Originally a chemist and researcher out of college, I accepted God’s call to ministry in 2000. My first ministry role was as Pastor to Children and Families in 2001 had the opportunity to minister in two churches on the Southwestern Ohio District through 2012. During this time I served on the executive board of the Nazarene Children’s Leadership Network and helped coordinate field children’s ministry training events at MVNU. In 2012 I was called back to my home district (West Virginia North) as pastor of Weirton First in Weirton, West Virginia. On the WVN District I had the opportunity to serve on Board of Credentials and District Advisory Board, acting as Advisory Board Secretary for six years.  

In June 2022, God called us to move again to Northwestern, Ohio to pastor in Marysville, Ohio. Having recently completed my two-year pastoral review, our local church board has affirmed our pastor/church relationship for four more years. I am eager to see God continue working in our growing church and community.

Chip has been in ministry for over 20 years with the last 8 years on Northwest Ohio. He has served in Northwest Ohio at Napoleon and currently at Lima Community. He is married to Nichole and they have four kids ranging from 18 to 8. Chip is consumed with seeing the Kingdom of God come into the community that he serves. He believes this happens primarily in two ways; helping believers grow more into the image of Christ and be equipped to carry the love of Christ into their community. 

Kristi Payne has been the lead pastor at Saint Paris Community Church of the Nazarene for the past 6 years. Ordained in 2013, she previously served as a registered evangelist, staff pastor at the Marysville Church of the Nazarene and the NWO NMI District President. Kristi’s passion is teaching people about Jesus and discipling others, so they can experience a deep unshakable faith in Christ. 

Since becoming the pastor at St. Paris, Kristi and her husband of 34 years, Jay,  have led the church through a major building renovation to create a modern, youth-centered space. Since renovating the space, the youth group, under the leadership of Pastor Matt Perdue has more than doubled in size. Kristi is creating paths for discipleship of both new and veteran believers, while also focusing on community outreach. “We want to be a dynamic force of God’s love in action to our community to such a degree that Jesus becomes absolutely irresistible to the people whose lives we intersect.” Holding worship gatherings in the town park throughout the summer months, dedicating resources to our youth and discipleship programs, and developing leaders within the church are just a few of the ways in which St. Paris Naz is growing and moving forward. 

Kristi and Jay have 3 children, Tanner (28) and Ali, Megan (25) and Ryan and Seth (22) and Yami. They also have 2 grandchildren, Piper (5) and Max (3 months). Kristi is a graduate of The Ohio State University and the University of Dayton, having earned a B.S. in Special Education and a Master’s Degree in School Administration respectively. After teaching students with severe disabilities for 30 years, she will be retiring from teaching this year to devote her time to pastoring and her family.

Mike Mckenzie’s journey is a unique testament to his faith and his commitment to serve. His path to becoming the lead pastor at the Urbana Naz is a remarkable one. Initially, he was a Medical Technologist at The Ohio State Medical Center, but in 2009, he received a call to ministry. Since then, he has served in various capacities in the local church, including directing teen camps, working as a youth pastor, a children’s pastor, a lead pastor, and a worship leader. This diverse range of roles and his career transition from a Medical Technologist to a lead pastor are a testament to his adaptability and commitment to his calling.

Mike’s commitment to his pastoral role is evident in his academic pursuits. He was ordained in 2015 after completing the requirements for ordination through Nazarene Bible College. Because he did not want to go into debt to become a pastor, Mike took these classes through the certificate program. However, his thirst for knowledge and growth led him to recently return to school, culminating in his graduation in ’24 with a B.A. in Christian Ministry from MVNU.

Mike’s passion for ministry and community involvement is evident. His calling is to guide the church into our current culture, and he has been actively working on church revitalization and mobilization in Urbana since 2019. His unique perspective, shaped by his upbringing and conversion, has been instrumental in bringing about positive outcomes for the people of Urbana and beyond, fostering a sense of unity and inspiration in the community.

Mike’s passion for ministry extends beyond the church walls. Mike is a Chaplain at Urbana Mercy Hospital.  He is deeply committed to youth and works as a part-time substitute in the local High School. His dedication to community service is further evident in his role at the local pregnancy center, where he provides peer counseling for men dealing with court issues. He also serves as the board president for a non-profit called Champaign Hope 4 Good, where he provides direction and accountability, showcasing his leadership skills and his commitment to making a difference in the community.

Mike has been married to Erin for 21 years, and they have four children. Erin works as a full-time nurse at the local high school and is the children’s director at Urbana Naz. Bryant (21) is in his last year at MVNU studying Mechanical Engineering, Lexie (19) is going to be a Jr. at MVNU studying Criminal Justice, Landon (13) runs cross country and works in the children’s department of Urbana Naz, and Lilly (5) who is the sweetest little girl in Kindergarten. Mike’s family is not just a support system for him, but an integral part of his ministry. They often participate in church activities and are a source of inspiration and strength for Mike.

Phil has been a lifelong resident of Shelby and Miami counties in Ohio and has attended The Valley Church since 2009.  He leads and operates a family-owned trucking business where he has worked for the last twenty years.

He has served in various roles including helping launch the first online Campus at the Piqua Campus, being an integral part of the launch team for the Troy Campus and serving on the board for eight years along with being church board secretary for three years.  He has also cleared snow, led life groups, and most importantly discipled new believers.

Phil has been married to his wife Chrissi for 13 years and they have two adult children. 

