Staff & Leadership

Meet our Lead Pastor

Chris VandeLinde serves as the Lead Pastor of Cornerstone Christian Church. Under Chris' leadership, Cornerstone is passionate about seeing people connected to Jesus and their lives transformed, both locally and globally. He is known for his creative approach to teaching and presenting the Bible. Chris, his wife, Nicole and their two children are grateful to live this close to baseball heaven.

Meet the Team

Micah Balu

Student Minister

Joined Team: June 2018
Hometown: Florissant, Missouri
Alma Mater: Ozark Christian College (2018)
Favorite Things: Toasted ravioli, Cardinal baseball, and all things St. Louis.

Ben Browning

Worship Minister

Joined Team: June 2019
Hometown: Washington, Illinois
Alma Mater: Lincoln Christian University (2004)
Favorite Things: Good projects, plenty of laughter, and a great cup of coffee

Torri Davis

Ministry Team Admin

Joined Team: April 2017
Hometown: Troy, Illinois
Alma Mater: Liberty University (2009)
Favorite Things: Being with her family, sarcasm, photography, and binge watching TV shows.

Lisa Engelman

Executive Administrative Assistant

Joined Team: January 2013
Hometown: Decatur, Illinois
Favorite Things: Spending time with her two children, knitting, and watching SLU Men's Basketball and the St. Louis Cardinals.

Josh Kinney

Pastor of Mobilization

Joined Team: March 2008
Hometown: Suburban Atlanta, Georgia
Alma Mater(s): St. Louis Christian College (2008), Cincinnati Christian University (2012)
Favorite Things: Spending time with his family, volunteer coaching for youth sports, and watching/attending any sports event (he is a diehard Georgia Bulldogs football fan).

Taylar Knight

Worship Minister

Joined Team: September 2021
Hometown: St. Louis, Missouri
Alma Mater(s): St. Louis Christian College (2016)
Favorite Things: Quality time with family and friends, reading mystery books, drinking chai lattes, rewatching Friends or playing The Sims.

Vicki McGee

Financial Administrator

Joined Team: December 2010
Hometown: Pittsfield, Illinois
Alma Mater(s): St. Louis Christian College, Hickey Business School
Favorite Things: Cooking, reading books, and spending time with her family, especially her grandchildren.

Brian McGrew

Facilities Supervisor

Joined Team: July 2013
Hometown: Belleville, Illinois
Favorite Things: Spending time with family

Kaitlyn Strunk

Student Connections Minister

Joined Team: January 2022
Hometown: Clearwater, Florida
Alma Mater: Johnson University (2022)
Favorite Things: Exploring, drinking iced coffee, superheroes, and goats

Josh Mehrle

Pastor of Operations

Joined Team: May 2014
Hometown: Florissant, Missouri
Alma Mater(s): St. Louis Christian College (2001), Fontbonne University (2009), Maryville University (2011)
Favorite Things: Smoking meat on his Traeger, home improvement projects, spending time with his three daughters, and reading with a good cup of coffee.

Seth Scantlin

Tech Minister

Joined Team: October 2020
Hometown: Shelbina, Missouri
Alma Mater: Ozark Christian College (2017)
Favorite Things: Wings and pizza are favorites together. Play pick up sports, disc golf. Woodworking/home improvement projects and playing guitar. Watching KC Chiefs Football or Cardinals Baseball, Star Wars/Lord of the Rings.

Dusty Schulz

Children's Minister

Joined Team: January 2019
Hometown: Mountain View, Missouri
Alma Mater: Ozark Christian College (2020)
Favorite Things: Running, sharks, and being with people.

Felicia Severson

Communications Director

Joined Team: January 2023
Hometown: Webb City, Missouri
Alma Mater(s): Ozark Christian College (2016) Moody Bible Institute (2020)
Favorite Things: Dr. Pepper or Chai Tea, Spending time with People, Trying new things, Planes & Sports: St Louis Cardinals, Green Bay Packers & Notre Dame Football.

Tiffany Snyder-Schulz

Graphic Designer & Photographer

Joined Team: April 2016
Hometown: Mililani, Hawaii
Alma Mater(s): Southwestern Illinois College (2015), Liberty University Online (2018)
Favorite Things: Visiting local coffee shops, reading good books, and appreciating all things cozy!

Raydean Stuckey

Operations Administrator

Joined Team: February 2009
Hometown: Carthage, Missouri
Alma Mater(s): Southwestern Illinois College, McKendree Universtity (2012)
Favorite Things: Reading, being on the beach, and spending time with her husband and family.

Kathy Warren

Receptionist

Joined Team: February 2014
Hometown: Fairview Heights, Illinois
Favorite Things: Time with friends and family, reading, and movies.

Patrick Wheeler

Pastor of Ministries

Joined Team: November 2016
Hometown: Derby, Kansas
Alma Mater(s): Ozark Christian College (2009), Lincoln Christian University (2019)
Favorite Things: Watching The Office, all things sports, drinking Arizona Sweet Tea, and hanging out with his daughters.

Cathy Wright

Pastoral Care Minister

Joined Team: January 1977
Hometown: Oakley, Kansas
Alma Mater: Manhattan Christian College
Favorite Things: Grandbabies, gardening, and being outside in her yard.

Cornerstone Residents

Cornerstone has a big heart for pouring into the next generation of ministry workers.
For this reason, a constant flow of residents have been working around the church since 2017.

Adam Herbert

Interim Children's Minster

Timeline: January 2023-present
Hometown: Shiloh, Illinois
Alma Mater: Ozark Christian College (2022)
Favorite things: Coffee, St. Louis Cardinals, going to motorsports events, and being outdoors.

Kyla Wood

Children's Ministry Resident

Timeline: August 2023-present
Hometown: Guam
Alma Mater: Southern Illinois University (2024)
Favorite things:

Noah Simmons

Tech Resident

Timeline: February 2024-present
Hometown: Shiloh, Illinois
Alma Mater: Greenville College (2022)
Favorite things:

Is Residency the right option for you?

If you are interested in gaining hands-on ministry experience, college credits, and guidance in ministry job-hunting, check out the information on Cornerstone's Residency program

Cornerstone Residency Program

Meet our Elders

As an Independent Christian Church, Cornerstone is staff led, but is overseen by a team of elders that is comprised of members of the church body who meet the qualifications for Elders found in 1 Timothy 3, and Titus 1.