Education: B.S.; Calvary Bible College
Personal: Married to Trudy since 1982; three children (Kalie, Caleb, and Kelsie)
Hobbies: Lifting weights, riding motorcycles, basketball, watching sports
Favorite Movie(s): Fletch, The Princess Bride
Favorite Book(s): Prodigal God, The Barbarian Way, The Ragamuffin Gospel, Developing The Leaders Around You
Favorite Quote: “If you do what you’ve always done…you will always get what you’ve always gotten.”
Favorite Verse(s): Romans 12:2 – “Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.”

Kevin grew up in St. Louis, Missouri. After living in Springfield, Missouri for four years, Kevin and his family relocated to Gardner in December 2000. Originally a member of Crosswinds Community Church, Kevin and DeAnn have been part of the New Life family since the merger in October 2002. He has served in various capacities throughout the years and has been a member of the Elder Board since January 2004. In May 2018, after 35 years in the corporate world, Kevin became a member of the New Life staff as the Executive Pastor.

Lucas grew up as the son of a pastor in the Chicago suburbs.  He gave his life to Christ at an early age and accepted his calling into vocational ministry his senior year of high school.  After graduating from Lincoln Christian University in 2003 he spent 8 years in ministry before moving to the Kansas City metro area in 2011.

Lucas started working at New Life in March of 2015.  In the past, Lucas has worked in a variety of capacities in the ministry, but at New Life is applying his passion for helping people take “next steps” by leading the adult discipleship program: training Life Group leaders, teaching at weekend services and working with the First Impressions Team to help people move from “first-time guests” to “New Life family members.”  Lucas and his wife, Charissa, have four children, and they love spending time together as a family. Lucas is an avid Sci-fi fan, book nerd, comic geek, and Star Wars fanatic.

Cameron (Also known as Cam) grew up in Tampa, Florida. He has a deep passion for the next generation, and that passion has been evident in his life ever since he was young. When he was a freshman at Auburn University, God called him into full-time ministry, specifically youth ministry, with the desire to see adult leaders passionate about teenagers and to see teenagers passionate about Jesus. In 2018, after studying Youth & Family Ministries at Southeastern University (SEU), God called him from the Sunshine State to the Kansas City metro area to serve as a Youth Pastor. It is here where he met his lovely wife, Caycee, whom he married in April 2020.

Cameron has been on staff at New Life since the spring of 2020.

In his free time, Cameron enjoys lifting weights, spending time with family & friends, and of course, taking naps.

For more information, message us at info@newlifegardner.com!

Nick Magana has been part of the New Life family since 2009 and served as a volunteer in the children’s ministry for 5 years before accepting the position as our Children’s Pastor in November 2016. One of his core beliefs, is that as representatives of an extraordinary God it is our job to show children and families the extent of his love for them by providing them with experiences, environments, teaching, and support that go beyond normal and ordinary and are focused at training and developing the next generation of volunteer leaders, pastors, and believers for the church.

Sarah grew up in Sikeston, Missouri and moved to the Kansas City area with her family in 1997. Prior to her time at NLCC, Sarah served on staff in Children’s Ministry in various roles. Sarah and her family began attending New Life Community Church on New Year’s Day, 2011 after being invited by neighbor friends.

In addition to serving in various volunteer roles at New Life, Sarah and her family enjoy camping, spending time together and watching Sci-Fi movies. For the past 7 years, Sarah has enjoyed volunteering in Children’s Ministry and FIT Team here at NLCC. She and her husband Richard along with their two children are especially thankful for the opportunity to be a part of the New Life Family.

Ryan has been attending New life since 2011. He has a heart for all things music and live performance. He has a degree in studio production and sound reinforcement. He also spent years touring and performing live music. Ryan joined the staff as Technical Director in September 2019.

Jake grew up in Gardner and has attended New Life since 2016. He has degrees in Recording Arts and Music Therapy. He has a passion for leading worship and using music to point people to God’s goodness.

Jake joined the New Life staff in March 2022, leading Transit and YTH students in worship, while continuing to serve at weekend services.

Jake enjoys playing disc golf, watching cooking competition shows, and tending to his goats Gus and Bell

Brittany grew up in Edgerton and moved to Gardner in 2017. After looking for a church for several months, she and her family began attended New Life. She immediately felt at home and knew this is where they belonged. Brittany started volunteering throughout the church and became a member of the First Impressions Team in 2022. She has a passion for people and would like to make sure every individual walking through New Life's doors feels welcomed.
In her spare time, Brittany enjoys spending time with her husband and four kids. She also enjoys reading, cross stitching, puzzles, and writing.

Tom and his family have been a part of New Life since they moved to Gardner in 2021.  

Tom heads our connections team following up with new families and helping regular attenders get connected and serve at New Life.

Rich grew up around the Wichita, Kansas area,  Furley actually. Rich moved to Gardner in 2001 as a newlywed with Jenn.  They have 3 children. (Braedyn, twin girls Ada and Addison) Originally a part of Crosswinds Community Church, becoming a member or New Life with the merger in 2004.
Jenn and he have been serving passionately with the youth for the last 19 years. They keep them young! Rich has been involved in leadership of the church since 2006, first as a deacon and now as an elder.  God has been good to Jenn and our family. Life isn't easy following Christ, but it sure is better.

Rich was born in Carthage MO to a young pastor in his first church.  They soon moved to West Texas, then back to Missouri for high school.  Rich came to Olathe in 1972 to attend MANC, where he met future wife Chris on the first class of the first day of school!
Rich and family moved to Gardner in late 1993, where they helped start CrossWinds CC, which later merged New Life church to form NLCC.  Rich has been leading the Celebrate Recovery ministry since 2012.

Randy’s favorite Christmas movie is, “It’s a Wonderful Life.”  And he feels like he has a wonderful life!  He grew up in a Christian home and his father became a pastor when Randy was 10 years old.  He feels fortunate to have such a good foundation.
 
Randy has been at New Life since 2009 and has known Pastor Rick and Trudy since 1991 when they went to the same church for several years.
 
Randy and his wife Lisa have two kids, Dayna (Bliss) and Corey.  He loves to play just about any sport, especially golf and tennis these days.

Bio coming soon.