4/22/2007
Meet the Operation Barnabas Leaders
The leaders meet at CE National's Russell Center
The Potomac Team
Mike and Connie Pumphrey with Ryley
Mike Pumphrey, Senior Leader
Hello, my name is Mike Pumphrey and this is my third year leading Operation Barnabas and my first as a Senior Leader. My wife Connie and I have been married for 5 years and have a beautiful 18-month-old daughter named Ryley. She is such a great joy! We have lived for the last two years in Minerva, Ohio, where I was on staff with a church as a youth pastor. We are currently transitioning to Indiana after this summer where we will be starting a new ministry as Site Coordinators with the 412 Commission. I have a great love and desire to pour into high school. Students and believe they have so much potential that is just waiting to be tapped into. I am looking forward to the great privilege of working with your student this summer and thank you for trusting them to Operation Barnabas.
Connie Pumphrey
My name is Connie and this is my third year leading OB. I have been married for 5 years and have a 18 month-old daughter. For the last two years I have lived in Minerva, Ohio, where my husband was the youth pastor. We are now in the process of transitioning to Goshen, Indiana, where we will be site coordinators for the 412 Commission. I am very passionate about youth ministry and very excited about being involved in the life of your teen this summer.
Stacie Fay
My name is Stacie Fay. I am from Waldorf, Maryland. I attend Grace College where I am majoring in Physical Education and Youth Ministry. I have been serving at my local church as a youth sponsor. I went on OB in 2003 as a student, and also served on BEYOND at Urban Hope Training Center. It was on OB that I decided to serve the Lord in full-time ministry. This will be my second year leading. I am glad about this summer’s opportunities to serve the Lord.
Jenny Jones
Jenny Jones was born and raised in Sunnyside, Washington, and has grown up in the Sunnyside Grace Brethren Church. She is currently a junior majoring in Elementary Education and pursuing a minor in Music at Central Washington University. In 2003, she went on the Florida tour with OB. While at school, Jenny works at a daycare, ministers at youth group, and helps lead a girls’ Bible study. This will be her first summer as an OB leader, and she is very excited to get to know your teen on tour!
Matt Wheeland
Matt Wheeland grew up in Norton, Ohio, and has attended the Norton Grace Brethren Church for 3 years. In May of 2006 he graduated the 412 commission and was later asked to return for the 2006-07 year as a staff member for the program. He is currently working on his degree in biblical studies from Moody Bible Institute. This is his second summer leading Operation Barnabas and he is looking forward to another summer working with teens.
The Atlantic Team
Timothy and Carrie Clothier
Timothy Clothier, Senior Leader
Hello, My name is Timothy Clothier and I consider it a great privilege to lead your teenager this summer. I have such an incredible passion for today’s youth, and I cannot think of a better way to spend my summer. I am a Grace College graduate with a degree in Youth Ministry and I am currently taking classes at Grace Seminary, pursuing my master’s degree. Over the past few years God has given me a great opportunity of working with youth in a local church. It is through this time and my educational experiences that I know there is no other call for my life than Youth Ministry. Please keep our team in your prayers this summer. God has incredible things planned and I feel honored to be a part of His work.
Carrie Clothier
I am a Grace College Graduate. I majored in Physical Education and Health. I am currently living in Winona Lake with my husband, but am originally from Lancaster, PA. My husband and I have been working with a local youth group for the past 3 years and love it! I’m also coaching soccer and working in an elementary school with special ed students. We are learning a lot and God is using that ministry to help us grow. I am so excited to be leading OB this year. I was on the 2001 OB team in California and then led last year and can’t wait to lead again! God has some great things planned for this summer. My husband and I becoming leaders again has been an answer to prayer as well, and we feel so blessed to be leading this 2007 team!
Lindsay Johnson
My name is Lindsey Johnson. I am from Harrah, Washington. Since the beginning of my life I have attended a Grace Brethren church. In the summer 2002 I went on Operation Barnabas as a student. I recently graduated from Washington State University (Go Cougs!) with an Elementary Education degree. I am not sure where the Lord is leading me to teach but it will probably be somewhere in eastern Washington. This is my first year becoming an OB leader and I am very excited about meeting your child this summer.
