Central Region Staff
Rev. Dr. Gregg Hemmen
Executive Minister
Gregg Hemmen grew up in Steamboat Rock, a small farming community in central Iowa. After high school graduation, he earned his A.A.S. in Farm Operations and Management from Ellsworth Community College. He went on to complete his B.A. in Religious Studies from the University of Sioux Falls, his M.Div. and M.A. in Counseling from Sioux Falls Seminary, and his D.Min. from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary.
Gregg has served three congregations in his 25 years of local pastoral ministry: Wentworth Presbyterian Church in Wentworth, SD, while going to seminary; Cane Creek Baptist Church in Hillsborough, NC; and First Baptist Church in Rapid City, SD. Gregg also serves as a faculty mentor for students at Sioux Falls Seminary.
Gregg is married to Rev. Dr. Diane Lynn Janssen Hemmen who currently serves as the transitional pastor at First Presbyterian Church, Wichita, KS. They have two children, Ainslee, a college Senior who is pre-med and studies at Minnesota State University, Mankato, MN, and Eli, a college Sophomore studying business and sports marketing at Grand Canyon University, Phoenix, AZ.
Rev. Jennifer Schneider
Associate Executive Minister
Rev. Jennifer Schneider serves as Associate Executive Minister. After several years in local church ministry in Kansas, she joined the Region staff in 2019. Jennifer provides support for churches seeking resources for ministry, assists congregations with pastoral transition needs, and is responsible for the Region's NextGen ministries.
Jennifer grew up in Overland Park, KS. She has a B.A. in Sociology from the University of Kansas and an M.Div. from Central Baptist Theological Seminary. She is married to John, and they have three grown children.
Morgan Aspinwall
Communications and Financial Administrator
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Morgan has served on staff since March 2021. Before serving as administrator, she served as the Camping Coordinator and as Family Life pastor at FBC Stilwell from 2017-2022. She has directed junior, middle school, and high school camps. Morgan continues to serve as high school camp director as well as a one of the leaders for the region's 4Ten leadership program. Morgan has a B.A. in Christian Studies from Ottawa University and is currently working towards her M.Div. at Central Seminary.
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Morgan is a Ewing Sarcoma cancer survivor and lifelong amputee. She is an advocate for others and works at bringing awareness to areas of everyday life that aren't accessible or inclusive for those with disabilities. She has an interest in disability theology and helping the church be more accessible and inclusive.
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Morgan loves bees, butterflies, and flowers. She spends time kayaking, baking, and playing volleyball with friends, visiting her family in Texas, and watching movies with her 20lb cat, Ferguson.
Rev. Melissa Newberry
ABCCR Events Coordinator
Rev. Melissa Newberry serves as the Event Coordinator for the Central Region. Her involvement began in the region as a youth while attending ABY Gatherings and YLC. She went on to receive a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Sioux Falls and a Master of Divinity from Central Baptist Theological Seminary. Upon graduation, she was called to serve as Associate Pastor of Youth and College at FBC, Emporia, KS. In the fall of 2010, she began a 14-year pastorate at Grandview Baptist Church, Kansas City, KS. Melissa is a second generation ordained American Baptist Minister and third generation American Baptist Women’s Ministry participant. She has had the joy of various leadership opportunities in ABWMCR, ABCCR Minister’s Council and RCOM. Along the way, the Lord has granted her invaluable relationships through her family, her friends and her colleagues in ministry. Her life verse is Proverbs 3:5-6.
Rev. Carl Frazier
Ministry Consultant for Social Justice
Carl Frazier pastors a multicultural congregation at New Hope & Love Community Church in Topeka. Interim Executive Director and Board Chair Topeka Center for Peace and Justice. He serves in many community leadership capacities including:
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Social Justice Ministry Consultant and Moderator (Central Region of the American Baptist Association)
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Topeka CIVI
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Board Treasurer for Alliance for Healthy Kansas
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Chaplain for Topeka Police Department
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Committee to help first Ukraine Families to Topeka
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Topeka Rotary Club
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Justice Unity Ministry Project Board Member (Vice Chair)
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Past Chair of the Kansas State Kairos Prison Ministry
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Past President of Topeka Alumni Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity
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Past President of Kansas City, Missouri Chapter of Association of Black Accountants
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Past Board member of Community Creating Opportunity (CCO)
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International Kairos Torch Prison Committee
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Past Chair and Vice Chair of the Topeka Center for Peace and Justice
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Worked with the Topeka Gun Violence Taskforce and SAVE (Strategic Against Violence Everywhere)
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Past Vice-Chair (Faith Leader Sector) Human Trafficking Taskforce
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Several Interface Ministries of Churches
Carl is retired from serving almost 35 years for the United States Department of Agriculture in the financial arena. He previously worked for the Kansas City Health Department HIV Services division as Program Manager of the Housing for People with HIV and AIDS (HOPWA) program.
Carl’s memberships have included, but are not limited to, Sunflower Foundation Fellow (2018), Lifetime member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity (spring 80), Gold Lifetime member of University of Arkansas Pine Bluff Alumni Association; Leadership Topeka Class of 2009, Association of Government Accountants, Life Membership of the NAACP, National Association of Black Accountants, Topeka Baptist Ministers Association, and Who Who’s Among Professionals.
He is married to Linessa Walker Frazier and they have three lovely children (LaRonta’ 43, Carleigh 29, and Emersen 26) and two wonderful grandchildren.
Rev. Jan Smith
Ministry Consultant for RCOM
Jan Smith is a retired, second career pastor. Before returning to Seminary to earn her Masters of Divinity, Jan was a music teacher, a substitute teacher and the fine arts director for Blue Valley Recreation Commission. She even spent a small period of time working as a claim’s adjustor for an insurance company.
Jan has been married to Ron three times longer than she was single! They have 3 adult children, and 9 Grandchildren. In her spare time Jan likes to read, follow the Chiefs and Jayhawks, direct her church choir and watch Hallmark Movies. She continues to lead an online Bible Study on Friday Mornings.
Jan began working with Region Council on the Ministry (RCOM) in 2008 when she served as an interim area minister. She just never gave up the RCOM part of that job! She finds it a joy to help pastors through the ordination process and is blessed to work with amazing RCOM representatives from each area. The tough part of her job is when she needs to deal with clergy discipline but, unfortunately, that occasionally necessary.
If anyone has questions on how to start their pastor in the ordination process, concerns, or just general questions feel from to contact her.
Rev. Chris Prater
Ministry Consultant for Church Revitalization and Western Area Minister
Chris is married to his wife; Stephanie, and they have four children and three grandchildren. Chris' undergraduate work was in business management with a specialization in accounting. He earned his Master of Divinity from Christian Theological Seminary in Indianapolis, IN
Chris has been in ordained ministry since 2009.
He has served five different churches throughout four different American Baptist Regions (IN/KY, Dakotas, Great Rivers, Central). Since Augus of 2020, he has been serving as the senior pastor of the First Baptist Church of Hays, KS. Through his time in congregational leadership, Chris has developed a passion for church health and revitalization. Chris is currently enrolled in Central Baptist Theological Seminary hoping to earn his doctoral degree in creative leadership.
