Senior Pastor
Kris Howell
Kris has been serving full time in ministry for the past 17 years and has been at Berea for 5 years. He has a passion to hear people’s stories and to listen for what they are passionate about in life. He is a DePauw University graduate with a Master’s Degree from Cincinnati Christian University.
Kris and his family love to be together. He and his wife Kristen have been married for 27 years and have 4 children Kailey, Kourtney, Korey and Kinley.
God is at work at Berea. He is forming us into the community of God that He desires us to be. Kris and his family pray that you will consider visiting Berea soon. When he and his family first visited one of Kris’ daughters told him “this feels like home”. Little did they know that just a few weeks later God would call them here and now Berea is their home. We hope you will make it yours as well.
Associate/Youth Pastor
Ken Bovenschen
Ken and his wife Holly joined Berea in 2021 and simply fell in love with the people of its congregation! Ken has served in some facet of ministry since his college days. He has loved ministering to all ages from children's church, to Middle School and High School, men's ministries, to evangelizing, and bringing the Word of God. Ken and Holly have 5 wonderful kids and 7 grandkids that keep them busy! Ken and Holly love to be out on their Harley enjoying God's creation wherever the road may lead. Ken has a passion to have every person that he meets see the Love of Jesus Christ!
Worship Pastor
David Clark
David has been leading worship for 18 years and has been Worship Pastor at Berea for 4 years. He loves to lead our congregation of believers in corporate worship. David is attending Grace Christian University majoring in Ministry Leadership.
David and his wife Alisa have been married for 8 years and have a 5-year-old son Elijah. They love to watch movies together and explore the outdoors as a family. God has truly blessed this family and He continues to out do Himself every day.
Their family is so excited to be part of the move of God at Berea Christian Church.
Children’s and Family Ministry Director
Ashley Heffner
Ashley is a Brazil native, born and raised as a ‘Deakins’. She met her husband, Ian Heffner, at North Clay Middle School on the first day of the sixth grade. They became friends and then high school sweethearts and then husband and wife. They spent the first six years of their marriage traveling as Ian was active-duty Air Force. They had their first daughter, Eden, while they lived in Montana and then had their second daughter, Holland or Holly, while they lived in the Netherlands. They got to take their girls to 16 different countries while they lived overseas and really enjoyed that era of their lives. Now they are back in Brazil, Indiana and ready to set roots for their careers, their home, and their family. Ashley is a licensed elementary education teacher who has taught 4 th grade, 5 th grade, and basic music theory. She has had a love for teaching for as long as she can remember, and is excited to pair that background knowledge with her love for Jesus! In this unknowing world, she wants nothing more than to wrap our children so tightly in God’s truth and love that they may be impenetrable to what life may throw at them. It is her mission to protect their minds and their hearts to her fullest ability.
Administrative Assistant
Amber Smoker
Amber was born and raised in Terre Haute, Indiana and earned her degree from Indiana State University. After teaching for 11 years, she was given the opportunity to work as an Administrative Assistant in a local church and found herself at home there. After some life changes, God has answered her prayers to allow her to work in a church again. She loves working at Berea and interacting with God's family to help out in any way she can. Amber also teaches dance and color guard in Terre Haute and enjoys spending time with family and friends.
