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Our Team

This team handles the daily operations of Mission Alive and keeps our eyes focused on the vision God has given us. Meet the team! 

Executive Director

Tod K. Vogt
Director of Coaching and Discipleship

Steve Shaffer
Director of Development

Eric Daniels
Coordinator of Stream Equipping

Amos Gutierrez
Administrator

Becky Shaffer
Executive Director

Tod K. Vogt

Tod has served as Mission Alive’s Executive Director since January 2015.  Prior to working as Mission Alive’s Executive Director he served as our Director of Equipping.  Tod joined the Mission Alive team in 2007 after several years in local church ministry.  Tod began his full-time ministry as a church planting missionary among the Fon people of Benin, West Africa.

In his role, he works with the board of directors and the Mission Alive team to form the vision and ministry strategy to help Mission Alive accomplish its mission.  He works with church planters and church leaders to develop disciple-making churches. Tod specializes in leadership coaching, spiritual formation and leadership dynamics and development.

He is married to Candace and they have two children.

Home Church: Greenville Oaks Church of Christ, Allen, Texas

Education and Certifications:
B.A. in Speech and Drama, Northeastern State University, Tahlequah, Oklahoma
M.A. in Human Communication, Abilene Christian University, Abilene, Texas
MMiss in Missions, Abilene Christian University, Abilene, Texas
Prepare/Enrich Marriage Level II Certification
CoachNet Coaching Certification
Leading From Your Strengths, Level & II Certification
Spiritual Guidance, Shalem Institute for Spiritual Formation
Core Values Index
Core Coaching
Cerny Smith Stress Assessment
GripBirkman Coach

Year Joined Team: 2007

Favorite Bible Verse:
Ezekiel 12:8-9
He said to me, “This water flows toward the eastern region and goes down into the Arabah, where it enters the Dead Sea. When it empties into the sea, the salty water there becomes fresh.9 Swarms of living creatures will live wherever the river flows. There will be large numbers of fish, because this water flows there and makes the salt water fresh; so where the river flows everything will live. 

Director of Coaching and Discipleship

Steve Shaffer

Steve oversees Discipleship Cohorts (DC), Renew church leader training, and Catalyze coach training. DC’s train leaders who pursue intentional discipling in small groups. Renew coaches church leaders in discipleship and leading missional change. Catalyze trains professional coaches and leaders who want to use coaching to accelerate growth in their organizations.

He is married to Becky and they have five children.

Home Church: Lee Acres Church of Christ, Tupelo, Mississippi

Education and Certifications:
MS, Optics, University of Rochester
MS, Marriage and Family Therapy, Amridge University
MDiv, ACU
DMin, ACU
International Coach Federation PCC coach

Year Joined Team: 2009

Favorite Bible Verse:

Colossians 1:28
We proclaim him, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone perfect in Christ.  To this end I labor, struggling with all his energy, which so powerfully works in me.

Director of Development

Eric Daniels

Eric is an insightful leader who desires to see others experience Him, function within His amazing plans, and know the Identity each of us has in Christ.

Growing up in a Christian home, Eric felt and heard God’s call on his life for ministry while a teen at Bonita Valley Wesleyan church in San Diego. After straying in college while at Cal Poly in San Luis Obispo, CA, and meeting his future wife of ~30 years, Eric returned to a  non-denominational Community Church in San Jose where his heart was completely transformed and restored. This is where Christianity morphed from a belief system to an abundant life with Jesus Christ.

After earning a Bachelors in Electronic Engineering and Computer Architecture, he experienced his first successful start-up and IPO at Diamond Multimedia.  Following his start-up success, Eric transitioned to Fortune 500 Marketing and led AMD’s low-power laptop product roadmap for over a decade and Dell’s SW & OS portfolio from Google.  Eric joins Mission Alive after directing investor relationships, innovative digital marketing, and product efforts for multiple SaaS-oriented start-ups.

