2017/2018 Cohort
TIFFANY JONES
Spiritual Formation
AGE: 28
HOMETOWN: Doniphan, NE
COLLEGE/DEGREE: University of Nebraska—Omaha; Speech Communication
CALL TO MINISTRY: Working for an anti-hunger nonprofit after college, I realized that food wasn’t enough to satisfy our kids, but they needed Jesus. I wanted to be a part of that.
FAVORITE FOOD: Tacos
FAVORITE STARBUCKS DRINK: Almond milk latte
RILEY STAUFFER
HIGH SCHOOL MINISTRY
AGE: 21
HOMETOWN: Franklin, NE
COLLEGE/DEGREE: Nebraska Christian College; Christian Ministry
CALL TO MINISTRY: I realized that I wanted to do full-time ministry my senior year of high school.
FAVORITE FOOD: Fettuccine Alfredo
FAVORITE STARBUCKS DRINK: Caramel Macchiato
JENNA DRUCKER
COUNSELING
AGE: 22
HOMETOWN: Santa Clarita, CA
COLLEGE/DEGREE: Toccoa Falls College; Cross-Cultural Studies
CALL TO MINISTRY: In sixth grade at youth group, I watched a video from a missions team that had just been to Uganda. I knew my purpose would consist of caring for the hurting and being a part of God’s restoration.
FAVORITE FOOD: Mediterranean
FAVORITE STARBUCKS DRINK: Hot or iced chai latte with almond milk
SETH HERDLE
HIGH SCHOOL MINISTRY
AGE: 23
HOMETOWN: Tacoma, WA
COLLEGE/DEGREE: Crown College; Youth & Family Ministry and Christian Studies
CALL TO MINISTRY: I felt the call to ministry at Crown College my sophomore year.
FAVORITE FOOD: Swedish pancakes
FAVORITE STARBUCKS DRINK: Java Chip Frappuccino
POLLYANNA LATSHAW
COLLEGE MINISTRY
AGE: 24
HOMETOWN: Norfolk, NE
COLLEGE/DEGREE: University of Nebraska—Lincoln; Family Science
CALL TO MINISTRY: I was discipling college-aged women on Cru’s San Diego Summer Mission two years ago when I first felt called to ministry.
FAVORITE FOOD: Sweet potatoes
FAVORITE STARBUCKS DRINK: Vanilla Sweet Cream Cold Brew
JONATHAN LATSHAW
COLLEGE MINISTRY
AGE: 23
HOMETOWN: Oak Grove, MO
COLLEGE/DEGREE: Missouri State University; Exercise & Movement Science
CALL TO MINISTRY: Midway through my sophomore year, I was walking through campus one night and thought, “I can do college ministry. I can be used to reach college students with the gospel.”
FAVORITE FOOD: Pepperoni pizza
FAVORITE STARBUCKS DRINK: Black coffee only. Yes, I’m one of those guys.
ASHLEY HAUKOS
MISSIONS
AGE: 22
HOMETOWN: Milaca, MN
COLLEGE/DEGREE: Crown
College; International Studies and Community Development
CALL TO MINISTRY: I was specifically called at a church camp when I was 13.
FAVORITE FOOD: Ice cream—maybe this is a dessert, but it’s still the best!
FAVORITE STARBUCKS DRINK: Caramel Macchiato
IAN WILLSEY
CREATIVE / COMMUNICATIONS
AGE: 22
HOMETOWN: Waconia, MN
COLLEGE/DEGREE: Crown College; Communications (Digital Arts)
CALL TO MINISTRY: When I was 19, serving as a videographer on a high school short-term team to Haiti.
FAVORITE FOOD: Mangosteen
FAVORITE STARBUCKS DRINK: Vanilla Sweet Cream Cold Brew
KEAGAN BLANCKE
Camp / Middle School
AGE: 27
COLLEGE/DEGREE: University of Northwestern—St. Paul; Electronic Media Communication with a dual emphasis in Recording Arts and Audio Production
CALL TO MINISTRY: I read through the Bible in one year during college and knew I needed to follow God wherever He was leading.
FAVORITE FOOD: Veggie burger with hummus (my wife has in uenced me to eat healthier)
FAVORITE STARBUCKS DRINK: Refresher, no water, add lemonade, blend. Otherwise, black coffee is fine.
STEFANNY HERDLE ZAPATA
COUNSELING
AGE: 23
HOMETOWN: Quito, Ecuador
COLLEGE/DEGREE: Crown College; International Studies and Business Administration
CALL TO MINISTRY: When I was 15–16 years old at a youth missionary camp in Quito, Ecuador.
FAVORITE FOOD: Seafood (Crab)
FAVORITE STARBUCKS DRINK: Java Chip Frappuccino
2018/2019 Cohort
Kasie Aikins
Kids Ministry
AGE: 20
HOMETOWN: Burlington, Kansas
COLLEGE/DEGREE: Fort Hays State University; Elementary Education
CALL TO MINISTRY: My heart has been in ministry since my first day of being a church camp counselor!
FAVORITE FOOD: Naked chicken strips from Raising Cane’s FAVORITE STARBUCKS DRINK:
Iced caramel latte with extra caramel from Dunkin’ Donuts
Ethan Fritzler
MIDDLE SCHOOL Ministry
AGE: 22
HOMETOWN: Bennett, Colorado
COLLEGE/DEGREE: Nebraska Christian College; Next Generation Ministry
CALL TO MINISTRY: I volunteered to lead a middle school boys small group at my home church after graduating high school, and somewhere along the way I knew that youth ministry is what I am meant to do.
