Current Staff

Many thanks to our photographer for these amazing staff photos!

I was born and raised in the suburbs of Raleigh, North Carolina. Growing up, I planned on pursuing a multitude of different vocations – everything from playing professional baseball to following in my Dad’s footsteps and becoming an architect. After a single year of college and through the guidance of my parents, I ended up here in Oklahoma City. Within three weeks of arriving here in the city and spending just a few afternoons a week working with Novo Ministries, God made it clear to me that He wanted me to continuing serving within this ministry.

My experience ministering to kids is widely-varied – I’ve worked two different summers at two summer Christian camps and I worked with AWANA programs at my church throughout high school. I enjoy business and have a strong background in business through involvement within my dad’s company and through his influence. I am involved running much of the administrative side of this ministry, as well as overseeing the finances and graphic design.

I’m excited to be working with my wife and best friend Valerie – I praise God for calling us both to this ministry!

email: jsherrer@novoministries.org

Since I was born and raised in Oklahoma City, this wasn’t the first place that came to my mind when I thought of a “mission field”. However, God often sees things differently than we do! After I graduated from high school, I anticipated obtaining a political science degree and pursuing a career in politics. During the year following graduation, my mother had a baby, was diagnosed with cancer, and I began volunteering within our city’s public schools in a character education program. These events coupled with the direct intervention of God within my life and heart radically changed my plans and the course of my life. God re-focused me, giving me a passion for serving Him and for reaching others, especially children, with the gospel.

During the six years after graduation, I started a personal chef service, running it for 3 years and saving money while working part-time in ministry. I also obtained my Bachelors degree in Business Management and received additional training in ministry from Kids Evangelism Explosions, Evange-Cube, Character First Education, Child Evangelism Fellowship, Childrens’ Institute International, and other organizations. In 2003, I started the initial work of reaching children through Bible clubs in the Oklahoma City public schools that has now grown into Novo Ministries.

email: vsherrer@novoministries.org

No one who knows me is surprised to find I’m working with children. I started working with kids in my church when I was 14 and have been doing so ever since. I attended a Christian college after graduating high-school, with the goal of growing in my spiritual walk and preparing for full-time ministry. My family has always been involved in local church and para-church ministry, and it seemed natural that I do the same. I finished school with a degree in Church Ministries (counseling, curriculum development, education, and para-church ministries). I’ve served as a resident assistant, camp and college staff, and children’s Sunday education ministry coordinator, and have worked with several children’s club programs and Sunday school programs in 3 local church ministries.

The day I arrived in Oklahoma City following a job lead, I was introduced to Novo Ministries. I began volunteering a few weeks later. Within seven months, I knew God was leading me to this ministry. I joined the staff in June 2007 to work with the curriculum development team and serve as the education coordinator.

email: tmclain@novoministries.org

When I was 12 and at a children’s camp God placed an unshakable call upon my life. He called me to the mission field here in the United States, to reach out to the children and families that are struggling just on the other side of “my fence.”

God brought me to Oklahoma City the last half of my senior year of High School. I worked here teaching ethics in the public schools, moved to Dallas to work as the business administrator for a training /conference center, and then back to Tulsa where I worked with my Church and their children’s ministry. God has seen it fit to bring me back to Oklahoma to serve with Novo and to work with some of the same schools and neighborhoods that I worked with when I was here almost a decade ago. I’m excited at what God is doing here in Oklahoma City, and I’m glad that I can be a part of it!

email: jwestfall@novoministries.org

I have lived in the Oklahoma City area nearly all of my life. The summer I was fourteen I went on a mission trip with my church to Mexico. When I came back I had a strong desire to tell people about God and His plan of salvation. That next year I taught in a Bible Club at Heronville Elementary, and was also involved in a character education program at another local elementary school. As I began to see the need these kids had to hear the Gospel, I realized I could be a “missionary” in my own city! Throughout high school I continued to volunteer with these programs. I was an intern for Novo in the winter session of 2007 and joined the Novo staff in August 2007. I am so excited to be part of a ministry that is reaching kids in my own community with the message of Jesus Christ!

email: mconnell@novoministries.org

Oklahoma City is my hometown. I was born in the heart of Oklahoma City, raised in Midwest City, and went to college in Edmond where I currently reside.

I have always had a passion for the community of people living in this city. When I was a teenager, I went on an inner-city mission trip with my church youth group. This experience opened my eyes to some of the challenges these families faced. I also realized that I didn’t have to go to a foreign country in order to reach the lost or the people who are in need. God has, can, and will continue to use me right where I live.

