Staff
Stewart McWilliams - Senior Pastor
Stewart, Kristi and Kami moved to Colorado Springs in January of 1998 to help start Fellowship of the Rockies 8th Street with Curt Dodd and Charlie Jones. Eight months later they added their son Kaleb (he looks forward to being the only McWilliams with a NATIVE bumper sticker) to the McWilliams clan. Stewart is the only member of the original team remaining in Colorado Springs and plans on leading this church till he retires.
Kristi is the media specialist at Pinon Valley Elementary and has graciously put up with her husband’s antics since July 1, 1992. Besides that, she loves to travel and exercise. Kami and Kaleb are the BEST KIDS IN THE WORLD and if you don’t believe it call Mamaw and Pappa in Texas and they will set you straight.
Stewart, besides being excited about leading the church, loves to ski, watch football (go Bronco’s and Wolverines), read, and is an outstanding golfer (OK he’s a hacker but did have a two on the toughest par four at the Broadmoor). What’s remaining of Pastor Stewart’s free time is taken up with mission trips (everyone needs to go on one.)
Harlan Else - Executive Pastor
Harlan joined the staff of Fellowship of the Rockies in June, 2006, and serves part-time as Executive Pastor.
Harlan and his wife Karen have five grown children, four of whom live in Colorado and a daughter in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They have five grandsons and two granddaughters. Harlan and Karen enjoy following their grandsons in their activities, doing all the fun things associated with living in Colorado, and both domestic and foreign travel.
Jason Atkins - Worship Arts Pastor
Jason began working with the staff at Fellowship of the Rockies in April, 2005 as the part-time Worship Arts Pastor. Along with worship, Jason is deeply involved in the development of the Technical Arts Ministries at the church.
Jason is a professional musician/composer by trade and spends much of his time as an entrepreneur in the music and business world. He enjoys traveling and the outdoors when he has free time.
Duane Hockersmith - Young Adults and Media Pastor
Duane started working part time with Fellowship of the Rockies in July of 2009 and in September 2010 he joined the staff full time. Duane is passionate about the new Young Adults ministry called The Refuge and is always looking to build relationships with the young adults at F.O.R. He enjoys teaching the young adults and is excited to be shaping the vision of The Refuge. He stays very busy trying to keep up with the ever changing needs of church media. Duane also leads worship and teaches in the main services as needed.
Duane and his wife, Stephanie, do not have any children yet, but they have two very spoiled Basset Hounds, Bennett and Molly. Duane enjoys spending time with his wife, playing music, basketball and a good cup of coffee.
Taylor Jessup - Youth Pastor
Taylor joined our staff in the summer of 2011 as our full time Youth Pastor. Taylor graduated in 2011 from Azusa Pacific University with his BA in Business Administration. Taylor grew up here in Colorado Springs graduating from Cheyenne Mountain High School where he played both Football and Lacrosse. He was deeply involved with both Fellowship of the Rockies youth ministry and Young Life and is excited to bring the energy and depth that he has learned to F.O.R. youth ministry.
Taylor is an avid sports fan and has a deep love for skiing and the outdoors. He also loves his new wife, Megan. Taylor is excited to give leadership to the youth ministry here at Fellowship of the Rockies and to get to know students and their families throughout Southern Colorado Springs.
Maureen Krauth - Children's Pastor
Maureen joined the staff of Fellowship of the Rockies as a Ministry Assistant in March 2005 and became the Children’s Pastor in July 2007 where she coordinates Sunday school classes, AWANA, Vacation Bible School, Soccer Camp, Kids Camp and, is blessed to care for and play with the children and families of F.O.R.
Maureen is married to David and they have one son, Matthew. Maureen enjoys anything that involves children, reading, and spending time with her family and friends.
Bob Jones - Business Manager
Bob started volunteering as Fellowship of the Rockies' financial accountant in April 1999. As the church grew, he became the Business Manager in April 2003. He takes care of all of the contributions, payment of expenses, prepartion of the budget and much of the day to day business matters that are required to run a church.
Bob and his wife Jackie have been members of the church since 1999. They have one son, Mark, who is married to Lisa, and a grandson, Hayden, who also attend Fellowship of the Rockies. They moved to Colorado Springs in 1990 and Bob retired from the Air Force in 1994.
Valerie Penchoff - Director of Missions and Office Manager
Val joined Fellowship of the Rockies in the fall of 2007 as a part-time administrative assistant. In 2008 she became the church’s first full-time administrative assistant after finishing her bachelor’s degree in Communications at UCCS. She oversees the many daily duties that keep the church office running and takes care of various other tasks including the weekly bulletin, church advertisements and the busy church calendar. Val also plays a key role as our Director of Missions and gets to spend time working with our Missions Team, International Missionaries, Local Missionaries and enjoys planning and coordinating mission trips.
Val is married to Dillon Penchoff and he has been a part of the Fellowship of the Rockies family since the second Sunday it was open back in 1998. Val enjoys playing soccer, hanging out with family and friends and together Val and Dillon love to go camping and are thrilled to be serving in the Junior High ministry.
Lottie Samz - Senior Pastor's Administrative Assistant
Lottie joined the staff at Fellowship of the Rockies in April of 2004 as an Administrative Assistant. Lottie works part-time and is currently secretary to the Senior Pastor, Stewart McWilliams. Lottie and her family began attending Fellowship of the Rockies in March of 2003.
Lottie and her husband Rick have four children; two married daughters and a daughter and son in college. Rick and Lottie oversee preparations for Wednesday Night Meals and Rick leads a Bible Study on Sunday mornings. Lottie enjoys spending time with her family and making cards.
Janell Gaskins - Administrative Assistant
Janell began working for Fellowship of the Rockies in April of 2011 as a full-time Administrative Assistant after moving to Colorado Springs in September of 2010. Janell's job begins Monday morning answering the phone and ends on Friday afternoon when everything is ready for Sunday services. In the days between she has a variety of duties that support the church office.
Janell married her devoted husband in 1993 and they have been blessed with two crazy-fun boys, Jordan and Jacob. Janell’s favorite thing to do is to spend time with her family, and together they love to ski (the boys are much cooler, so snowboarding is their thing), ride motorcycles, go camping and anything that involves football.
Chelsey Samz - Administrative Assistant
Chelsey joined the staff at Fellowship of the Rockies in April of 2011 as a full-time Administrative Aassistant.
Chelsey has been attending Fellowship of the Rockies since March of 2003. She teaches a 3 year-old Sunday school class and volunteers in the junior high youth group. She graduated from UCCS with a degree in Accounting and a minor in management. Chelsey enjoys hiking, playing music, and hanging out with her family and friends.
Bill Burson - Building Maintenace
Bill began working at Fellowhip of the Rockies in January, 2009. He makes necessary repairs, does all of the set up for events, and keeps the facility clean.
Bill and his wife Shelly have attend F.O.R. since April 2004. Bill is a retired chiropractor. In his spare time he crafts items from wood and has made a variety of pieces from crosses and pens to goblets and boxes.
Cheryl Laird-Wilde - Caretaker
Cheryl joined the staff at Fellowship of the Rockies in December, 2009. She works part-time and is responsible for cleaning portions of the facility including making sure that the preschool rooms meet health department standards.
Cheryl is a skating coach at the Colorado Springs World Arena. She enjoys spending time with her family which includes her three grown children.
Cheryl enjoys waterskiing, jet skiing, hiking, gardening, riding horses, and driving fast cars.