Central Region Staff
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 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 has served the ABC Dakotas Region under the leadership of Rev. Randy Rasmussen as a member of the Region Policy Board and as treasurer.
Gregg is married to Rev. Dr. Diane Lynn Janssen Hemmen who serves the Hermosa United Church of Christ, First Presbyterian Church in Rapid City, SD, and Rapid City Regional Hospital in the chaplaincy department. They have two children, Ainslee, a junior at Rapid City Central High School, and Eli, a freshman at Rapid City Central High School.
Rev. Jennifer Schneider
Associate Executive Minister
Reverend Jennifer Schneider offers a strong administrative background, experience in pastoral care, youth ministry, and currently serves as the President of our Minister’s Council. Reverend Schneider is a native of Overland Park, Kansas. She has a B.A. in Sociology from the University of Kansas, and a M.Div. from Central Baptist Seminary. Reverend Schneider has served three congregations in the Central Region: First Baptist Church of Ottawa, KS; First Baptist Church of Overland Park, KS; and First Baptist Church of Stilwell, KS. She is married to John Schneider and they have three grown children.
Dr. Bill Hendericks
Director of Interim Ministry
Dr. Hendricks’ career is built on developing people, from local congregations to the corporate boardroom. He’s coached world-class athletes and worked with youth struggling with drug addiction. He brings a rich, well-grounded faith and a practical, real-world applicability to the Interim Program of the Central Region.
Bill grew up in Davenport, Iowa, the oldest of four boys. He met Jacki when they were 18 years old and, have been married since 1969. They moved to Overland Park with their son, Scott, in 1988. Jacki and Bill have been Puppy Raisers, working to prepare assistance dogs for people with special needs and have been very active in Golden Retriever Rescue, hosting and re-homing more than 50 lost Goldens.
Bill earned a BA in physical education from the University of Northern Iowa. He taught school for 8 years and coached swimming and diving for 12 years.
earned a Master of Divinity from Asbury Theological Seminary and has pastored full time serving churches in Iowa and Illinois. He has also worked bi-vocationally as an interim and pulpit support for more than 20 years. Dr. Hendricks completed his Doctor of Ministry at the University of Dubuque, with a focus on conflict management in the local church. Some might remember him as our workshop leader on conflict management last year at both the annual conference and the minister’s retreat.
In 1996, Dr. Hendricks founded Hendricks Training, an international business focused on organizational growth and performance which continues to this day. He has worked on 5 different continents in 13 different countries. He brings extensive expertise in architecting solutions coaching organizations through change and transformation. His strategic approach drives commitment and improved engagement. For more than 40 years he has helped organizations (including churches) identify expectations, define priorities and equip them for success.