FAVORITE FOOD: Burgers, pizza, burritos, lasagna... I'm not picky!
FAVORITE STARBUCKS DRINK: Black coffee
CHELSEA BAILEY
Middle School Ministry
AGE: 31
HOMETOWN: Omaha, Nebraska
COLLEGE/DEGREE: Missouri State University, B.S. Professional Writing; University of Nebraska at Omaha, M.A. Communication
CALL TO MINISTRY: After months of feeling restless and praying for direction, I experienced a series of events that only God could orchestrate, leading me to CCC and saying yes to ministry.
FAVORITE FOOD: Fajitas
FAVORITE STARBUCKS DRINK:
Iced Americano
Jacob Bittner
Middle School Ministry
AGE: 23
HOMETOWN: Omaha, Nebraska
COLLEGE/DEGREE: Grace University; Youth Ministry
CALL TO MINISTRY: I don’t have one specific moment, but I grew up in camp and youth group and I am passionate about what they offer. I decided I want my life to be the same.
FAVORITE FOOD: Pizza… burgers are climbing the ladder though.
FAVORITE STARBUCKS DRINK:
I like it all, but I’m weak so it just can’t be too hot.
McKenzie Janzen
High School MINISTRY
AGE: 27
HOMETOWN: Wichita, Kansas
COLLEGE/DEGREE: Tabor College; Communications and Biblical & Religious Studies
CALL TO MINISTRY: Ever since I accepted Christ at a young age,
I dreamed of a day when I would do ministry. God has been developing this passion within me since the beginning.
FAVORITE FOOD: Breadsticks. Always.
FAVORITE STARBUCKS DRINK: White Chocolate Mocha
Jake Peterson
College Ministry
AGE: 22
HOMETOWN: Blair, Nebraska
COLLEGE/DEGREE: Crown College; General Liberal Studies
CALL TO MINISTRY: I was encouraged to think about ministry when I was in middle school... and here I am!
FAVORITE FOOD: Pizza with all the toppings
FAVORITE STARBUCKS DRINK: Black coffee or Caramel Mocha
Reis Pieper
Church Planting Ministry
AGE: 21
HOMETOWN: Omaha, Nebraska
COLLEGE/DEGREE: Grace University; Psychology
CALL TO MINISTRY: I became confident that I had been called to ministry when I had an opportunity to lead a men’s ministry on Cru’s San Diego Summer Mission.
FAVORITE FOOD: Beef Stroganoff
FAVORITE STARBUCKS DRINK: Americano with heavy cream
Leah Pieper
Church Planting Ministry
AGE: 21
HOMETOWN: Omaha, Nebraska
COLLEGE/DEGREE: University Nebraska at Omaha; Exercise Science—Kinesiology
CALL TO MINISTRY: I felt called to ministry on a Cru summer mission to San Diego where I had the opportunity to encourage and walk alongside other college girls in their walks with Jesus. God put a fire in my bones for loving his Church and seeking his Kingdom after that summer!
FAVORITE FOOD: Chips and salsa!
FAVORITE STARBUCKS DRINK: Iced almond milk latte
Rachel Webb
Women's Ministry
AGE: 24
HOMETOWN: Conway, Arkansas
COLLEGE/DEGREE: University of Central Arkansas; Elementary Education
CALL TO MINISTRY: In college I became very involved in a campus ministry called Cru (Campus Crusade for Christ). I began to fall in love with women’s ministry through discipleship relationships, conferences, summer missions, and planning a women’s retreat.
FAVORITE FOOD: Chicken strips
FAVORITE STARBUCKS DRINK: Iced caramel macchiato
Thomas Totherow
Adult Discipleship
AGE: 24
HOMETOWN: Dalton, Georgia
COLLEGE/DEGREE: Toccoa Falls College; Cross-Cultural Studies
CALL TO MINISTRY: When I was 19, God opened my eyes to how he had been working all things together in my life to give me a passion for discipleship and the unreached. I am eager to walk with men as we become more like Jesus.
FAVORITE FOOD: Anything ethnic. I love trying new things!
FAVORITE STARBUCKS DRINK: Dirty chai with two pumps raspberry.
Carlos Ramirez
Worship Ministry
AGE: 22
HOMETOWN: Bayamón, Puerto Rico
COLLEGE/DEGREE: Toccoa Falls College; Music (Worship Arts) and Bible & Theology
CALL TO MINISTRY: I first felt the Lord call me into ministry at an Alliance Youth District Retreat in Florida.
FAVORITE FOOD: Steak and chicken tenders
FAVORITE STARBUCKS DRINK: Tall Vanilla Latte (2 Splendas, whipped cream, mocha drizzle)
Dania Ramirez
Worship Ministry
AGE: 23
HOMETOWN: Quito, Ecuador
COLLEGE/DEGREE: Toccoa Falls College; Music (Worship Arts)
CALL TO MINISTRY: During moments of ministry in high school and college, I saw how special the Lord's presence was to me. He constantly did a lot of healing, encouraging, and guidance through moments of worship and I wanted to be a part of it forever.
FAVORITE FOOD: Rice and steak
FAVORITE STARBUCKS DRINK: Lime Lemonade Refresher and Vanilla Latte