Meet Our Team

Jim is a native of Logansport, Indiana. He has served churches in Ligonier, Muncie, Lafayette, Mesa, Arizona and more.

He is a graduate of Logansport High School, Indiana University (BA), Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary at Northwestern University (Master of Divinity), and United Theological Seminary (Doctor of Ministry).

He has three children: Jason (New York City), Amanda (Grabill, Indiana), and Emily (Munster, Indiana). He also has several grandchildren.

Jim’s hobbies include riding his 2003 Harley Davidson Heritage Classic, golf with friends, and his two Jeeps – a 2000 Cherokee with 266,000 miles and a 2019 Wrangler still getting broken in.

Jim has received the Basic and Advanced Training in the Enneagram Personality Styles. He leads retreats for other church staffs in using the Enneagram at work and also uses it in spiritual direction with individuals.

Jim has a passion for helping revitalize churches, and he is very excited to be in the midst of this process at Emmanuel.

Jon was born in Toledo, Ohio, and has lived most of his life in Hilliard, Ohio, a suburb of Columbus. He graduated in 2020 from Indiana Wesleyan University with a degree in Biblical Studies.

Jon is married to Abby, and they have two very handsome puppy dogs named Rex and Luna.

His hobbies include cooking, eating, hiking, kayaking, enjoying a fire, and playing video games, board games, and sports. He loves to learn and explore, and to have conversations with people about the things they love the most.

Jon is passionate in his belief that our youth will truly transform this world, not just in 20-30 years but where they are now. He was inspired to become a youth director after experiencing how his own church mentors and other adults affected his walk of faith. Jon aspires to create a community of adults that want to see our youth dream big and reach their dreams. Helping families and students navigate school, homework, sports, band, orchestra, choir, clubs, volunteering, college applications, crushes, dates, heartbreak, dances, learning how to drive, friend drama, family tensions, and all that comes with the highs and lows of middle, high school, and beyond is why he is here.

A native of Pennsylvania, Annette has attended Emmanuel since 2008. She is married to Travis, and they have four children: Landon, Abigaile, Sebastian, and Molly, as well as two pups: Auggie and Kirby.

Annette began working with children at 12 years old as an assistant dance instructor at the studio where she studied ballet, tap, and jazz. She graduated from Penn State University with a degree in Elementary Education. She has worked in public schools, preschools, dance studios, summer camps, VBS and PTOs, and anywhere else she could help make a difference in a child’s life.

Annette’s hobbies include reading, gardening, lake life, watching her children at all of their activities, and painting. She has been blessed with artistic skills, allowing her to paint murals, canvas, props, and more - but her favorite canvas is a child's face!

Annette excels in getting to know individuals and helping them make connections. She finds joy in making people happy, and especially delights in our littlest ones. She values the opportunity to teach them how to be good, kind, and loving in the way of Jesus.

Leshia is a native to Noblesville, Indiana, and has lived here and in Fishers. She has a Bachelor’s degree from Indiana University, and has worked in retail, banking, education, and ministry.

Leshia is married to Kenny, and they have 4 children: Breanna, Baileigh, Brooklyn, and Brayton.

She is passionate about baseball and spending time with her family. She attends church faithfully and volunteers wherever needed, including with the summer Vacation Bible School ministry.

Leshia enjoys teaching children about how to be in relationship with God, and looks forward to reaching out to more families and sharing God’s love. She values how the Emmanuel Christian School ministry allows her the opportunity to inspire children to a better Christian understanding of each other and themselves.

Raised in a pastor’s home, Kyler has lived in Texas, Oklahoma, Michigan, Tennessee, and graduated from high school in North Carolina. He completed his B.A. in Music at The Master’s University in southern California and his M.A. in Music at Fresno State University.

Kyler has served as an associate pastor and church music director in churches in California, Illinois, and Indiana. He also served a seven-year term as Executive Vice President at Slavic Gospel Association from 2003-2010. He has been in the real estate industry since 2014.

He is recently married to his wife Amy, and between them they have 7 children (3 married), ranging from ages 15 to 28.

Kyler’s passion in church music is to see people of all ages joining voices and instruments together, with meaningful expressions of faith, hope, trust, and truth, whether the song was written yesterday or 400 years ago.

Emily was born in Charlottesville, Indiana. She has lived in Marion and Indianapolis, before moving to Noblesville. She met her husband Evan at Emmanuel, and they were married here in 2015. They have one son Nathan and a baby on the way.

Emily earned a B.A. in Piano and Church Music from Indiana Wesleyan University. She went on to earn her M.M. in Piano Pedagogy from Butler University.

In her spare time, she enjoys camping and spending time with her family.

Emily started playing piano and keyboard in church when she was 14 years old. She has accompanied choirs while in college, at Noblesville High School and West Middle School, and here at Emmanuel.

She finds it rewarding to see how all of the parts of a production come together after hours of rehearsals, and finds joy in sharing it with an audience or congregation.

Marla was born and raised in Charlestown, Indiana, just north of Louisville, Kentucky. She graduated from Purdue University with a BA in Communication and a minor in Psychology. She also has an MBA in Applied Management from IWU. She has worked in retail management, new home sales, and direct mail, and managed two Sylvan Learning Centers.

Marla is married to Kevin, and they have a daughter, Kerra.

Her hobbies include anything crafty from crochet, scrapbooking, beading and jewelry making, to clay, paint, and sketching. She also enjoys creative writing, and is a lifelong logophile – her favorite words are gelatinous and lepidopterist. Marla is a certified Master Gardener, so the lepidoptera (butterflies) are well-cared for in her home gardens, which feature native plantings that facilitate all stages of their development. Her Bible life verse is Jeremiah 29:11. “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”

Marla loves the creative aspects of her position at Emmanuel. She is most fulfilled when she can apply what she knows to a situation, and it does what she designed it to do. She also welcomes collaboration, as great ideas often flow when multiple minds come together.

Laura was born and raised in Morton, Illinois, a small town near Peoria. After receiving a chemistry degree from the University of Illinois, she worked for Merck, a pharmaceutical company in West Point, PA. She currently drives a school bus (#120) for Noblesville Schools.

She is married to Brian, and they have three children: Alan, Andrew (recently married to Jerilyn), and Julia.

Laura’s hobbies include reading, biking, walking, singing, gardening, and learning all things new. Lately this has involved figuring out how many of the technical aspects of Sunday morning production are supposed to work. The tech booth is truly her happy place (and the room with the green screen is a close second).

Kelley is the new nursey coordinator, but she is no stranger to Emmanuel. Previously she was a teacher at Emmanuel Christian School for 11 years. She also currently works in the Hamilton Southeastern School District as an Instructional Assistant.

She has four children ranging in age from 23 to 12: Canyon, Connor, Jackson, and Jersey.

She has loved caring for children for many years. She provides a warm, welcoming, secure environment in the nursery for Emmanuel’s youngest ones.