Meet our staff
Email a staff member by clicking the person’s photo. If you’re not sure who to contact, call 913.268.9551 or send an email to stpaulsumc@stpaulslenexa.org and we’ll connect you with the appropriate person. We look forward to hearing from you!
Rev. David Livingston
Senior Pastor
“What most excites me about ministry is helping a church and the people of the church know and live out God’s purpose for them. I believe every person has a calling to ministry. Sometimes we struggle to find that call, sometimes we struggle to accept the call, but we will be most fulfilled when we find, accept, and are trained to live out God’s call.”
Read more about Pastor David
His professional experience in the church started in 1994 as a youth director while finishing college. He served as a youth director (1994-1996), as Conference Youth Worker for the Kansas East Conference (96-98), Associate Pastor at Old Mission UMC responsible for youth, young adults, and starting a Saturday Evening Contemporary worship service (98-2001), Pastor of Camp Creek and Lancaster UMCs (2001-2003), Associate Pastor at First UMC, Lawrence where he was responsible for planning a second campus, assisted in a Capital Campaign, and began an off-site worship service in preparation for a move to the second campus (2003-2006), and as pastor at Burlington UMC (2006-2010).
David and his wife Tracy have two children, Sophia and Abby.
Rev. Sandra Cox
Pastor of Faith Formation
“My calling in the church to is to help every person understand their life story in the light of our sacred story, the good news of Jesus Christ. I love it when together we find those “aha” moments that help us see that is how God has always been at work in the world and that is how God is at work in our life today. I believe the church exists to tell this story and to help us all see that we are part of a community of grace that God is shaping through Jesus Christ.”
Read more about Pastor Sandra
Sandra came to St. Paul’s in 2007. She has served as Director of Children’s Ministries at both Aldersgate UMC (1991-1993) and Lenexa UMC (1993-1995). She served as Associate Pastor of Country Club UMC (1995-1997) and Trinity UMC (1997-1998). Sandra became Senior Associate Pastor at Grace UMC (1998-2003) where she was responsible for all of Christian Education ministries and pastoral care. In 2003 she became the pastor of Roeland Park UMC where she served until she came to St. Paul’s.
Sandra received her undergraduate degree from Washington University in St. Louis, Mo. in the fields of History and Art/Archaeology. She has a Master’s of Divinity from Saint Paul School of Theology in Kansas City, Missouri and is an elder in the Great Plains Annual Conference. She has served as an adjunct faculty member at St. Paul School of Theology, where she has taught courses in Christian Education, Biblical Studies and Preaching. She has served as both a PLUM (Preparing for Local Ministry) and ELM (Entering Local Ministry) leader during the school year. Sandra enjoys working with students to help them fulfill their call into ministry.
Sandra is the Pastor of Faith Formation and oversees all areas of Christian Education and Spiritual Formation including Sunday School for all ages, Confirmation Class, Bible studies, Small Groups and Adult Missions.
Sandra is married to Mark who is the Executive Director of the Midwest Hemophilia Association. They live in Olathe, Kansas and together they have four children (Ryan, Erin, Beth, and Charlie), one daughter-in-law (Megan), one son-in-law (Jeisun) and one granddaughter (Isabella)!
Pastor Mike Marcus
Associate Pastor
“My calling in ministry is to serve the needs of people who sometimes get ignored by the church. Sometimes Sunday mornings aren’t just inconvenient, they’re impossible. For those in the service industry, those that carry abnormal hours, sometimes it just doesn’t work. I don’t think many people would argue what Jesus and the Disciples did wasn’t ‘church.’ They built kinship and community on the road, in homes, and in unexpected places. My focus is that of ‘thin places,’ where the holy and the ordinary come together to reveal God.”
Read more about Pastor Mike
Mike Marcus is currently a student at St. Paul School of Theology. He graduated from the University of Kansas in 2015 with a B.A. in Religious Studies.
Mike has previously served at New Church Lawrence as an Executive Pastor from 2015-2016. He is currently leading the Presence ministry within St. Paul’s that is focused on community-centered, experiential worship. Mike’s focus in ministry is building community through worship and dialogue, outside the walls of the church. While at St. Paul School of Theology, he is focusing on studying how current ministry models are meeting the needs of individuals through these developing church models.
Mike is married to Allison Marcus, the Youth Director at St. Paul’s.
Allison Marcus
Director of Student Ministries
Allison came to St. Paul’s in July of 2012. She is a graduate of the University of Kansas with degrees in Journalism and Religious Studies. She now enjoys cheering on her Jayhawks in her free time!
Allison feels a calling to a youth ministry career and building relationships with youth while helping them develop their faith lives. She continues to be amazed by the power of church community as she grows in her faith with those around her. Allison is in Seminary school at Saint Paul Seminary, working toward an ordination as a Deacon in the United Methodist Church.Read more about Allison
Jamie Turk
Director of Family & Children’s Ministries
We’re happy to have Jamie Turk on our staff as Director of Children and Family Ministries. Jamie previously worked with LifeBridge UMC and Church of the Resurrection in similar capacities. Among other qualities, we appreciate Jamie’s dedication to children and families, her energy, and her sense of humor!
Jamie lives in Overland Park with her husband Troy and three sons Logan, Wyatt, and Owen. As you can imagine, the family stays busy with sports and other activities! They are making the most of this season of their lives.