Married (1994) to Barbara with three adult kids:

  • Jessica Mallison, Physician Associate. Pediatric ICU, Dallas Children’s Hospital (married)
  • Jake Mallison, CFP, Merrill Lynch (married)
  • Jacob Daniels, Staff Associate, YoungLife-Lake Highlands
  • Stephanie Daniels, Masters of Social Justice-International Development, Sydney, Australia

 

Education and Certifications:

  • B.S. in Electronic Engineering & Computer Architecture, California Polytechnic State University, California
  • Marketing Success through Effective Decision Making, Ross School of Business (Dell sponsored), University of Michigan MBA program, Austin, Texas
  • Pragmatic Marketing (PMC-1), Pragmatic Institute, Scottsdale, Arizona
  • Austin Kingdom Academy, Church of the Hills, Austin, Texas
  • Marriage and Couples Counseling (lay training), Intimate Life Ministries, Austin, Texas
  • Perspectives (World Christian Movement), U.S. Center for World Missions, Pasadena, California
  • Guinness Book of World Records – record holder
  • Congressional Nomination to the U.S. Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, Colorado

 

Year Joined Team: 2023

Favorite Bible Verse: Zechariah 2:5

And I myself will be a wall of fire around it,’ declares the Lord, ‘and I will be its glory within.’

Coordinator of Stream Equipping

Amos Gutierrez

Employment: Creative Learning Technologies Coordinator, Abilene Christian University

Education:

BS in Kinesiology, Texas A&M University
MA in Christian Ministry, Abilene Christian University
(In Progress) EdD in Organizational Leadership, Abilene Christian University

What year did you join the Mission Alive Team? 2021

Why do you serve on the Mission Alive Team?  I love that Mission Alive is committed to training and equipping leaders to be innovative in their approach to reach marginalized communities. Technology has become a very important and impactful tool for communication and training in the life of the church. Combining my digital technology skills with my passion to serve the church and support ministers makes this an amazing opportunity.

Your Favorite Bible Verse: Philippians 1:9-11

Administrator

Becky Shaffer

Becky assists with email marketing and direct mail publications as well as maintaining the MA database and coordinating team calendars.
She is married to Steve Shaffer. They have 5 grown children.
Home church: Lee Acres Church of Christ, Tupelo, MS
Education and certifications: BA Marketing, ACU; Certified Specialist in Psychometry
Year joined team: 2022
Favorite Bible verse: Isaiah 26:3
You keep in perfect peace those whose minds are stayed on you because they trust in you.

Training Team

The Training Team oversees and conducts in-person and online training for church planters, paid ministry staff, and church lay leaders.  Each one is licensed to train church planters by The Send Network.  In addition to training church planters, they also conduct a variety of other training for church leaders.

Wes Gunn

Charles Kiser
Director of Coaching and Discipleship

Steve Shaffer

Kevin Vance
Executive Director

Tod K. Vogt

Wes Gunn

Charles Kiser

Home Church: Storyline Christian Community, Dallas, Texas

Education and Certification:
B.A. in Bible & Religion, Harding University
M.Div. in Theology, Harding School of Theology
D.Min. in Contextual Theology (candidate), Northern Seminary
CoachNet Coaching Certification
Leading From Your Strengths, Level & II Certification

Year Joined Team: 2010

Favorite Bible Verse:
Matthew 6:33
Seek first God’s kingdom and his justice, and all these things will be given to you as well.

Director of Coaching and Discipleship

Steve Shaffer

Steve oversees Discipleship Cohorts (DC), Renew church leader training, and Catalyze coach training. DC’s train leaders who pursue intentional discipling in small groups. Renew coaches church leaders in discipleship and leading missional change. Catalyze trains professional coaches and leaders who want to use coaching to accelerate growth in their organizations.

He is married to Becky and they have five children.

Home Church: Lee Acres Church of Christ, Tupelo, Mississippi

Education and Certifications:
MS, Optics, University of Rochester
MS, Marriage and Family Therapy, Amridge University
MDiv, ACU
DMin, ACU
International Coach Federation PCC coach

Year Joined Team: 2009

Favorite Bible Verse:

Colossians 1:28
We proclaim him, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone perfect in Christ.  To this end I labor, struggling with all his energy, which so powerfully works in me.

