FaithWorks! Children’s Minister
Karen Grant has been on the FW! staff for over six years. She has a passion for working with kids and feels called to help them know Jesus Christ. “These important childhood years fly by so quickly and we have these few precious years to help a child get it – to know that Jesus Christ created them, loves them best, and wants to be their best friend forever. I see little else more important.”
Her favorite Bible verse is Isaiah 55:10-11. “It basically says that God will accomplish what He sets out to do. This verse is one I go to often when I feel God leading me or the FW! ministry, yet roadblocks get in the way. It reminds me that my God is bigger than Satan and that God always wins.”
Her favorite FW! memory is from 2012 Camp Lakewood: “In the evenings, we gather at Vesper Hill to spend time with God before going off to bed. This year, every night we tied a colored rope to the cross – each color representing something from our lesson that day. This particular night, the color was red and reminded us that no matter what, God loves us. I watched a mom, who happened to be on our directing team, pick up her little girl so she could tie the rope on. That vision reminds me of how important it is for parents to take the lead in their child’s spiritual journey and partner with the church. They are the coaches and we really are to be the cheerleaders.”
Her second favorite memory is doing 100 things in 60 minutes on Labor Day weekend!
Karen likes lots of colors, but orange and purple best. She’s glad no one else in her family likes dark chocolate because then her Milky Way Dark doesn’t have to be shared! Karen is married to Tom, and they have three children: Ashley, Tommy and Colin.
FW! Curriculum & Special Events Team Leader
Theresa Cass has been on the FW! staff for four years and loves what she does because “I have a passion for teaching children about God’s amazing love for all of us!” She believes FaithWorks! is a great place for kids to be because “Faith and love for God is the foundation for all things.”
Her favorite Bible verse “comes from Romans 12:9-21, which was read at my wedding. My favorite verse being 10: “Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves.””
She thinks Peppermint Patties are yummy and if you were to ask Theresa what her favorite color is, she’d reply, “Since black isn’t a color, I pick gray.” Theresa is married to Chris and they are the parents of Christa, Ben and Sam, who just turned one!
FW! Worship Arts Team Leader
Matt Michele has been on staff for four years, too! He says, “I love the role I have at FaithWorks! because I get to use the gifts God gave me, I get to make kids laugh and be crazy silly. I have learned more about the bible in the past few years then I ever did as a child, and these kids are helping me grow every Sunday! Watching the little light bulb go off in a child’s head when they really understand how much God loves them….PRICELESS!”
The stories from Palm Sunday to the Resurrection really tug at Matt’s heart…his life motto is “as for me and my house we will serve the Lord.”
Matt, who will eat anything with peanut butter in it, claims his fave color as “R-E-D that spells RED!” He’ll never forget the summer of 2010: “we met one of the disciples each week that summer. I had a chance to “fish” on stage with several of the kids and talk about life. After this talking and story time each week, I was able to watch as a dad dressed all goofy in swim gear swim into the FaithWorks! Center, introducing himself to his child, on stage, as a Fisher Of Men. The kids’ faces were awesome! Powerful…maybe not for the kids but for myself.”
Matt calls his family “The Sinister Six” and includes Matt and Megan, married for 12 years, Evyn (5th grade), Emeline (3rd grade), Keighra (1st), Ceaghan (3 years), a couple of cats and a couple of fish…
FW! Administrative Assistant
Summer King has also been on the FW! staff for four years. She enjoys working on the FW! team because “I know that what I do is important. Kids need to hear that God loves them unconditionally and that Jesus loves them unconditionally. If I can help bring that one simple message to a child, then I am doing God’s work. There is nothing more important than that.
Her favorite Bibles verse is Philippians 4:8-9. “Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable-if anything is excellent or praiseworthy-think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me-put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.” It’s her favorite because “when I am stressed out, when I am not being patient, I can think of all the good things that God has given or shown me; it brings me back down to where I should be. It reminds be to be calm, forgiving, and loving.”
One of Summer’s favorite FW! memories is from Christmas Eve, 2011. “We had over 70 kids involved in the family service and each and every one worked so hard to get ready for it! They rehearsed and practiced and memorized and sweated and stepped out of their comfort zones! In fact my daughter, Avery, said the prayer over the offering and I thought for sure that speaking in front of hundreds of people was something she would NEVER do! But she did!! It’s great to watch these kids share their gifts because they love God!”
Summer can’t keep her hands off of a Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup should it pass by and her favorite color is green. She’s been married to Brian for 9 years. They have a daughter, Avery, who is in second grade and is enjoying singing on the FW! Praise Team and doing gymnastics. They also have a son, Owen, who just turned 6. He loves Legos and doing karate.
