Deacons
Amy Ballinger
Deacon
Family: My husband, Rick, and I have been married for 33 years as of 2023, have 4 children, 3 children-in-law, and 5 grandchildren.
Hobbies: Hobbies (and past business ventures!) have included photography, painting/restoring furniture, interior design, creating art through mixed media and wordsmithing through blogs, poetry, prose and even a couple of short stories. I also love the outdoors and adventuring with my family through swimming, traveling, hiking, kayaking, and stand up boarding. | Favorite Bible Verse: One of my favorite bible verses is Isaiah 40:31. A great promise of the continuation of supernaturally renewed strength for those who have become weary in the face of adversity, hardship, personal sin, failure, and seeming defeat. But not just for anybody! This promise is for those found in Christ, who will hope in and wait on the Lord alone. | Favorite Movie: "Oh Brother, Where Art Thou?" | Favorite Book: One of the most impactful books I've read is "Sacred Marriage" by Gary Thomas which posed a direct challenge to the worldly view of marriage and raised the question, "What if God designed marriage to make us holy moreso than happy?" (hint: He did! And the sustaining happiness found in the Christ-centered marriage then comes from the ongoing sanctification and continual redeeming of personal failures that we enjoy through Grace, as He uses our marriages to help transform us into the likeness of Christ. A game changer for young married couples fixated on the fairytale version of marriage!) | Favorite Food: My favorite food is anything Mexican (especially enchiladas!). | Other notable/fun facts about you: I've had several different careers over the decades - I worked for Baker University writing and designing marketing materials; owned my own interiors and antique shop, was a professional wedding photographer, taught at an after school program and currently work full time as the Community Engagement Manager for a disability services organization. But one of the most fun and unique work experiences I've had come during a career break where I just wanted to have some fun and be outdoors. I was the youth activity planner at the Yogi Bear Campground in Lawrence where I ran kids’ day programs, led crafts and activities including face painting AND was the Yogi Bear mascot - wearing the head-to-toe, full-body, furry, hot, mascot suit and large headpiece. Yogi would come out to raise the flag every morning, feed the fish, walk through the campground making sure all the kids were having fun, showing up during dance parties, and making people smile. My kids thought this was the best! And so did I.
Rick Ballinger
Deacon
Family: Married to Amy. Four children, three of them married, and five grandchildren.
Hobbies: Spending time doing anything outdoors with my family...hunting, fishing, hiking, biking, kayaking. I also enjoy watching my grandkids play basketball, baseball, football, and soccer. | Favorite Bible Verse: The one I find myself going back to time and again is Zeph 3:17, "The Lord your God is in your midst; a mighty one who will save; He will rejoice over you with gladness; He will quiet you by His love; He will exult over you with loud singing." | Favorite Movie: Depending on the day, it's either Jeremiah Johnson, Running Scared (1986 film) or Raising Arizona. | Favorite Book: I love to read just about anything, but for pure enjoyment I'm a sucker for westerns and Louis L'amour. | Favorite Food: I'm blessed to be married to an incredible cook, so it would have to be one of Amy's dishes, probably her chili or enchiladas. | Other notable/fun facts about you: I was born in Colorado, moved to Lawrence, KS to start middle school and lived there until 2020 when Amy and I moved to Olathe. Despite all appearances now, I once had a really awesome mullet.
Gene Carlisle
Deacon
Family: Wife, Janet; 6 children and 20 grandchildren
Hobbies: Camping, fishing, golf, the beach, bowling and playing sax | Favorite Movie: Chariots of Fire, Second Hand Lions, and The Sound of Music | Favorite Authors: George MacDonald and C.S. Lewis | Other notable/fun facts about you: I enjoy Bible study as well as sharing and teaching its marvelous truths to others. I continue to make new discoveries in the Word and am humbled by how little I actually know, and even more by how little I have applied to my life; but "His Mercy is More".
Janet Carlisle
Deacon
Family: Husband, Gene; 6 children and 20 grandchildren
Hobbies: Sewing, quilting, reading, puzzles and spending time with family | Favorite Bible Verses: Proverbs 3:5-6 | Favorite Movies: Gone with the Wind, Second Hand Lions, and Sound of Music | Favorite Foods: Dark chocolate and strawberries
Brenda Carlson
Deacon
Family: My husband, Kirk, and our two young men, Eric and Kevin.
Hobbies: I enjoy doing puzzles and going for long walks. | Favorite Bible Verse: Ephesians 3:20-21 | Favorite Book: I enjoy books by Susie Larson. | Favorite Food: Italian | Other notable/fun facts about you: I love Thunderstorms.