Kevin Vance

Home Church: Gentle Road Church of Christ, Regina, SK, Canada

Employment: Church Planter

Education: Bachelors in Theology, Western Christian College; Masters of Divinity Canadian Theological Seminary

What year did you join the Mission Alive Team? 2010

What is your favorite Bible verse? John 10:10

Why serve on the Mission Alive team?
Because of the spiritual transformation that MA helped me with when I first came into the network. Because of the vision to plant churches and foster the transformation of marginalized communities across North America.

 

Executive Director

Tod K. Vogt

Tod has served as Mission Alive’s Executive Director since January 2015.  Prior to working as Mission Alive’s Executive Director he served as our Director of Equipping.  Tod joined the Mission Alive team in 2007 after several years in local church ministry.  Tod began his full-time ministry as a church planting missionary among the Fon people of Benin, West Africa.

In his role, he works with the board of directors and the Mission Alive team to form the vision and ministry strategy to help Mission Alive accomplish its mission.  He works with church planters and church leaders to develop disciple-making churches. Tod specializes in leadership coaching, spiritual formation and leadership dynamics and development.

He is married to Candace and they have two children.

Home Church: Greenville Oaks Church of Christ, Allen, Texas

Education and Certifications:
B.A. in Speech and Drama, Northeastern State University, Tahlequah, Oklahoma
M.A. in Human Communication, Abilene Christian University, Abilene, Texas
MMiss in Missions, Abilene Christian University, Abilene, Texas
Prepare/Enrich Marriage Level II Certification
CoachNet Coaching Certification
Leading From Your Strengths, Level & II Certification
Spiritual Guidance, Shalem Institute for Spiritual Formation
Core Values Index
Core Coaching
Cerny Smith Stress Assessment
GripBirkman Coach

Year Joined Team: 2007

Favorite Bible Verse:
Ezekiel 12:8-9
He said to me, “This water flows toward the eastern region and goes down into the Arabah, where it enters the Dead Sea. When it empties into the sea, the salty water there becomes fresh.9 Swarms of living creatures will live wherever the river flows. There will be large numbers of fish, because this water flows there and makes the salt water fresh; so where the river flows everything will live. 

Coaching Team

The Coaching Team is comprised of certified ministry coaches.  Having been trained in various professionally accepted coaching methods, this team is prepared to walk alongside you to accomplish your personal goals, as well as the mission of your ministry or church.

Lantz Howard

Jeremy Hoover
Director of Coaching and Discipleship

Steve Shaffer
Executive Director

Tod K. Vogt

Lantz Howard

Home Church: Park Avenue Church of Christ

Employment: Discipleship Minister and Life Coach

Education: M.A. Lubbock Christian University – MMFT University of Phoenix Las Vegas

Year joined the board: 2018

What is your favorite Bible verse? “What is that to you? You must follow me.” John 21:22

Why do you serve on the Mission Alive team?
To equip and lead disciple-makers.

Jeremy Hoover

Home Church: Love First Sarnia, Ontario, Canada

Employment: Church Planter and Coach

Education: Bachelors in Religious Education, Rochester University

What year did you join the Mission Alive Team? 2015

Favorite Bible Verse: Psalm 1

Why do you serve on the Mission Alive Team?
I enjoy helping lead Discipleship Cohorts on behalf of Mission Alive. I enjoy leading others to grow in discipleship and become empowered for mission.

 

Director of Coaching and Discipleship

Steve Shaffer

Steve oversees Discipleship Cohorts (DC), Renew church leader training, and Catalyze coach training. DC’s train leaders who pursue intentional discipling in small groups. Renew coaches church leaders in discipleship and leading missional change. Catalyze trains professional coaches and leaders who want to use coaching to accelerate growth in their organizations.

He is married to Becky and they have five children.

