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.

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 students and pointing them to Jesus!

Jake joined the New Life staff in March 2022 and became a Pastor in April of 2024.

Jake enjoys being married to his wife Raegan, being a dad, playing disc golf, watching cooking competition shows, and playing music. 

Andrew often says that he feels extremely blessed to be so certain of the calling God placed on his life to be a Worship Pastor at an early age. Watching his father fulfill a calling to ministry proved to be a very impactful part of God showing Andrew what he was supposed to do with his own life. 

In 2000, God brought Andrew to meet his future wife, Brittany, as a 10 year old. Both his father and his now father in law served together on the same pastoral staff. It wouldn’t be until 2010 that they would start dating and then be married in 2012. So never give up, kids…sometimes it takes a decade to finally become a suitable option to your future wife! 

Andrew and Brittany have two sons: Elijah, born in 2013, and Logan, born in 2017.
Brittany has been an excellent Registered Nurse in several different positions for over a decade, as well as the partner and co-parent Andrew has always prayed for. 

Coming to New Life in the summer of 2023 was a homecoming for Andrew who went to Park Hill High School in Kansas City. He has now been blessed to serve as a full-time Worship Pastor for over 10 years in Missouri and Kansas and looks forward to being part of the New Life family for a long time as God moves in Gardner. 

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.

Sarah joined the staff in September 2020. She and her husband Richard along with their two children are 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  in September 2019.

Ryan enjoys riding his motorcycle, fishing, playing disc golf, and being a dad to his 4 daughters. 

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.

Throughout Kari’s childhood, she lived in different towns and cities in Colorado and Kansas. Growing up
as an only child and a pastor’s kid, she knew she was called to be a mom and a teacher. After dedicating
her life to Christian Service in high school, she went on to graduate in 2002 from Kansas State University
with Bachelor’s of Science in Family Studies and Human Services, with an emphasis in Early Childhood
Education. Following this time Kari began a career in the early childhood field teaching pre-kindergarten
and later going on to fill administrative roles, including Program Director and Curriculum Director, at a
childcare center.

Kari loves to learn new ways to teach children and adults. She is passionate about children learning who
Jesus is and helping adults learn how to disciple kids of all ages. Before joining the New Life staff in
August 2023, she has served in the children’s ministry as a teacher, small group leader and the early
childhood coordinator.

Kari and her husband Nick began attending New Life in 2009, right before their first child (Emma) turned
1. They now have 3 additional children (EJ, Ethaniel and Easton) and love living in Gardner and serving at
the church and in the community.

Contact info@newlifegardner.com for more details

Kent grew up in rural Pomona, Kansas. He has a degree in Christian Studies and Ministry from Ottawa University. He has a passion to serve and a heart for ministry. He has been attending New Life since 2019.

Kent joined the New Life staff in October 2023. Kent coordinates all things facility related, such as cleaning, maintenance, and landscaping.

Kent enjoys being married to his wife Jenny, being a father to his daughter Clarity, loves to meet new people and hear their story, is a Star Trek fan, and is always in a mood for a milkshake.

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.

Chad joined the elder board in 2022 after attending New Life Community Church for more than 20 years. Originally a member of Crosswinds Community Church, Chad was an instrumental member in encouraging a merger between the two churches.

He grew up in Western Kansas and later moved to Gardner with his wife and children in 1998. Chad has been involved in leadership as a deacon and now values the opportunity to help NLCC thrive and continue to make a positive impact in our community. He firmly believes in New Life’s mission of Loving God and Loving People so lives can be transformed and the truth of the Gospel can be spread.