I have been married to my fantastic husband Scott for 40 years, and we are the proud parents of two grown daughters, Ali and Molly, who both graduated from Mt. Vernon Nazarene University and are currently working in the teaching profession. Scott is retired from Proctor &
Gamble and is currently enjoying his role as Plant Manager for AGRANA US, Inc. We have been blessed with two grandsons, Jude (age 3) and Max (age 1), who bring so much joy to our lives.

I hold a Bachelor of Arts degree in Social Sciences/History from Olivet Nazarene University and a Master of Arts degree in Education from the University of Findlay. I am currently teaching American & World History at Liberty-Benton High School in Findlay, Ohio, and I was named the
Hancock County Golden Apple Teacher of the Year in 2017. I also serve on the Liberty-Benton Local School District K-12 Leader In Me executive committee to implement Stephen Covey’s award-winning educational leadership program, 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, across the
curriculum in our school district.

Scott and I have been members of Findlay First Church of the Nazarene for 25 years where I currently serve as a member of the local Church Board and Finance Committee, as well as Director of Discipleship Ministries. God is richly blessing our church, and it brings Scott and I great pleasure to be a part of a thriving congregation that serves together sharing the love of our wonderful Savior and Lord.

Phil is the President and Team Leader for NDI (Nazarene Discipleship International) which is a catalyst for equiping local churches to carry out the Great Commission to make Christlike Disciples in the nations beginning with our children, youth, and adults.

 Phil is Lead Pastor of Mt Sterling First Church of the Nazarene which ministers to the tri-county area of Madison, Pickaway, and Fayette County. He holds a Bachelor of Business Administration from Mount Vernon Nazarene University, a Masters of Pastoral Leadership from Olivet Nazarene University, and Intergenerational Training through Fuller Youth Institute’s Sticky Faith Cohort. Phil also currently serves as Field Vice Chair and Call Coordinator for East Central Field NYI. He is a co-author of “Go: Engaging Youth In Leadership” published by the NYI Resource Library.

 Previously, he served as Field Training of Youth Leaders for the East Central Field NYI. He was the Pastor of Student Ministries at Lima Community Church prior to moving to Mt Sterling. Phil also served as Pastor of Student Ministries at Grand Rapids International Fellowship a multi-ethic community focused on making disciples in multicultural, Muslim, Hindu, and Buddhist communities. He was part of the restart launch team for Springfield Community Church in Springfield, MO. He is passionate about making disciples and equipping leaders in the coming generations. He is an advocate for the marginalized, youth and multi-generational communities.

Phil and his wife, Melanie, have four children – Cathryn, Eli, Isaiah, and Aubrey. He enjoys learning, spending time with others, and camping in the mountains.

Ruth is the NWO NMI District President, serving with the District NMI Council in NWOhio. Ruth was born in the Ituri region of the DRCongo of missionary parents. She was raised in Northern Ireland and attended European Nazarene College in Germany with her husband, Andrew Reynard, COTN pastor and chaplain. Ruth completed a PhD and Masters at the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education, University of Toronto, Canada.

The Reynards have served the Lord in Germany, the UK, Canada and the US with the Church of the Nazarene. Ruth has developed and/or taught ESL/EFL programs for teachers of English here in the US, the Middle East, and in China and consulted in online educational programs and curriculum development with German and Congolese institutions.Ruth has worked in educational administration and/or taught for TNU, ONU, MVNU and currently teaches as an online adjunct with Colorado Christian University. Ruth founded a community nonprofit in Fayette, OH to provide education and training for lower income individuals and families and is VP of the local community development group.

My husband Dan and I have been married 47 years and we have 3 adult children. We also have 5 grandchildren. We live on a hobby farm and raise chickens and goats.

We attend Defiance Church of the Nazarene where I am the executive
administrator and NMI president. I love God and am thankful for His saving and
sanctifying grace. I strive to be the hands and feet of Jesus to my family, church and community. I have been on the district NMI council for several years. First as a council member and now I serve as the district NMI Secretary.

I earned my BA in Organizational Management from Bluffton University. I retired in 2016 from my payroll accountant position at Northwest State Community College where I had worked for 27 years.

Lauren Biggs is a member of the Cridersville Church of the Nazarene. She serves on the church board as NMI Chairperson. Lauren has served on mission teams at home and abroad and has felt God’s call to serve on the NMI District Council. She currently works as a Speech-Language Pathologist in skilled nursing facilities. Lauren strives to share the love of Jesus with all those she meets. 

Larry joined the District Resource Team as the Interim Treasurer in October 2023 and is working to migrate the district to a new financial system and update its financial systems and processes.

Larry received his MA from Bluffton University and his MBA from the University of Nebraska. In 2010 he became the President and CEO of Trupointe Cooperative, a $700 million farmer’s cooperative serving Ohio and Eastern Indiana. After retiring, he has served numerous other entities through his company, Hammond Consulting with a focus on board relationships and organizational strategic planning, as well as assessing and profiling candidates to determine “right fit”.

Larry is serving as Board Secretary of the NWO District Advisory Board, the MVNU Board of Trustees, and the General Board of the Church of the Nazarene on the Global Administration and Finance Committee. He also currently serves as treasurer of three local churches and is on the board at Nazarene Theological Seminary.

Larry has always felt the call to ministry, not as a preacher, but rather in roles to serve the church at the local, district, and general levels to make the church more effective and able to reach more people. His strength is helping assist those in ministry in the financial and administrative areas, having served on multiple finance and search committees.

Larry enjoys riding his bicycle and helping others.