Marilyn Friesen
Deacon
Family: Husband, Russ; Children, Libby, Abby, James & Benjamin
Hobbies: Baking, gardening, jogging, taking walks and riding bike with Russ, playing games and spending time with family | Favorite Bible Verses: Phil. 4:8, 1 Tim. 6:17-19, Isa. 26:3-4, Rom. 12:12 | Favorite Movie: I enjoy watching Pride and Prejudice by myself, Avengers movies with my family. | Favorite Book: I wish I read more, but mostly, books sit partially read in a stack. I have enjoyed reading a few Agatha Christie books lately, but mostly try to spend the time I do read in the Bible. | Favorite Food: Homemade Stromboli and salad watching a movie with my family | Other Notable/fun facts about you: I grew up on a dairy farm outside of Hillsboro, KS so my summer job growing up was milking cows. I am a physical therapist and have 2 part time jobs that I enjoy, one is working with kids in schools and the other is doing home health seeing mostly geriatric people so I get to see people at both ends of the age spectrum. I recently started drinking coffee but it has to be flavored, I can’t drink the hard stuff!
Kim Gerbrandt
Deacon
Family: Kris, Callie, Megan, Aaron
Hobbies: Bicycling, working around the house | Favorite Bible Verse: Colossians 1; James 1 | Favorite Movie: “Unforgiven” | Favorite Books: I've liked stuff by David McCullough, Tom Clancy | Favorite Food: Chips and salsa | Other notable/fun facts about you: I've never seen The Little Mermaid but my dog is named Ariel.
Kris Gerbrandt
Deacon
Family: Husband, Kim; Children, Callie, Megan & Aaron
Hobbies: Spending time with family and friends, reading, watching sports (Royals & Dallas Cowboys are my favorites!), exercising, enjoying sunsets | Favorite Bible Verse: Eph. 1:3-8, 2:4-5; 3:16-21; Colossians 1; 3:12-17; Psalm 139; Hebrews 4:12-16; 1 Peter 4:8-11; Rev. 22:17, 20-21 (I hope you look every one of these verses up and soak them in!) (these are just a few - I have more if you want to ask!) | Favorite Movie: I like lots of movies, just not the scary ones. | Favorite Book: Besides the Bible (obviously!), I love New Morning Mercies devotional. I love stories about real people, suspenseful stories, mysteries and contemporary fiction. I have a stack of books I want to read but haven’t started yet - many of which are Christian living/theology. | Favorite Food: Mexican! | Other Notable/fun facts about you: I really love coffee and being outside. Sitting on my deck drinking coffee in the morning is my happy place. I would also be willing to sit on the beach and drink coffee or sit on a deck in the Colorado mountains and drink coffee.
Myrna Jost
Deacon
Family: Spouse – Walt, children – Luke & wife, Emily, Jonathan (plus yellow Labrador retrievers - Bertie who is 14 and Belle who is just a puppy)
Hobbies: Playing games (mostly on the computer or phone), or watching games (Chiefs football, Sporting KC soccer, Blue Valley HS football) | Favorite Bible Verse: Romans 8:28 has meant a lot to me at different times over the years “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.“ | Favorite Movie: The Help | Favorite Book: Bible | Favorite Food: Ice cream | Other Notable/fun facts about you: Grew up in Hillsboro, KS. youngest of 5 (3 brothers and 1 sister). Worked for John Hood at the CPA office for 20 years.
Matt Just
Deacon
Family: Susan, Ryan, Ben, Madison
Hobbies: Grilling/smoking, music, guitars, exploring. | Favorite Bible Verse: “God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” - 2 Corinthians 5:21. | Favorite Movies: I enjoy a good, semi-historically accurate war movie, also usually anything action/adventure related. | Favorite Books: I don't read very many books, but they tend to be historical in nature. | Favorite Foods: Anything grilled or smoked, Mexican food. | Other notable/fun facts about you: I enjoy tinkering with computers and have even built a few.
Kathy King
Deacon
Family: Married Dale in 1973. We have 2 adult daughters and 5 grandchildren.
Hobbies: Spending time with our grandchildren and attending their programs and athletic events. Playing table games & fun party games; working crossword puzzles. Watching cooking shows (I enjoy watching more than actually cooking). Women’s Bible Studies (The study of God’s Word and the close friends who have consistently pointed me to the truths in scripture have been a wonderful source of spiritual encouragement throughout the years!) | Favorite Bible Verses: Proverbs 3:5-6; Psalm 139:23-24; Psalm 119:18; John 15:1-8; Romans 7:15-25 | Favorite Movies: “Sound of Music”; “The Sting” | Favorite Books: (Other than the Bible) Mere Christianity (C.S. Lewis); The Mitford novels (Jan Karon); | Favorite Foods: Bean soup & cornbread; sweet tea; any form of dark chocolate | Other notable/fun facts: I was born and raised in Olathe and graduated from high school in 1969 when the population of Olathe was around 17,000. I thoroughly enjoy meeting and interacting with people! I’m so grateful for the privilege and blessing of serving alongside and learning from the many godly leaders and servants at CBC who consistently reflect the love of Christ in word and action. One item on my “bucket list” is to go whitewater rafting – before I turn 70!