I work in the area of Administration, and even though this is a “behind the scenes” position, I know God is using it to further His kingdom! I am thankful and excited for this experience, and I am using the passions God has given me to advance His kingdom.

email: cwhitaker@novoministries.org

I have lived most of my life in Guthrie, Oklahoma. When I was 16 years old I began asking God what He wanted me to do with my life. One night as I was praying I felt God tell me that He wanted me to work with children. Immediately, I began volunteering with many different children’s ministries. I have served within the children’s ministry at my church as well as a character education program. I also volunteered for Novo Ministries during this time. I joined the staff team at Novo in the winter of 2009. I love kids, and I can’t imagine my life without them! I am glad that I can fulfill God’s call on my life through my work here.

email: mhuskey@novoministries.org

I was born in Oklahoma City, and moved to Bartlesville when I was 11. All my life I’ve loved working with children! I always enjoyed helping my younger brothers and sisters with any projects involving pipe cleaners or big messes. =) In the fall of 2001 God showed me my sin and need for forgiveness, and I accepted Christ as my Savior.

Shortly after being saved I was given the opportunity to teach 5 day Bible Clubs with my church. The children I met and taught that summer gave me a passion to share to gospel with children. Over the next several years, I taught hundreds of children through Bible Clubs with my church, a local character ministry, and Novo Ministries’ Bible Clubs. I came on staff at Novo ministries in the fall of 2008. I am very excited about this fantastic opportunity to serve God in Oklahoma City!

email: khedglen@novoministries.org

When I was a younger, I had dreams of working with children and troubled teens. As I grew older, I realized I could have an influence on those living around me, not just in another country or land. I’m so glad God has allowed me to work at Novo Ministries . I have learned so much about working with inner-city children and have fallen more in love with the Lord and the precious children He has allowed me to teach!

Throughout my life, there have been many opportunities to work with children in a variety of areas. I have assisted a piano teacher for four years, taught piano lessons for a year, and then worked with children as a portrait photographer. My family has also ministered to children through foster care for several years.

I first came to Novo in January of 2009 as an intern. I loved the work and mission and joined the staff team in August of 2009. It has been a pleasure to be able to continue working with the boys and girls in Oklahoma City as well as helping with different aspects of administration on the Novo team!

email: kjorg@novoministries.org

Not long after I chose to become a Christian God gave me a desire to reach out to “the unreached”. Growing up in a Christian home and surrounded by Christians I felt that God wanted me to serve him in another country where Christianity isn’t prevalent. I was going to school at that time and simply assumed that one day I would be given the opportunity to help others on a mission field. However, it wasn’t long before I was put in a position where I was working with kids as a Physical Education intern. This opened my eyes to how needy and spiritually deprived boys and girls are right here in the United States. Around the same time I was given the opportunity to work with homeless, abused, and mentally challenged children and teens. It was at this point that I fell in love with ministering to the next generation. I was able to be a light to rejected and untouched children of South Bend, Indiana. I soon found myself working every event and outing that I could. To be given the opportunity to shape and change a child’s life is an amazing opportunity that I couldn’t pass up!

In the spring of 2009 I was asked if I wanted to help Novo at the summer camp they hold every year. After summer camp I went back home to South Bend, Indiana. In the fall of 2009 I applied for a position with Novo Ministries. It is exciting to see how God is using Novo to show His love to the kids and families of Oklahoma City.

email: ncrabtree@novoministries.org

I have always had a heart for reaching children and, through a series of events, was introduced to Valerie and Novo Ministries. When I was fifteen years old I came to intern with the ministry for four weeks. The training I received taught me to teach the children in a way they could relate to and understand. For the first time in my life I felt I could take the Bible and share the gospel with someone clearly and confidently. At the end of my internship I earnestly asked God to allow me to come back to work with the ministry and over the past four years have been able to volunteer on four separate occasions as well as four summer camps.

It is truly amazing for me to see how this ministry is reaching boys and girls! I am excited to see what the Lord has in store for me in the days ahead and what involvement I will continue to have within this ministry. It brings me joy to know my life means something, I can make a difference, and that I am serving Christ!

email: jbartlow@novoministries.org

Ever since I can remember, God has given me a love for music. My family is quite musical, almost everyone having played an instrument or done something with music. I enjoy playing the harp and using it to minister to others.

As a young child, I accepted Jesus Christ as my personal Lord and Savior. During my high school years, I attended several conferences which helped me grow in my relationship with the Lord. I have also taught children’s church and served in the nursery within my home church. I have very much enjoyed these opportunities.

In the fall of 2008, I felt the calling of God on my life to work with children, specifically those who are suffering from a terminal illness. I learned of Novo Ministries later that year. I wanted to come learn and serve in Oklahoma City. After I finished high school, I applied and joined the Novo Ministries staff team in the fall of 2009. My time working here has been a time of stretching and growing. I look forward to seeing how God will use Novo Ministries to impact the lives of the inner-city children of Oklahoma City!

email: msteele@novoministries.org




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