Home Church: Lee Acres Church of Christ, Tupelo, Mississippi

Education and Certifications:
MS, Optics, University of Rochester
MS, Marriage and Family Therapy, Amridge University
MDiv, ACU
DMin, ACU
International Coach Federation PCC coach

Year Joined Team: 2009

Favorite Bible Verse:

Colossians 1:28
We proclaim him, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone perfect in Christ.  To this end I labor, struggling with all his energy, which so powerfully works in me.

Executive Director

Tod K. Vogt

Tod has served as Mission Alive’s Executive Director since January 2015.  Prior to working as Mission Alive’s Executive Director he served as our Director of Equipping.  Tod joined the Mission Alive team in 2007 after several years in local church ministry.  Tod began his full-time ministry as a church planting missionary among the Fon people of Benin, West Africa.

In his role, he works with the board of directors and the Mission Alive team to form the vision and ministry strategy to help Mission Alive accomplish its mission.  He works with church planters and church leaders to develop disciple-making churches. Tod specializes in leadership coaching, spiritual formation and leadership dynamics and development.

He is married to Candace and they have two children.

Home Church: Greenville Oaks Church of Christ, Allen, Texas

Education and Certifications:
B.A. in Speech and Drama, Northeastern State University, Tahlequah, Oklahoma
M.A. in Human Communication, Abilene Christian University, Abilene, Texas
MMiss in Missions, Abilene Christian University, Abilene, Texas
Prepare/Enrich Marriage Level II Certification
CoachNet Coaching Certification
Leading From Your Strengths, Level & II Certification
Spiritual Guidance, Shalem Institute for Spiritual Formation
Core Values Index
Core Coaching
Cerny Smith Stress Assessment
GripBirkman Coach

Year Joined Team: 2007

Favorite Bible Verse:
Ezekiel 12:8-9
He said to me, “This water flows toward the eastern region and goes down into the Arabah, where it enters the Dead Sea. When it empties into the sea, the salty water there becomes fresh.9 Swarms of living creatures will live wherever the river flows. There will be large numbers of fish, because this water flows there and makes the salt water fresh; so where the river flows everything will live. 

Discipleship Team

The Discipling Team are experienced disciple-makers. Each one has successfully developed reproducing discipling movements in their respective ministries.  In addition to participating in and leading discipleship cohorts, they are trained to guide your church in the development of a discipling movement.

Steven Carrizal

Jeremy Hoover
Director of Coaching and Discipleship

Steve Shaffer
Executive Director

Tod K. Vogt

Steven Carrizal

Home Church: Altamesa Church of Christ, Fort Worth, TX

Employment: Minister

Education: B.S. Youth & Family Ministry – ACU; M.A. Christian Ministry – ACU

What year did you join the Mission Alive Team: 2019

Favorite Bible Verse: Phillippians 2:1-10

Why you serve on the Mission Alive Team:  I have benefited personally and professionally from Mission Alive people and training and I’m eager to pass that experience along.

 

Jeremy Hoover

Home Church: Love First Sarnia, Ontario, Canada

Employment: Church Planter and Coach

Education: Bachelors in Religious Education, Rochester University

What year did you join the Mission Alive Team? 2015

Favorite Bible Verse: Psalm 1

Why do you serve on the Mission Alive Team?
I enjoy helping lead Discipleship Cohorts on behalf of Mission Alive. I enjoy leading others to grow in discipleship and become empowered for mission.

 

Director of Coaching and Discipleship

Steve Shaffer

Steve oversees Discipleship Cohorts (DC), Renew church leader training, and Catalyze coach training. DC’s train leaders who pursue intentional discipling in small groups. Renew coaches church leaders in discipleship and leading missional change. Catalyze trains professional coaches and leaders who want to use coaching to accelerate growth in their organizations.

He is married to Becky and they have five children.

