Staff Bios
Phil Hopper, Pastor
Phil Hopper has been the Senior Pastor of Abundant Life since February 2000. He and his family joined the church in 1997 as he served as Missions Pastor, Adult Sunday School Teacher, and then as Interim Pastor. Pastor Phil attended the University of Kansas from 1987 to 1991 wherg as a SWAT team member, with the Kansas City Police Department where he gained the respect of his superiors and peers. His awards include the KCPD's Distinguished Service Award, KMe he played football as a defensive end for Glen Mason and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Communications. He had eight year career as an officer, includinBC's Gold Award for Valor, and Metro and National Tactical Officer of the Year.
It was through his service as a police sergeant that Pastor Phil's heart for people grew into a call to ministry. He answered that call by attending Calvary Theological Seminary. Soon thereafter, he came on staff at Abundant Life.
Under the current leadership of Pastor Hopper, Abundant Life has grown numerically, financially, entered a successful building campaign, and started various ministries to bring others to a growing relationship with Christ. Pastor Phil's heart is for helping people grow in a personal relationship with Jesus Christ by leading people to Christ, discipling them, and sending them out to impact their community and the world for Christ. It is Pastor Phil's prayer that Abundant Life Baptist Church will be known for years to come as a place where families are strengthened, broken hearts are healed, and souls are changed eternally.
Phil and his wife, Christa, married in 1991. They have three children, Jakob, Makay, and Joshua.
Email: "pastorphil @ abundantlifebaptist.com"____________________________________________________________________________________
Rick Friesen, Assistant Pastor
Assistant Pastor, Rick Friesen and his family were among the original 29 members who, in 1994, helped form the Liberty Baptist Church now known as the Abundant Life Baptist Church. Over the years, Rick served in various layperson leadership capacities at the church including Board of Trustee, Deacon, Sunday School Teacher, and Youth Pastor. In September of 2000, Rick surrendered the call on his life to full time ministry and joined the staff of Abundant Life Baptist Church.
Rick has responsibility for assisting the senior pastor in performing his duties including visitation, counseling, office and business supervision, preaching, teaching, special assignments such as overseeing Abundant Life's recent and future building projects and fulfilling pastoral duties in the absence of Pastor Phil Hopper. While Rick has diverse responsibilities at the church, his main passion is to utilize the love God has given him for people by helping them grow in the Word and in their relationship with God. Rick is currently utilizing this passion by teaching a young marrieds class and a men's Bible study. Rick is married to Glenda Lea and they have two sons, Kyle (22), and Ben (19).
Email: "pastorrick @ abundantlifebaptist.com"____________________________________________________________________________________
Lance Harrington, Senior High Pastor
Lance grew up on a farm in Garden City, Kansas. He surrendered to full time youth ministry at a youth camp in 1997 at the age of fourteen. Lance graduated from Garden City High School in May of 2000 and graduated from Baptist Bible College in Springfield, MO in May of 2004 with a BA in Inter-Cultural Studies. He joined the Abundant Life staff on June 1, 2004 as Youth Pastor.
Lance was married to Rebecca on August 7th, 2004. Rebecca previously attended Baptist Bible College working on a music major. Rebecca is finishing her music major at Calvary Bible College.
God has gifted and prepared Lance in a unique way to minister to today's youth. Lance's greatest desire is to see young people come to Christ and mentor them in walking more intimately with God.
Email: "pastorlance @ abundantlifebaptist.com"
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Jernigan Schwent, Junior High Pastor
Jernigan was born and raised in Jonesboro, AR. Jernigan received Christ into his heart as his personal Lord and Savior at the age of nine. After living for two years in California, God began to change Jernigan's heart, redefining his priorities, forming a personal relationship with God, and leading Jernigan to begin following Him passionately.
He relocated back to the Kansas City area with his family in 2003 and began to attend Abundant Life Baptist Church. Having worked on his degree at the University of Central Missouri, Jernigan felt the call to ministry and transferred to Midwestern Baptist College in January of 2006.
Jernigan has served as a member of the youth counseling staff at Abundant Life, and as an intern in the Youth Ministry. In January of 2007, Jernigan joined the staff at Abundant Life as the Middle School Youth Pastor. In addition to this position, he is continuing to take classes at Midwestern on a part-time basis. Jernigan's desire is to help teenagers come to see the bigness of God and the fullness of His glory while also emphasizing God's desire to have a personal and intimate relationship with each teen that He has created!
Email: "pastorjernigan @ abundantlifebaptist.com"
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Dave Williams, Business Administrator
David Williams joined the Abundant Life staff in March 2006 as Business Administrator, to serve the various ministries of the church through management of the financial resources, operations, administration and long-range planning. Prior to his ministry at Abundant Life, Dave had a 25-year career with a Kansas City airline, and previously served as Director of Facilities at another local Baptist church.
Dave is actively involved in Won By One Missions to Jamaica, and has served as Board Chairman for that organization since 2004. He has also led building teams to New Orleans. He and his wife Susan have five children.
Email: "dwilliams @ abundantlifebaptist.com"
