Angie Gongwer graduated from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing. For 12 years, she dutifully worked in the healthcare industry. But things changed after she had two children. “I loved being a mom and God called me to children’s ministry,” she says. “I’m passionate about the faith development of families. Laying a foundation for discipleship is imperative to creating a faith that lasts.” At home, Angie is hard at work laying that foundation with her two teenagers, Reid and Riley. Angie hasn’t once looked back to her former nursing career. “It’s a privilege to do God’s work here at Asbury,” she says. “It’s more than a job; it’s family.”
When Susanne Warren isn’t facilitating the next big event for Asbury’s Kids, you’ll find her thinking about facilitating the next big event. She’s a planner. She’s a decorator. And Asbury Kids could not function without Susanne and her creativity. A member of Asbury for more than a decade, Susanne started volunteering in children’s ministry when her teenagers, Max and Molly, were small. She became an official Asbury team member in 2016. Her motto is simple, even though her job is not: Commit your work to the Lord, and your plans will succeed. Proverbs 16:3.
Originally from Alabama, Melanie, her husband Brandon, and their children Ella and William have returned to Alabama after a stint in Texas where Melanie has worked in Children's Ministry since 2007. Most recently, Melanie was the Children's Music Director at Prosper United Methodist Church. Melanie has deep roots in the North Alabama Conference where she has served as a counselor and assistant director for Elementary Summer Camps at Camp Sumatanga. Please say hello when you see her and make her feel welcome (with or without a Dr. Pepper -- her fave!)
Lori Junck loves working with children—she always has. “I love watching their little minds develop,” she says. Whether she’s teaching in her CASA classroom (a role she’s been doing for the last 17 years) or she’s in the nursery on Sundays (where parents have seen her for the last eight years), she says she feels at home at Asbury and it’s easy for her to be passionate about a place and job she loves. New parent? New to Asbury or any church? Your child is in good hands with Lori and her team. “Your child will be welcomed,” she says. “We teach our children about Jesus and how much he loves each and every one of us,” she says.
Tireless cheerleader. Faithful team mom. And caring friend. Ellen Dean wears all of these hats and still has time to stop and greet new faces or knit hats for children in need. Yet Ellen insists her full-time job is to spread the word of Jesus Christ through recreation and sports, like spring soccer or Upward Basketball in the fall. Lucky for Asbury and parents all over Shelby County, she’s been doing that job—plus all the others—for 18 fabulous years. “I love children and watching them grow,” Email Ellen or visit the Sports & Camps pages for details on Soccer, Summer Camps or Upward Basketball and Cheerleading.
Kerrie Cheshire is her name, organization is her game. Kerrie tirelessly keeps the staff and parents organized when it comes to children and youth activities. Kerrie and her family have attended Asbury for the last several years and she was thrilled to join the staff as Family Ministry Assistant in 2021. Her two children, Melody and Cameron, are also honorary staff members, helping mom with Wednesdays or taste-testing shave ice! Email Kerrie with questions. Need a last-minute registration? Stop by with a Mello Yello Zero!