Home Church: Lee Acres Church of Christ, Tupelo, Mississippi

Education and Certifications:
MS, Optics, University of Rochester
MS, Marriage and Family Therapy, Amridge University
MDiv, ACU
DMin, ACU
International Coach Federation PCC coach

Year Joined Team: 2009

Favorite Bible Verse:

Colossians 1:28
We proclaim him, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone perfect in Christ.  To this end I labor, struggling with all his energy, which so powerfully works in me.

Executive Director

Tod K. Vogt

Tod has served as Mission Alive’s Executive Director since January 2015.  Prior to working as Mission Alive’s Executive Director he served as our Director of Equipping.  Tod joined the Mission Alive team in 2007 after several years in local church ministry.  Tod began his full-time ministry as a church planting missionary among the Fon people of Benin, West Africa.

In his role, he works with the board of directors and the Mission Alive team to form the vision and ministry strategy to help Mission Alive accomplish its mission.  He works with church planters and church leaders to develop disciple-making churches. Tod specializes in leadership coaching, spiritual formation and leadership dynamics and development.

He is married to Candace and they have two children.

Home Church: Greenville Oaks Church of Christ, Allen, Texas

Education and Certifications:
B.A. in Speech and Drama, Northeastern State University, Tahlequah, Oklahoma
M.A. in Human Communication, Abilene Christian University, Abilene, Texas
MMiss in Missions, Abilene Christian University, Abilene, Texas
Prepare/Enrich Marriage Level II Certification
CoachNet Coaching Certification
Leading From Your Strengths, Level & II Certification
Spiritual Guidance, Shalem Institute for Spiritual Formation
Core Values Index
Core Coaching
Cerny Smith Stress Assessment
GripBirkman Coach

Year Joined Team: 2007

Favorite Bible Verse:
Ezekiel 12:8-9
He said to me, “This water flows toward the eastern region and goes down into the Arabah, where it enters the Dead Sea. When it empties into the sea, the salty water there becomes fresh.9 Swarms of living creatures will live wherever the river flows. There will be large numbers of fish, because this water flows there and makes the salt water fresh; so where the river flows everything will live. 

Media Team

The Media Team works to provide quality audio, video, and written media to stimulate and guide missional ministry.  From developing discipleship in local churches to advancing missional ecclesiology in the worldwide church, our Media Team draws from our own church planters as well as from subject-matter experts serving the church around the globe. 

Executive Director

Tod K. Vogt

Steven Carrizal

Jeremy Hoover

K. Rex Butts
Executive Director

Tod K. Vogt

Tod has served as Mission Alive’s Executive Director since January 2015.  Prior to working as Mission Alive’s Executive Director he served as our Director of Equipping.  Tod joined the Mission Alive team in 2007 after several years in local church ministry.  Tod began his full-time ministry as a church planting missionary among the Fon people of Benin, West Africa.

In his role, he works with the board of directors and the Mission Alive team to form the vision and ministry strategy to help Mission Alive accomplish its mission.  He works with church planters and church leaders to develop disciple-making churches. Tod specializes in leadership coaching, spiritual formation and leadership dynamics and development.

He is married to Candace and they have two children.

Home Church: Greenville Oaks Church of Christ, Allen, Texas

Education and Certifications:
B.A. in Speech and Drama, Northeastern State University, Tahlequah, Oklahoma
M.A. in Human Communication, Abilene Christian University, Abilene, Texas
MMiss in Missions, Abilene Christian University, Abilene, Texas
Prepare/Enrich Marriage Level II Certification
CoachNet Coaching Certification
Leading From Your Strengths, Level & II Certification
Spiritual Guidance, Shalem Institute for Spiritual Formation
Core Values Index
Core Coaching
Cerny Smith Stress Assessment
GripBirkman Coach

Year Joined Team: 2007

Favorite Bible Verse:
Ezekiel 12:8-9
He said to me, “This water flows toward the eastern region and goes down into the Arabah, where it enters the Dead Sea. When it empties into the sea, the salty water there becomes fresh.9 Swarms of living creatures will live wherever the river flows. There will be large numbers of fish, because this water flows there and makes the salt water fresh; so where the river flows everything will live. 

