DFC Staff

Adult Ministries

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I was born the second of ten children in Louisiana and I attended SNU and the University of Nebraska. I have served as lead pastor, directed youth camps, served on several district boards, and have had radio and TV programs.

Ruth and I recently celebrated our 50th wedding anniversary. We have two children, five grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren. How I praise the Lord for my family!

I am indeed privileged to visit and encourage those who are hospitalized or confined to nursing homes, rehab or care centers on behalf of DFC. I continue to have a strong desire to be a living example of what it means to be a believer in Christ.

I was born in Louisville, Kentucky, but grew up in Southern California during the culturally shifting 1960s and 70s. God gracefully grabbed hold of my whole being at a very early age and then during the late 60s when the Jesus Movement swept the west coast I was gladly a part of learning what it meant to be (as we said then) “sold out for Him.” Our family was a part of a church plant housed in a shopping center. Everyone there was in leadership of some kind. I first taught Sunday School at the age of 13 to three year olds. It was a blast. Throughout all my teen years God allowed me to serve in all kinds of mission projects and on various denominational teams. I attended 2 years of college at Point Loma College, and then married Bill, the love of my life, in 1975. No girl was ever so lucky. I became a DFC member in 1976. We have three very humanly awesome kids who have grown up at DFC: Trevor, Tyler, and Taryn. The boys are married to our daughter-in-laws: Amber and Stephanie and Trevor and Amber have our 3 grandchildren: Ainsley, Isaac, and Avery. I was privileged to be the teaching direction for Community Bible Study for 19 years, and then I went back to College at CCU and earned my BS in Organizational Management and Christian Leadership. I then was able to go to Denver Seminary and earned an

M-Div with a concentration in Spiritual Formation. My passion in ministry is to speak and teach the Word of God to classes, small groups and individually in counseling.

Something about me that you might not know is that my great great grandmother (our claim to fame) was the first woman to ever speak to a joint session of Congress. She did this right after the Civil War and spoke on restoration of the South and women’s rights (yep you read that right). She also was considered a spy for General Grant because she carried messages from the confederate side up to the north for him.

Trying to impress everyone I always said I wanted to be an interpreter at the UN. But after nearly not passing Spanish in a Southern California High School, I got real and spoke from my heart that I wanted to serve the Lord and/or teach.

I am enamored with Sense and Sensibility.

A vacation dream for me would be to go to England and do the C.S.Lewis and J.R.R.Tolkein walk.

My Favorite Toy when I grew up was my Thumbelina baby doll that really moved when you turned a knob in her back.

I grew up in Littleton, Colorado and graduated from Littleton High School and Metro State college. I was 13 years old when I was introduced to Denver First Church and fell in love with the youth group and soon after began a relationship with Christ. Jim and I have been married for 17 years, and have three children: Jadyn, Jamie and Joshua. I have had the joy of working with youth and children for over 27 years. I am thankful to God to be part of launching Movement 5280, a new Teen Center in Downtown Denver.

Something few people know about me is that I worked for a youth treatment center as a Physical Education teacher and counselor in Adams County before becoming Children's Pastor.

If I could vacation anywhere in the world, I would go to Switzerland with my family. I would love to sit and look at the rolling green hills and God's creation! I would also like to do a cattle drive before I get too old!

When I was younger, I wanted to be a teacher. Later, I wanted to be a high school counselor.

My favorite toy as a child? I loved to play with GI Joes. I had the helicopter and jeep and the tiger and cage.

I love watching American Idol with my family and my favorite movie is Sister Act and The Sound of Music. My favorite book is the Bible.

My passion is for God and His Word. I was born and raised in Boulder, Colorado. I met my husband, Barry while attending the University of Colorado. I graduated from the University of Colorado with a degree in Education. We have two grown sons, Erik and Tyler. Erik is married to Shantel and they have a three year old daughter, Avari and baby boy, Elijah. I was ordained last June.

Romans 12:2 “Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is - His good, pleasing, and perfect will.”

Few people would know that I was born and raised in the Republic of Boulder

If I could vacation anywhere in the world, I would go to Jerusalem and walk where Jesus walked.

When I was little, I wanted to be a teacher! I lined up my dolls and taught them - they were much better behaved than kids!

My favorite toys as a child were my dolls (they doubled as my students).

My favorite TV show is “What not to Wear”; favorite book: To Kill a Mockingbird and Joel Rosenberg books.

I started working at DFC in 1971 as Youth Pastor, was Associate Pastor, Family Life, Christian Education in 1983 – 1989 and from 2001 to 2010 involved in a variety of areas throughout the church. Presently, I am Counselor for the church. I have been in private practice since 1990 and specialize in treatment of domestic violence perpetrators.

Not many people would know that I had jobs in high school and college included breaking horses on a 3,000 acre ranch, ‘lumberjack’ in the Northwest, roustabout in the oil fields and freight docks.

If I could vacation anywhere in the world I would go to Machu Picchu - because it is there.

When I was little I wanted to be a Psychiatrist.

My favorite toy as a child was the toy that I was playing with at the moment. Why? Because it was the toy I was playing with at the moment.

I haven’t watched TV in 10 years. My favorite movie is “What About Bob?” and “Fiddler on the Roof.” My favorite book…historical biographies, historical novels – like James Michener, if they are well written and well researched.

I was born in Missouri but spent most of my childhood in Greeley, CO where my dad, Roy Pedersen, pastored the Greeley First Church of the Nazarene for many years. I graduated from Mid America Nazarene University with a degree in Business Management and a minor in Communications and met my husband Shawn while attending there. Shawn and I have three children, Shawna (TNU student), Shayli and Shaden and we reside in Highlands Ranch.

Everyone knows everything about me – I wear everything on my sleeve and tell everything I know.

If I could vacation anywhere in the world, I would love to take a long cruise to the Mediterranean exactly like the one the Nauman’s took recently.

When I was little, I wanted to be a scientist when I grew up because that would improve my chances of getting a microscope for Christmas. (Science ended up being my very worst and least favorite subject).

I guess I would have to say my favorite toy was my microscope as that’s the only toy I can remember right now.

My favorite TV show is The Office. My favorite movie(s) are sports stories such as Blind Side, Remember the Titans, Hoosiers, Miracle, etc. I love reading so I have lots of favorites, but the book that I would have to say made a very profound difference in my life is entitled “The Heavenly Man” by Brother Yun. I’m still trying to process it. I also enjoy Ted Dekker and Joel Rosenberg.

I have been married to Obed for 18 years, have 5 children, Matthew, Bradley, Dawson, Addie and Caleb. I moved to Colorado as a teen and graduated from Arvada High School. I went to Court Reporting School, Front Range and Metro State College. I love the mountains and working with teens. I am an Air Force BRAT_and grew up in Germany. If I could take a dream vacation, I would take my family and camp all over Europe.