Rev. Mike Shields
Mike Shields became the Superintendent of the Central District in 2020. He has 27 years of ministry in the EFCA prior to becoming Superintendent. He received a Masters of Divinity and an MA in Counseling Psychology, both from TEDS, and is presently completing his Doctor of Ministry from Talbot School of Theology. In addition to serving […]
Rhonda Nichols
Rhonda Nichols joined the Central District staff in 2005 with undergraduate specialties in accounting and mathematics, along with corporate experience in the areas of flex plans and COBRA administration. She is responsible for the administration of the office and will be your first point of contact when you call. Rhonda handles the large district events, […]
Rev. Larry Austin
Larry Austin has served the district in his role of church health since the fall of 2008. Prior to that he had served for 23 years as the Pastor of Adult Ministries at First Evangelical Free Church in Ames, Iowa. Larry is recognized nationally as a superb ministry trainer and a leader in understanding and […]
Rev. Brad Wos
Rev. Brad Wos joined our staff in December 2016. Brad came to know the Lord through the Navigator Ministry and has been deeply impacted by the vision for disciple making and evangelism. Following marketplace ministry at Citicorp, Panera Bread and in Information Technology, Brad followed the call to serve Jesus for 14 years in South […]
Rev. Todd Brooks
Todd Brooks was raised in Jefferson City, Missouri. He is an alumnus of the University of Missouri-Columbia. During his years there he became involved in CRU, joining the staff and serving at Truman State University in Kirksville. Todd’s wife, Katie, was raised in St. Louis. They were married in 1992 and served on CRU staff […]
Rev. Jerry Carlin
On May 1, 2019, Rev. Jerry Carlin joined the team at the EFCA Central District to serve as Regional Church Health Coach for Southwest Missouri and Northwest Arkansas. The region that Jerry serves currently includes about 20 Central District churches. Jerry comes to us after twenty-five years at The Springs Church in Springfield, Missouri, where […]
Rev. Randy Scheil
Randy grew up in northwest Iowa and attended the University of Iowa where he met his wife Cindy. After working at University Hospitals for three years, Randy and Cindy moved to Dallas where he attended Dallas Theological Seminary (ThM). Randy served at Pastor of Christian Education in a church in Garland, Texas during his time […]
Dan Doebel
Dan has been on staff with the District since 2015. Prior to that, he served 29 years as a Youth Pastor with 27 being in the Free church in Davenport, IA. Dan came to know Christ in 1979 through Bob Nieuwendorp (a long time church planter in the Central District). Dan learned early on that […]
Art Smith
Art Smith joined us in May, 2019. Art came to know Christ as a Catholic teenager and in his 20’s joined the Johnston Evangelical Free Church (now NorthPoint Church) after seeking a church that taught the Bible as primary authority. Art retired at the end of 2018 after 35 years working in Technology at Wells […]
John Ritland
John Ritland joined our team in 2008. John had served as an engineer for Boeing and took an early retirement to help our church planting efforts. He had long served as a dedicated lay person in the EFCA and had a strong desire to join in where God was working. Serving in church planting for […]
Gary Shaw
Gary Shaw joined the Central District team in March of 2010. Gary’s experience as an engineer and a builder gives him exactly what is needed to help a young church take the important steps toward a first building or remodeling project. Gary has served as the building chairman of two different churches as they built […]
Dr. Cal Swan
Calvin Swan served as the Superintendent of the Central District from 1999 – 2020. Prior to that he served as a youth pastor, solo pastor, and for 13 years as the senior pastor of Mulford Evangelical Free Church in Muscatine, Iowa. He received his D.Min and M.Div from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School and is also […]