Steven Carrizal

Home Church: Altamesa Church of Christ, Fort Worth, TX

Employment: Minister

Education: B.S. Youth & Family Ministry – ACU; M.A. Christian Ministry – ACU

What year did you join the Mission Alive Team: 2019

Favorite Bible Verse: Phillippians 2:1-10

Why you serve on the Mission Alive Team:  I have benefited personally and professionally from Mission Alive people and training and I’m eager to pass that experience along.

 

Jeremy Hoover

Home Church: Love First Sarnia, Ontario, Canada

Employment: Church Planter and Coach

Education: Bachelors in Religious Education, Rochester University

What year did you join the Mission Alive Team? 2015

Favorite Bible Verse: Psalm 1

Why do you serve on the Mission Alive Team?
I enjoy helping lead Discipleship Cohorts on behalf of Mission Alive. I enjoy leading others to grow in discipleship and become empowered for mission.

 

K. Rex Butts

Employment (outside of MA): 
• Lead Minister, Newark Church of Christ (www.newarkchurch.com)

 

Education: 
• Doctor of Ministry in Contextual Theology, Northern Seminary
• Master of Divinity, Harding School of Theology
• Bachelor of Ministry, Harding University

 

What year did you join the Mission Alive Team? 
• 2021

 

Why do you serve on the Mission Alive Team?
• I serve on the Mission Alive team because I want to help in the renewal of God’s mission in North America.

 

Your Favorite Bible Verse:
• Romans 8:28

Our Board of Directors

Our board of directors is the backbone of our mission.  They prayerfully guide the mission.  Our board is made up of men and women from around North America who come from a variety of backgrounds and experiences.

Jerry Browder

Mike Chase

Allen Close

Debra Ham

Jeff Hook

Jason Locke

Michael Martin

Eric B. Moore

Charles Pierson

Dave Staal

Eric Wilson

Jerry Browder

Home Church:  Singing Oaks Church of Christ, Denton, Texas

Employment:

Signet Health Corporation, President and CEO.

Mr. Browder has over 34 years experience in mental health and acute rehab management. He was trained as a CPA and is recognized nationally for his expertise in distinct part unit reimbursement. He has managed over 100 different inpatient mental health or rehab units in 24 states.

Education:

Abilene Christian University, BS in Business Administration (Accounting)

Year Joined Board: 2004

Favorite Bible Verse:

Ephesians 3:14-21

When asked how serving with Mission Alive emanates from or fulfills his calling, Mr. Browder says, “I believe Mission Alive’s missional and incarnational models of church planting reflect who Jesus is and how he connected with people while on the earth. Our world and our community needs these kinds of opportunities to provide belonging for people who are struggling with the consequences of sin in their lives and are unlikely to seek or find community in established traditional institutional churches.”

Mike Chase

Home Church: The Hills Church, North Richland Hills, TX

Employment: Rubber Compounding Business, Owner Next Gen Compounding

Education: Harding University  – Bachelors of Business Administration

Year Joined Board: 2020
Why do you serve on Mission Alive’s Board?
John 3:16  – To do my part in making and growing followers of Jesus Christ.
Favorite Bible verse: Philippians 4:13

Allen Close

Home Church:  Waynesboro Church of Christ, Waynesboro, Virginia

Employment:
Waynesboro Church of Christ, Pulpit Minister

Education:
Master of Divinity from Abilene Christian University

Year Joined Board: 2009

Why serve on the Mission Alive Board
I serve on Mission Alive’s board of directors because I believe that Mission Alive is stepping into the future where God is leading His church and I want to be part of that movement.

Favorite Bible Verse:

James 4:8
Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.

