Leadership
Timmy Gibson
Lead Pastor
Timmy, a Kansas City native, brings vitality and passion to the vision of Mercy Church with his heart to help people develop a healthy relationship with Jesus Christ through the ministry of the local church. Timmy was raised in church yet never saw himself as the stereotypical “pastor” type with the three-piece suit and comb-over hair-do. He is likely to be seen riding his motorcycle down Ward Parkway wearing leather-chaps and a bandana on his head. His heart has always been about giving people hope through the message of Jesus’ love without being weird. He desires to help people have better lives, and what better way than by being a pastor? He graduated in 1994. A month after graduation, he married his college sweetheart, Jana. They have two beautiful children, Shaeylea and Vandon. They enjoy life very much and love what they do here at Mercy Church.
Jana Gibson
Kid’s Life Director
Jana is a proud Okie and OSU Cowboys fan. Growing up her mother owned dance studios which started her life long love of dance. She spent a portion of her life in Cushing, Oklahoma (a very small town – the population sign was updated when she moved!) where she started attending church on a regular basis. She sometimes misses the laid back feel of the country life, but says she wouldn’t trade her life now for anything. She still loves the outdoors, especially horseback riding when she visits her dad. She also loves playing sports, mentoring women, spending time with her family and friends and dreams of one day earning her pilot’s license. Jana graduated Bible College in 1993 which is where she met Timmy. By and large, Jana’s biggest joy in life comes from her husband and two children.
Nathan Irby
Worship Leader
“THRIVE in the place you are PLANTED!” is my vision and attitude for ministry. And what ministry you ask? Worship Ministry. I’m Nate Irby, an undergrad from Manhattan Christian College. I’ll be graduating this December with a Bachelors of Science/Worship Leading. My passion is connecting the congregation to God through music. I play many instruments, but my prime ones are: guitar/vocals. I enjoy playing sports and watching sports! ROCK CHALK JAY HAWK! But I also like to read. Who would have guessed that!?!?!? I’m super stoked to be apart of Mercy Church and I can’t wait to see what God has in store for us this year.
JetTina Mathes
Kid’s Life Director
JetTina grew up with the understanding that what you are is God’s gift to you, but what you do with it is your gift to God. It is the desire of her heart to give the best of her time, her abilities, her efforts, and her creativity to the One who gave His best for her, and she believes wholeheartedly that if you aren’t serving, you’re just existing, because life is meant for ministry. Having served in nearly every area of ministry, from children’s ministry to women’s ministry to cleaning the church, she currently serves as the Administrative Assistant at Mercy Church. She is a native of southeast Kansas and graduated from Southwest Missouri State University (now Missouri State) with a teaching degree. Her passion in life is to have FUN fulfilling her purpose and loves laughing, loving and serving. She is a devoted mother to Laynee and Eli, the two most precious children on this (or any) planet.
Dennis Putinski
Spiritual Growth Director
I am an Ohioian at heart, but I have lived in Kansas City since 1974. Married almost 32 years, and have known the Lord 43 years. I was discipled by the Navigators and trained in the ministry art of making disciples to be close Christ followers. I am a graduate of the Noncommissioned Officer Academy at Ft. Sill, Ok; Cleveland State University, OH; Grace Theological Seminary, IN; and Faith Bible College, MO. I enjoy studying the Bible, creating landscaping projects, viewing art, and traveling places by car. I am also serving in the ministry of the Gideons International these past 26 years. As a side note, I am grateful to the Lord for equipping me to equip others in the ministry of the local and universal church. His calling for me in my latter years is from Ecclesiastes 12:9-11.
Pamela Martin
Director We Care
Pamela sees life as a daily gift from God… a journey full of triumphs, trials and life lessons. She particularly has a heart that breaks for those trying to walk life alone, without the power, the love and the gentle grace of Jesus. (She knows, because she tried it once.) She also knows how wonderful it is, to come home to His loving arms. She has had many human hands reach out to her during her life journey, to help her or love on her, at just the right moment. She believes sometimes it’s the small things that make a big difference in someone’s day. Her favorite things include her children, iced coffees (with tons of milk,) good books, fuzzy socks, running and painting. She likes to be silly with her kids, and to find humor in life, as much as (heavenly) possible.
Doug Huff
Director of I.T.
I was born in New York City and lived on the East coast until High School when my family moved to Southern California. I received my Engineering degree from California Polytechnic University. I worked in software development, hardware design, marketing and Unix administration. Along the way I built data centers for two companies. After working in the wireless industry from half a decade, Sprint moved my wife and I to Kansas City. Michele & I have been married since 1994 we have a beautiful 3 year old son named Ethan who we adopted from Ethiopia in 2008 and are in the process of adopting a baby girl from China. I was raised Methodist and have been a Christian all of my life. My hobbies include skiing, photography, videography and computer tinkering. Michele and I have been going to Mercy Church since 2004 and soon after I started the video ministry program, and have been in charge of I.T. at the church since then.
Houston McCarter (Pic Coming Soon …)
Student Pastor
I am a small town guy born and raised in Kansas. My passion is for youth to encounter the REAL and POWERFUL ONE TRUE GOD, through an understanding that their relationship is theirs & that God wants to change them from the INSIDE OUT! I am a graduate of THE Manhattan Christian College with a Bachelors of Science in Cross-Cultural Ministry with an emphasis in Youth Minister in 2007. I am blessed to be married to my amazing wife Ashley who is a Lenexa, KS native, and the proud father of Henri (my dog). I love me some sports (GO KSU WILDCATS) and enjoy music and chilling with friends & family. My desire is to rise up a youth generation that will take hold of the relationship that Christ offers and become a generation on the move, with boldness, purposefulness, & a desire to change the world for Christ. Kansas City has not seen the passion and desire of the youth //epidemic is ready to raise up! So hold on to your socks, and come join us. *Timothy 4:12- “Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity.”
Kori Carew (Pic & Bio Coming Soon …)
Bridge 68