Pastoral Staff
Lead Pastor: Mark Hendrickson
Here at First Naz, I have the privilege of leading a great team of clergy and laypeople toward the mission of the Kingdom of God. I'm excited about the future for this community of faith as we ask together the God-questions: questions that spur us on to live-out our shared lives in Jesus Christ... both inside and outside the walls of the church.
I was a church kid all my life, beginning in Indiana. My journey as a pastor began while on tour with Blue Knights Drum and Bugle Corps in 1995. I began sensing God had more for me than to spend my life chasing the “American Dream.” Stefanie and I met during our time at Nazarene Theological Seminary, and have been married since 2001. Together, we've pastored churches in Florida and Missouri. Our son Nicholas was born in 2008 and is becoming a little man of faith. His baby brother is due to be born this May.
I enjoy being with my family, drumming, writing, fishing, hunting/shooting sports, woodworking, salsa-gardening, #48 and the Indianapolis Colts.
Administrative Pastor: Stefanie Hendrickson
I serve as the Administrative Pastor (and all-around editor) for First Naz. Before moving to Warrensburg I was the co-senior pastor with my husband of a church in Florida and the Drexel, MO Nazarene Church. In addition to the local church assignments, I’ve worked for the General Church of the Nazarene as an Associate editor and later the editor for a preaching magazine.
Like some teachers and speakers tend to do, the path of my life has taken rabbit trails: one path leads to another and then another. God has a funny way of guiding us through life, including not giving us a map at all (see Abraham’s call to just follow God to the place God was leading him . . .no Mapquest there!). All of these rabbit trail paths have lead me to who I am and where I serve.
My husband serves as the Lead Pastor here at First Naz. My son, Nicholas, loves worship and meetings new friends. Soon, Nicholas will have a baby brother to love (and torment, at least a little, I’m sure). Together, we are walking the path God is guiding us on. We’re thrilled to be here in Warrensburg and hope that through us God can help us love God with everything we are and love our neighbor as God calls each of us, and our church, to do.
Grace and Peace,
Pastor Stefanie
Youth and Family Pastor: Ray Walters
My calling here at First Naz is to serve as an organic part of the pastoral staff, emphasizing in the area of youth ministry. I got saved at the age of 20, and have been working with teenagers ever since. My passion is to teach students that the Bible and God is ANYTHING but boring and ho hum. My other passion is to feed people, both literally and figuratively. I love to cook and feed people, especially barbecued meats. There is something that draws people together when they gather to eat good food. When people can come together, relationships can form.
I grew up on the East Coast in the Boston area, and received my call about a year after I got saved. I was pre-law in college when my pastor asked me to hang out with teens since I seemed to like them better than adults anyways. The rest is history as I have not looked back since that day.
I am blessed to be married to my wife Melissa, who is a contracted Social Worker, and to be "daddy" to two beautiful daughters. Abigail who is nine and Hannah who is 6 are firecrackers that keep us moving!
Things that I enjoy are the Red Sox, the Patriots, the Celtics, the Bruins, (starting to see a trend here?), cooking and hanging out with good friends.