Debra Ham

Bio:
Debra is the treasurer for Mission Alive and is attending Grace Crossing a Community Church of Christ. Debra graduated with a BBA from the University of Texas in Arlington. She worked for several years in the fields of accounting, finance, and auditing. Debra was blessed with the opportunity to stay home to raise her kids, which also afforded her the opportunity to volunteer at church and in the community. Debra has 25 years of leadership experience in a variety of volunteer organizations. She most recently served as the treasurer for the Kennedale Education Foundation. In her free time, Debra enjoys reading, travel, crafting, and hanging out with family and friends. Debra is inspired daily by her husband, Shawn, and has three grown children, Clayton, Carson, and Olivia, and a daughter-in-law, Laura.

Home Church:
Grace Crossing a Community Church of Christ

Education:
BBA from The University of Texas in Arlington

Year Joined Board: 2021

Why serve on the Mission Alive Board?
I believe we all have a purpose to help those around us and God puts opportunities in our path along our journey. Mission Alive is an opportunity for me to get involved with an organization that is involved with church planting and equipping leaders and I am thankful that I can serve on this board.

Favorite Bible verse: Philippians 4:6-7
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

Jeff Hook

Jeff Hook is a partner at Headstorm, a high-end IT consultancy, headquartered in Dallas, with offices in Pittsburg, PA, and soon-to-be, Costa Rica. Headstorm helps its clients architect modern digital strategies, design innovative products, and develop software solutions that transform industries to better serve their customers.
Prior to Headstorm, Jeff was the founding CEO of a platform start-up by the name of Communitas Technologies. Communitas attempted to digitally transform the entire Faith industry by providing a modern technology platform across the various churches, denominations, para-church, and ancillary non-profit organizations. The end goal was to help people live more functional Christian lives through more personalized discipleship resources based on where a person was within their life stage, relational situations, and spiritual maturity.
Prior to Communitas, Jeff spent over 16 years helping churches improve congregational engagement through better systems to achieve better outcomes. He was the COO of ParishSOFT, a software company serving half of the Catholic market. Before ParishSOFT, Mr. Hook also founded Fellowship Technologies in 2004. Its product, Fellowship One, served over 3,000 churches in 15 countries. Fellowship One had 54 of the top 100 largest churches and 46 of the top 100 fastest-growing churches in America.
Prior to becoming an entrepreneur, Jeff spent time in executive positions in major software companies and as a management consultant, including Oracle, i2 Technologies, RealPage, Price Waterhouse, and Deloitte Consulting.
Jeff has always had a heart to help churches serve their proper role in a healthy community. Jeff grew up a pastor’s son in a small town in Missouri. His grandfather and two uncles were also pastors. He and his wife of 24 years, Brigitte, have three grown children: Jeff Jr., London, and Harry.

Jason Locke

Home Church: College Church of Christ in Fresno, CA
Education: BS in Mechanical Engineering, Tennessee Tech University; MDiv, DMin and MS in MIssions, Abilene Christian University.
Favorite Bible Verse: Philippians 4:5b-7
Year joined Board: 2023
Married to Julie

Michael Martin

Home Church: Camarillo Christian Church in Camarillo, CA

Profession: Attorney and partner at the law firm of Myers, Widders, Gibson, Jones & Feingold, LLP in Ventura, CA

Education: BS in Biblical Studies/Missions, Abilene Christian University; MDiv, Princeton Theological Seminary; JD, Ventura College of Law

Favorite Bible Verse: Romans 8:31-39

Year joined Board: 2024

Why do you serve on MA’s board? Because it focuses on an essential aspect of Jesus’ ministry to the marginalized – to proclaim good news to the poor, to free captives, to restore sight to the blind, and to set the oppressed free (Luke 4:18-19).

Email:mmartin@mwgjlaw.com

Eric B. Moore

General Executive Overview:
A respected and inspirational executive with over twenty-five (25) years of experience in advertising, organizational strategy, business development, corporate leadership, and finance. Recognized for a collaborative leadership style, proactive approach, and keen ability to effectively translate complex strategies and concepts into tangible action plans. Eric has worked in various disciplines that include capital raising, technology, sports, media, marketing, client relations, entertainment. He has also been an entrepreneur and started businesses in technology and advertising. His passion is building businesses and alliances that provide sound financial, creative, and technical solutions to the marketplace of ideas.

