Allen Parr is a Bible teacher and national speaker whose passion lies in helping people grow spiritually through providing clear and relevant teaching of God’s word. His purpose is to equip believers with the tools, training and teaching they need to live a victorious life and fulfill their God-given purpose. His weekly YouTube channel, The BEAT, reaches hundreds of thousands of viewers worldwide each week. He is also a proud graduate of Dallas Theological Seminary where he earned his Master of Theology degree. Most of all, he loves Jesus Christ and is happily married to his beautiful wife Jennifer and is the proud father to his daughter Anaiah and his son Micah. Dr. Rainer is an expert on church revitalization.Thom S. Rainer is the founder and CEO of Church Answers, and online community and resource for church leaders. Prior to founding Church Answers, Rainer served as president and CEO of LifeWay Christian Resources. Before coming to LifeWay, he served at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary for twelve years where he was the founding dean of the Billy Graham School of Missions and Evangelism. He is a 1977 graduate of the University of Alabama and earned his Master of Divinity and Ph.D. degrees from The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. In addition to speaking in hundreds of venues over the past 20 years, Rainer led Rainer Group, a church and denominational consulting firm, from 1990 to 2005. The firm provided church health insights to over 500 churches and other organizations over that period. Rainer and his wife, Nellie Jo, have three grown sons: Sam, Art and Jess, who are married to Erin, Sarah and Rachel respectively. The Rainers have ten grandchildren: Canon, Maggie, Nathaniel, Will (with the Lord), Harper, Bren, Joshua, Collins, Joel, and James. He is the author of more than two dozen books, including I Am a Church Member, Breakout Churches, Autopsy of a Deceased Church, Simple Life, Simple Church, Raising Dad, The Millennials, Essential Church, and Who Moved My Pulpit? Hey!
Feel free to use any of this…Here is our short story: Erika and I started a church 12 years ago called The Porch Community Church in Louisburg, Kansas (just south of KC). We led The Porch until 2023, when we transitioned out after finding our replacements. We are starting business including content creation, coaching, and church consultations called “The Real Rileys.” I am also doing a residency at First Family Church. We are praying about what God has for us next! And here is our old church website bio: Our Staff Curtis and Erika Riley were married on Dec. 20, 2008 and both graduated from Midwestern Baptist Theological College majoring in "Biblical Studies" in Dec. of 2011. They attended Visible Music College in Memphis, TN for a semester and studied "Modern Worship Ministry." They were able to lead worship for youth camps in North Carolina and Missouri, have been involved in a church plant in Mississippi, and a home-church plant in Overland Park, KS. They have both been called by God to dedicate their lives to the ministry. LEAD PASTOR Pastor Curtis Riley has been in ministry since 2005, including leading worship, creating and leading a college ministry called "The Awakening" at First Family Church, served as the interim pastor at North Overland Park Baptist Church from March to June of 2011, and was ordained in Sept of 2011. He has always had a heart for his hometown, Louisburg. He has a passion for "true" salvation, reaching the lost, and the truth of the Bible. Follow Pastor Curtis on Twitter by clicking here and on Facebook by clicking here. WORSHIP LEADER, DESIGN COORDINATOR, & ADVISOR Erika Riley has been leading worship since the age of 12. Since then, her passion and skills have continued to grow. She led youth worship at Vineyard Christian Fellowship, was on youth and adult worship teams and was a worship ministry intern at First Family Church, attended and graduated from New Life School of Worship in Colorado Springs, co-led with Curtis for some of the first-ever contemporary worship services at Leawood UMC, and has helped lead worship for many events such as opening with a worship team for Lecrae at The Kansas Expocenter in 2014. Whether there is a full band or just her and her guitar, she is able to lead people into the presence of God during worship. Follow Erika on Twitter by clicking here and on Facebook by clicking here. And here is our old church story: Our Story: I, Pastor Curtis, was raised in Louisburg. I went to a small local church most of my childhood. By the time I was in Louisburg High school I was bored with the church and looked to what the world had to offer. As a result, I was left to figure things out without a community of believers and I got into all sorts of trouble (girls, alcohol, drugs, theft.) As a young man, there was nowhere for me to gather and get plugged into a fun and exciting church. There was nowhere to help me grow in my relationship with God, support me and hold me accountable. There was nowhere for me to give back to God and others. There was no one teaching me how to live or go invite others to follow Jesus. I needed something that was biblical, fun and relevant to me! I have since surrendered to Christ as my leader and forgiver and He has changed my life. There are many great churches in Louisburg that we have attended but the vision God has given us is different than any other church in town. The people of Louisburg should not have to travel 20+ minutes to find a church that fits them, like I did. God has put an unstoppable passion in my heart to start his church. He has helped me become educated, has prepared me and has given me a Godly wife named Erika to help along the way. Louisburg needs a church for students and adults to connect, grow, serve and share. The Porch Community Church will be a church that is seeing lives change! Come be a part of our story. |
From the beggining |
Where we are now |
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Leaders of industry
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