Jackson Thomas
Director of Choral Music
Conductor, tenor, and teacher, Jackson directs the Chancel Choir, Bell Choir, and Orchestra. In addition to his work at St. Paul’s, Jackson is the founding Artistic Director of the KC VITAs Chamber Choir, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit professional choir dedicated to the continued creation and performance of “Contemporary-Classical” music. He currently serves as an Artist-in-Residence at the University of Central Missouri in Warrensburg, MO where he teaches voice, ear training, opera workshop, and women’s choir. As a performer of operatic, musical theatre, and choral repertoire, Jackson can be heard around the city in a variety of solo and ensemble performances.
Jackson holds a B.A. in Vocal Performance from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and an M.M. in Choral Conducting from the University of Kansas where he studied conducting with Paul Tucker and voice with Joyce Castle. In his spare time, Jackson enjoys hiking, cooking, and spending quality time with his cats and dog.Read more about Jackson
Loren Bridge
Contemporary Music Director
Loren joined St. Paul’s staff in June, 2018. He has a long history of work in the church and is looking forward to sharing his gifts with the St. Paul’s community. Loren is also a choral director for the Center School District and holds a bachelor’s degree in education from Northwest Missouri State University. With 17 years in education and nearly 20 years in church music, he has a variety of gifts to bring to his new role. Loren also has a love of theater and music, directs and plays piano, and does sound and lighting design at school and various theaters in town.
Charles Dickinson
Accompanist
Charles is active around Kansas City as a pianist in a variety of settings, including working with Jackson Thomas’ choir, KC VITAs. Charles holds a B.A. in Piano Performance from Adams State University in Alamosa, CO; an M.M. In Piano Performance from the University of New Mexico in Albuquerque; and an Artist’s Certificate in Piano Performance from UMKC. His teachers include William Lipke, Falko Steinbach, Pamela Pyle, and Karen Kushner. Charles also manages The Simpson House, an event space near the Country Club Plaza.
Ronelle Neperud
Director of ConneXions Ministries
Ronelle Neperud has been a member and volunteered in many aspects of St. Paul’s ministries for a couple of decades! She is excited about the tremendous potential for St. Paul’s at this time in its history. She is equally excited to be a part of the team of staff and volunteer members that provide a welcoming environment that encourages a sense of belonging for newcomers, regular attendees, members and those yet to come to our church’s doors.
Read more about Ronelle
Ronelle holds a Bachelors of Social Work degree from Avila College and a Master’s of Social Work from the University of Missouri, Columbia. She brings a harvest of professional knowledge and experience in working with people, organizations and community for more than 30 years. She has a particular passion for helping people discover their potential and matching that potential with life-fulfilling purpose and meaning.
She enjoys spending time with her blended family, gardening, landscaping, and home improvement projects, and can be seen working around St. Paul’s gardens when not wearing her ConneXions hat!
Doris Housh
Office Manager
Doris Housh began working as our Office Manager at St. Paul’s in February of 1993. She is also Director of Music at Monticello United Methodist, where she and her husband have been members since 1983.
Read more about Doris
She is active in United Methodist Women, having served as local president and various other offices, and also as District President of the Kansas City District and other district offices.
Doris’s background is in education. She holds a bachelor’s degree in English, and a master’s degree in psychology, with an emphasis in special education.
Doris and her husband, Dave, live in Shawnee. They enjoy spending time with their daughter Deanna, son-in-law Ryan, and grandson Ira.
Cheryl Scott
Business Manager
Cheryl Scott has been the Business Manager at St. Paul’s since April 2004. Prior to that she was employed for 10 years at Conoco, followed by 12 years at Yellow Freight. At both companies, she served in a systems analyst/project manager role.
Cheryl has a Business Degree from Kansas State University and Not-for-profit Management certification from Rockhurst University. She and her husband, Randy, have lived in Lenexa since 1990, raising their two children, Steven and Andrew.Read more about Cheryl
Janice Colt
Communications Director
Janice joined the staff at St. Paul’s in January 2013. She enjoys putting her skills to work serving the St. Paul’s community.
Janice has a BA in English from UMKC. Her professional experience includes technical writing, marketing communications, and web development. She enjoys the challenge of combining creativity and technology to help establish and nurture connections between people. She lives in Midtown KCMO with her husband, Gary. They have two grown kids and three granddaughters. In addition to enjoying time with family and friends, Janice likes practicing yoga, knitting, watching movies, and going for nature walks.Read more about Janice
Pat Stangl
St. Paul’s Preschool Director
Pat provides oversight to both our Preschool program and our Children’s Day Out. She supports our staff of Early Childhood professionals and works with parents as they find the best learning experience for their children. She helps provide a welcoming environment and superior foundation for lifelong learning for each child.
Read more about Pat
Pat lives with her husband, Steve, in Overland Park. They have three children and three grandchildren. She enjoys spending time with her family, reading, gardening, and being out in nature.
Lynda Gillette
Childcare Coordinator
Lynda coordinates staffing resources for all activities requiring child care. Her goal is to provide a loving and safe staff and environment for children while their parents attend church functions.
CHILDCARE POLICY: St. Paul’s requires reservations for childcare four days prior to an event, and a minimum of 3 children of St. Paul’s members must be registered to make childcare available. To reserve childcare, please include name of parents, name of child, age of child, date childcare is needed, and St. Paul’s event you are attending when you email us.
Hadi Al Faris
Custodial Manager
Hadi and his wife moved to the United States from Baghdad, Iraq in 2015. They live in Kansas City, KS. In addition to keeping things squeaky clean, Hadi also helps with building maintenance and repair. Before joining St. Paul’s staff, Hadi had been working as a supervisor for Aspire Cleaning Services, a Catholic Charities program that provides employment opportunities for refugees in the custodial industry. Hadi is a wonderful addition to our St. Paul’s staff.