Amy Kendrick
Amy is from Northern California, and is a member of the Ripon GBC and involved in the youth ministry. She just graduated from the California School of Culinary Arts in Pasadena, CA, and is now a pastry chef. She is very passionate about youth and loves to see them grow in the Lord. She is thrilled to have the opportunity to lead for the 3rd time this year and looks forward to meeting your child.
John Mueller
Hi, I am from Ripon, California, and while I lived there I attended Ripon GBC. In 2003, I went on Operation Barnabas as a student. The next year I served on Beyond at the Urban Hope Training Center. I graduated in June of 2006 with my bachelors degree in Psychology from California State Stanislaus. While I was completing my degree I was involved with junior high and college ministry at Ripon GBC as a leader. Along with this I was a youth intern responsible for the high school ministry for two years at Common Ground in Manteca, California. I moved to Warsaw, Indiana, in August of 2006 to pursue my Masters of Divinity in Pastoral Studies from Grace Theological Seminary. Currently I attend Community Grace Brethren Church in Warsaw, Indiana, where I am involved with Junior High and High School ministry. OB was a turning point in my life that changed the way that I live. I can not wait to see what God is going to do through this summer on Operation Barnabas.
Matthew Rupple
Matt Rupple grew up in Defiance, Ohio. He is a junior at Tri-State University studying to become a Mechanical Engineer. He is currently working through his Co-op program with school at DePuy, a Johnson & Johnson company, here in Warsaw. He is involved in helping with the 5th and 6th graders at church, and the Jr. High and High school age when he has the chance. This is his first time being an OB Leader, and is very excited to work with and invest his life with your teen(s) this summer.
The Chesapeake Team
Matt Goetz
Matt is a 2001 OB Alum and graduate of Grace College holding a Biblical Studies and Youth Ministry degree. He is a native of Greencastle, Pennsylvania, and keen on returning home to serve in his community and surrounding area. Since graduating in 2005, Matt has experienced missions abroad in Central African Republic, led high school ministry teams to Jamaica working in orphanages and schools, and taught environmental studies to middle schoolers in the Florida Keys. Currently, he is an Outdoor Education Instructor in southern California at YMCA Camp Marston. He looks forward to the privilege of serving the Lord through numerous teaching and ministry experiences with your teenager, knowing this summer will forever impact their lifestyle.
Courtney Cherest
Courtney Cherest grew up in Waldorf, Maryland, and attended the Grace Brethren Church there for over 13 years. She went on Operation Barnabas as a student in 1998. It made such an important and meaningful impact on her life, she decided to return as a leader in 2002. Courtney graduated with a degree in Biblical Studies with an emphasis in Psychology/Counseling in 2003 from Washington Bible College in DC. She returned to lead again in 2003, 2004, 2005 and 2006! In September of 2004, Courtney began a new life by moving to Winona Lake, Indiana, and taking a new job with CE National, Inc. She is the Assistant/Coordinator for The National Institute, Grace College's Youth Ministry degree. She now is a member of the Community Grace Brethren Church in Warsaw, Indiana, and is involved with the youth ministry, music ministry, and church leadership. This will be her sixth year leading and she looks forward to having the privilege to work with your teen!
Amie Anderson
Amie Anderson from Modesto, California, and attends Ripon Grace Brethren Church. She will graduate from the 412 Commission in May. Before leaving to go on the 412 Commission she was a leader in the youth group. This is her first time leading OB and is very excited to work with the teens this year.
Aleecha Jones
Aleecha Jones is from Loysburg, Pennsylvania, and attends Community Grace Brethren in Everett, PA. She is a senior at Penn State University, Altoona campus, and will be graduating in May with a Bachelor’s degree in Business. Aleecha went on OB as a student in 2001 to the west coast. This will be her first year as a leader and she is excited to spending the summer ministering with your teen.
Alex Jones
Alex Jones was born and raised in the Gem City, Dayton, Ohio. He attended the Huber Heights Grace Community Church. In 2001, he was a student on Operation Barnabas where he went on a tour of the west coast. Alex is excited to be able to go back, but this time as a leader. Alex is currently finishing his senior year of an Art Education major at Grace College. While in school, Alex is attending the New Horizon Grace Brethren Church. This will be Alex’s second year leading and he is looking forward to the summer ahead.
