Brenda has been
ordained and active in ministry for more than 40 years. She is
a gifted speaker with highly honed administrative skills. Her
career includes teaching in Virginia public schools and in Cairo,
Egypt. She spent 15 years as a missionary in the Middle East,
living in Beirut, Lebanon, Amman, Jordan, and Cairo, Egypt. She
has traveled for ministry in 41 countries and throughout the United
States. Brenda has written articles for both religious and secular
publications. Brenda is the mother of 3 grown children and grandmother
of 4.
Brenda recently retired as senior aide in the Florida House of Representatives and was named Outstanding Republican for 2007 by Central Florida Republican Leadership. She holds a M.A. in Communications, and a B.S. from Radford University where she was elected to Phi Kappa Phi.
Wilma has been a staff member of Community Family Church for over 25 years. She started as the church secretary in 1983 , 1987-88 served as Principal for Community Christian Academy, and in 1991 became Financial Coordinator, where she currently serves, overseeing financial matters for over 83 departments and ministries. Some of the ministries she has worked in are: Sunday School teacher, Vacation Bible School, nursery, usherette, lay pastor, and youth camp counselor.
Wilma earned an Associate’s degree in Office Management from Northern Kentucky University as well as Southwestern College of Business.
Wilma and her husband, Bill, have been married for over forty-eight years. They have three sons: Kelly, Rodney and Scott.
Mark Ball serves as the Facilities Director and is responsible for the physical operations of the church. This includes financial and legal oversight of the church’s day to day business. His responsibilities also include management of church insurance policies, bids and negotiations for new contract work, and building and grounds maintenance and improvements.
Mark was raised the son of a pastor in Columbus, Ohio and has been very involved in church throughout his life. He received a diploma in Theology and Christian Ministries from the Apostolic Bible Institute. He also has many years of experience in the business community.
Mark and his wife, Lisa, have two daughters, Emily and Elizabeth.
Thomas “Eric” Bates works as an administrator for Tommy Bates Ministries and is in charge of the daily workings in the Pastor’s office.
Eric is also a cultural geographer and anthropologist, having earned his Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Science, and Master of Arts degrees through Northern Kentucky University. He is currently working on a Ph.D. degree through Union Institute and University, a private institution in Cincinnati, OH.
Eric resides with his wife, Erin, also a graduate of NKU, who is actively involved in the ministry at CPC. They have one son, Thomas Garrison Yellowhawk Bates.
Josh Bates serves as the Youth Pastor at Community. He is a nationally acclaimed singer, songwriter, and musician who also works in the educational field. He holds a bachelor's degree in mathematics from Northern Kentucky University and is working towards a master’s degree in teaching from NKU.
Tara Bates has devoted her entire professional career to education with the most time spent in Christian education. A Kentucky native and resident of the Independence area since 1962, Mrs. Bates graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Education from Northern Kentucky University and a Master of Arts degree in Education from Georgetown College. Mrs. Bates taught 6th grade in the public school then came to C.C.A. teaching First and Second Grades, Kindergarten, Life Science, World History, Physical Science and Biology.
In August of 1991, Mrs. Bates was named Principal of C.C.A. She is active in the Oral Robert University Educational Fellowship (ORUEF) and in 2002 took Community Christian Academy through the process of accreditation. C.C.A. is now accredited through International Christian Accrediting Association (ICAA) and the Non-Public School Commission of Kentucky.
Mrs. Bates has had two sons successfully graduate from C.C.A. to pursue college degrees with honors at local colleges. Her daughter graduated from C.C.A. and is attending Northern Kentucky University. She has been married to Pastor Thomas D. Bates for over 25 years and filled the position of pastor’s wife of Community Family Church for over 24 years. In pursuit of furthering her commitment to education, Mrs. Bates is currently working towards a Doctor of Education degree through Northcentral University.
Jamie Bowman is an
Associate Pastor at Community and oversees all areas of education
and children's ministries within the church. She is a music teacher
at Community Christian Academy and is also active with the youth,
college and professional ministries, and the music department
at CFC.
She has been on staff at Community since 2005. Jamie received her bachelor’s degree from Miami University and taught in the public school system before she came to Community. She is currently working on her master’s degree at Northern Kentucky University.
Bruce Cheser is an Associate Pastor and Crisis Care Counselor for members/regular attendees at Community Family Church and also the supervisor for the prayer teams.
He has been a part of the Community Family staff since 2003. Prior to coming to Community, Dr. Cheser had worked in a number of ministry settings such as: Christian counseling, lay pastor ministry, chaplain in motorcycling organizations, jails, prisons, and hospitals. Bruce, a certified police chaplain, is presently serving as a deputized, volunteer chaplain for the Boone County Sheriff’s Department.
Dr. Cheser also serves as a counselor for those desiring direction in their spiritual walk and who regularly attend Community Family. Bruce earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Elementary Education from Campbellsville College, Master of Arts in Child Counseling from Eastern Kentucky University, Education Specialist in Counseling from Western Kentucky University, and a Doctor of Philosophy in Leadership and Counseling from Peabody of Vanderbilt University. He is a retired counselor and educational administrator who maintains his national certified counselor status.