Personal Overview:
Eric Moore was born in Dallas, Texas. His grandparents were part of the migration of African Americans in the 1940s and 1950s who left rural areas in the south in search of work in various industrial cities throughout the country. Hailing from Smith County Texas they settled in Dallas. A proud Texan, Moore has also lived in Waco, Houston, Austin and was a football Letterman at Texas A&M University in College Station.

Currently, he and his wife Carla, a University of North Texas graduate, live in Dallas. They have raised 3 children and have a 13-year-old son still at home. As a family, they are avid readers and enjoy hiking and traveling. Their favorite destination is the Caribbean. The Moore family also collects African art and enjoys various forms of human artistic expression. Carla’s ancestral lineage traces back to the Fulani peoples of Cameroon and Eric’s ancestral lineage traces to Nigeria and the peoples of Benin Togo.

Home Church: Oak Gardens Church; Dallas, Texas

Employer: Entrepreneur

Education: Texas A&M University B.A. Political Science

Year Joined the Board: 2021

Why I chose to serve on the MA board: I am honored to serve on the board because of the profound impact we can have in the communities we seek to serve.

Favorite Bible Verse: Proverbs 4:1-6

Charles Pierson

Home Church: Creekside Church, Midlothian, Texas

Education:
B.S. Vanderbilt University
M.B.A. Vanderbilt University

Year Joined Board: 2018

Dave Staal

Resides: Spring Lake, MI

Joined the board in 2020

Bio:  David is husband to Becky and father to Scott and Erin. He has served as CEO of Kids Hope USA, an organization that partners local churches with elementary schools to provide mentors for at-risk students. David has served on staff at Willow Creek Community Church and has been a senior editor and columnist for Christianity Today and Ministry Matters. Prior to his time at Willow Creek, David had a 13-year career in corporate work. His depth of background, passions, and leadership brings a wealth of assets to the Mission Alive Board.

Eric Wilson

Home Church: University Church of Christ, Malibu, CA/Preaching Minister

Employment:
Associate Dean of Student Affairs/Director of Spiritual Life Programs at Pepperdine University
Eric is married to Sharita and has two sons Canaan and Jordan.
He is an award-winning playwright and theatrical director
Spiritual Director for the National Racial Unity Leadership Summit and is a
Church organization consultant and
Missionary to Zambia.

Education:
MA, Drama and Dramatics/Theatre Arts, Univ of Missouri-Columbia
Theatre Literature/History and Criticism, UCLA (ABD)

Year Joined Board: 2021

Our Network

Our Network is a community of diverse churches either planted through Mission Alive or who have chosen to associate with Mission Alive and our mission.

Storyline Christian Community
Dallas, Texas
www.storylinecommunity.com

New River Church
Forney, Texas
www.newriverforney.com

Gentle Road Church of Christ
Regina, Saskatchewan
www.gentleroadchurch.wordpress.com

Hillcrest Iglesia de Christo
Arlington, Texas
www.arlingtoniglesia.org/staff

Redland Hills Church
Wetumpka, Alabama
www.redlandhills.org

River City Christian Community
Wichita, Kansas
www.Rivercitycommunity.org

Love First Sarnia
Sarnia, Ontario
www.facebook.com/groups/lovefirstsarnia/

 

 

Iglesia de Christo
Dallas, Texas

Reclaimed Church
Orlando, Florida
www.Facebook.com/reclaimedchurchorlando

Oak Gardens Church of Christ
Dallas, Texas
www.Oakgardenschurch.org

LifeSpring Church
Merced, California
lifespringchurch.net/

Common Thread Church
Maumelle, Arkansas
www.commonthread.church

Southside Church of Christ
Ft. Worth, Texas
www.sscofc.org/

Lakota Peace Initiative
Hot Springs, South Dakota
www.peacesd.org

 

 

Mission Alive
P.O. Box 794302
Dallas, TX 75379, USA
972.855.8349
contact@missionalive.org