches as a commissioned minister. 

She loves listening to people tell their stories, making connections and building relationships, and telling everyone who will listen that they are an important part of the story God is telling in this world!

Heather lives in Fulton with her husband and their three kids. Her hobbies include, but are not limited to, reading, watching movies, walking in the woods, listening to music, singing, genealogy, knitting, having coffee and conversation with loved ones, playing games (board, card, or tabletop rpg) and watching her kids do their various activities.

You can contact Rev. Patten at [email protected]

REV. ALEXIS ENGLEBRECHT
MINISTER OF ONLINE FAITH FORMATION

Rev. Alexis Engelbrecht’s passion for delving into and making use of scripture in life-giving, liberating, and loving ways influences her role as Minister of Online Faith Formation and Public Theological Learning Experiences for First Christian Church of Jefferson City. Experiences in education, writing, worship, membership engagement, leadership development, youth ministry, small group ministry, solo ministry, and chaplaincy inform how she supports the work of the Church.
Rev. Alexis graduated with a Master of Divinity from Phillips Theological Seminary with high honors in December of 2020. First Christian Church of Jefferson City hosted her ordination in March of 2022 and continues to be a community she loves and is honored to be part of in ways that exceed geographic boundaries. She is currently earning her Doctor of Ministry.
If you have questions or would like to be in touch with Rev. Alexis, you may email her at: [email protected].

---

---

GRETCHEN HUEDEPOHL
DIRECTOR OF MUSIC MINISTRY

Gretchen’s passion for church music was fostered at an early age, thanks to some incredible musical mentors in her hometown of Topeka, KS.  She began playing worship services at the age of 10 and accompanying vocal performers and instrumentalists shortly after.  While in college at Concordia University in Nebraska, she gained her first experience as a volunteer director of a church choir.  She is a former member of the American Guild of Organists and the National Music Teachers Association.
 
Gretchen moved to Jefferson City in 1984, joining the staff of Trinity Lutheran as church secretary and Director of Music.  She has served First Christian since January, 1998. She operated a private piano/organ studio for 25 years. Since 2009 she’s also been on the staff of Westminster College in Fulton, MO, serving as pianist/organist for vocal students and ensembles, as well as for special events for the college and for the National Churchill Museum.  In the Jefferson City community she serves as accompanist for the Liberte Women’s Ensemble.
 
In her free time she enjoys antiquing, home decorating, taking in live music performances of all types, and spending time with family -- husband, Jeff; their three adult children, Benjamin, Seth, and Hannah; and their spoiled black lab.

​You can contact Gretchen at this email address. 

---

---

SHARYL KELSCH
OFFICE ADMINISTRATOR

Sharyl currently lives in Jefferson City. Her family is made up of her husband, Shawn, and her two children, Megan and Austin. Sharyl's career consisted of working in public education for the past 28 years. She has been a teacher, counselor, assistant/associate principal and a principal. After retirement, she was looking for a job with a slower pace.

Sharyl grew up around the church. As the child of two ministers, she has been involved in all aspects of the church. In this position, she is able to use her prior knowledge and her love of talking to people as well as her organizational skills. In her free time, she loves to read, travel, and spend time with her family.

​You can contact Sharyl at [email protected] or at 573-636-5257.
​

---

SCOTT CAMPBELL
FACILITIES COORDINATOR AND SUPERVISOR
​
Scott graduated in 1990 from New Bloomfield and served in the US Navy from 1990 - 2003. In his free time he enjoys reading, fishing, and playing guitar. Scott is an avid video game player.

You can contact Scott at [email protected].

---

TERRI LLOYD
HANDBELL CHOIR DIRECTOR
​
Terri Lloyd has been directing the Jubilant Sound Handbell Choir for over 25 years. She was introduced to the handbell world when she was in high school and her home church, FCC in Maryville, MO, purchased a new 4-octave set.

Terri has passed her handbell knowledge on to the next generation. Her family “grew up” playing handbells. Her husband and both children have played in her choirs. She is also an active performer in various community groups where she plays clarinet and saxophone. She performs in a big band called Kapital Kix and plays for local theater pit orchestras as well as other ensembles.
​
She holds a Bachelor of Music degree from Culver​-Stockton College and a Master's of Education from Northwest Missouri State University. She also earned an Instructional Technology Certificate from NWMSU. 

You can contact Terri at this email address.

---

​
Disciples Identity     Church Staff      Facilities      Frequently Asked Questions     Contact Us