Bruce and his wife, Fran, have been married for forty-three years. They have two children, Karen and Jefferey, and three grandchildren, Will Henry, Wyatt, and Lillian.
Mark Ellis serves as the Minister of Music at Community. His responsibilities include organizing choirs, frontline singers, instrumentalists, special singing, sound systems, outside events, and everything else that involves music.
Mark studied music and psychology at Northern Kentucky University. His worship leadership abilities and old-fashioned anointing help lead the congregation into the presence of God.
Mark is married to Mandy, a graduate of NKU, and has a beautiful daughter named Rileigh.
Billie Jo Johnson works as an administrative assistant for Tommy Bates Ministries. She is responsible for the daily operations of the ministry that includes product orders, Bridge Builder partners, prayer lines, and many other areas. Billie Jo currently attends Northern Kentucky University while working for the ministry.
Before joining the staff of Community Family Church in 2002, Stephen Rust taught high school English for 32 years in Cincinnati, Ohio. He earned his Bachelor’s and Master’s Degrees from Eastern Kentucky University.
Steve is an Associate Pastor and is in charge of visitation.
He also edits church publications and teaches various classes
at CFC.
Brenda Sebastian has been an active member of Community Family Church since 1987. Her service has included everything from cooking and baking for special events, music ministry, nursing home and senior saints, to booking and promoting gospel concerts.
She became Head of the Communications Department in 1989 and produced a church radio program for more than two years. The outreach switched to cable television’s public access in 1991 and we continue to submit programming to the Community Program Center which cablecasts into Boone and Kenton counties, Campbell County Media to Campbell county and Media Bridges which cablecasts in the metropolitan Cincinnati area.
Brenda came on staff as audio video technician in October of 2003, but she continues to log numerous hours per week as a volunteer. She is responsible for coordinating the volunteer staff for the production of audio and video recordings of church services. Church cable programs are edited from the video and special projects are produced for ministry outreach.
Brenda gained her training and experience from her participation in cable public access. She produces “Pure Gospel” a gospel music program that began in 1987. It is one of the longest continuously running weekly programs on the devotion and community program channels. She also gained valuable ministry experience by traveling the tri-state for fifteen years, singing in numerous venues and organizing gospel music at county fairs and festivals, and in addition has booked and promoted many gospel concerts here at Community Family Church.
Carla Sowder serves as Financial Assistant/Volunteer Coordinator. Her responsibilities include assisting in the finance department of the church, working to connect the volunteers with the departments as well as getting new families connected to the Family of Community.
Carla has been involved in ministry since a young teenager serving on many boards and outreach programs. She became a member of Community Family Church in 2001. She has been active in various ministries, Youth Dept., Youth Choir Tour, Adult Choir, Christmas Programs, Children's Ministry, and Outreach Ministries.
She married her husband James Sowder in 1999. James has owned his own business since 1990 when he took over the family business from his father. Carla worked with her husband James in his business for the last 7 years before accepting the position at CFC. They have 2 beautiful daughters, Courtney Bowman and Emily Adams and a wonderful son-in-law, Josh Bowman.
Terry was born and raised in Northern Kentucky and began attending Community Family Church in April of 1988, where he met his beautiful wife, Brenda. Terry and Brenda both have a heart for praise and worship and served on the worship team at Community Family Church for 10 years on a volunteer basis. Terry also lead praise and worship and his wife Brenda directed the choir and worship team.
In March of 1998, God called Terry into full-time ministry at World Harvest Church in Columbus, OH. Terry has served in various capacities at World Harvest. He served as the Director of Pastoral Care and directed 225 Deacons and Lay Leaders in the work of the ministry. Terry has assisted in teaching at World Harvest Bible College and has helped mentor many students during his tenure at World Harvest Church. He also has coordinated and planned major events that have reached thousands of people in the Columbus area.
Terry and Brenda have ministered the gospel in song in many crusades and outreaches across 20 states. They have sung with many top gospel artists through out the years and have ministered the gospel through song on TBN and Daystar. Their music ministry, through the TBN and Daystar networks, has been heard through out the world.
In July of 2008, Terry and Brenda joined the staff of Community
Family Church. Terry serves as an associate pastor and will
be providing pastoral oversight to the members and attendees
of Community Family Church between the ages of 36 – 59. Brenda
works with Prayer Connectors and other ministries in the church.
Terry and his wife, Brenda, have two beautiful daughters, Brittney and Torrie.
Linda Turner serves as a secretary at Community. She has been on staff for 14 years. She is the “keeper at the door” and wears many “hats” working as a department head for the In-Touch Ministry, is active with the intercessory prayer team, and also participates in the Care Ministry. She served on the Ladies’ Ministries board for 11 years.
Linda has been serving the Lord for 32 years. She and her husband, Ralph, have been married 29 years and are both very active members at the church. They have three lovely children, Stephanie, Kim, and Josiah. They also have a son-in-law Ryan. Linda enjoys helping others and is very active in praying with many people who call the church office for prayer. She also enjoys cross-stitch, graphic design, and collecting Boyd’s Bears.
