Our Leadership
Alvin Colston
Pastor-Teacher/Elder
Alvin has served in pastoral ministry in various capacities since 2009.
Both Alvin and his wife Jenny have bachelors degrees in Christian Ministry from The Master’s University. Jenny is in the last phase of certification as a Biblical Counselor with ACBC. Alvin has done graduate work at The Master’s Seminary and Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Kansas City and is currently working on a Masters degree in Biblical Counseling. He and Jenny have been married since 1998, and they love being parents to Aiden, Kennedy and Noelle.
Alvin has a love for discipleship, evangelism and leading short term mission trips. His passion for preaching and church leadership led him to answer the call to shepherd North Lake Church in May of 2021. Alvin is leading NLC in revitalization by reestablishing Biblical ministries from expository preaching, inductive bible studies to biblical counseling. They love the Northland area and are excited to see what God does in Smithville for the advancement of the Kingdom and the glory of Christ.
You can contact Alvin at alvinc@nlcsmithville.org
James Wilson
Elder
James and his wife Danielle have been involved with North Lake Church since its early days. Originally from southeast Missouri, James and Danielle relocated to Kansas City after getting married in 2009 and they love their son Merritt.
James is a math instructor with North Kansas City Schools, Park University and Spurgeon College and has served as Elder with North Lake since 2012. He has a heart for those in need in the inner city and is excited to see how God can continue to use North Lake Church to help people.
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You can contact James at jamesdawon@gmail.com.
Daniel Nixon
Pastoral Intern
Daniel has been serving in music ministry since 2018. In the fall of 2022, God called him to Kansas City to attend Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary so that he could be better equipped to lead in church ministry. After Daniel heard the strong expository preaching at North Lake Church, he decided to become a member, and has been serving with the North Lake Church worship team.
Daniel met his wife Kennedy at MBTS. They are both currently working on their bachelor degrees in music ministry. Daniel and Kennedy have a passion for leading God’s people in worship with music that is theologically sound, and music that encourages congregational participation. Daniel desires to encourage the church to have a culture of worship that goes beyond our corporate gatherings.
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You can contact Daniel at danielworks.2378@gmail.com.
Craig Berens
Deacon
Craig and his wife Karyn have been attending North Lake Church for approximately 10 years, after moving to Smithville in 2013.
Craig was raised in western Kansas and grew up going to church. He was saved as a Senior in High School and baptized at his home-town church. Craig has always had a desire to help where there is a need, which led him to a job serving his community.
Craig and Karyn were married in 2011 and have 2 children, Noah, and Sarah. They enjoy spending time outside on family walks and outings. Craig is serving as deacon and Karyn is serving in Children’s Church at North Lake Church. Both try to live out James 1:27; “Pure and undefiled religion in the sight of our God and Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world.”
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You can contact Craig at office@nlcsmithville.org.
Please pray for our Elders as they are in a season of study seeking to ensure that all current and future elders meet the Biblical qualifications laid out in the Scriptures. This will be a challenging time for the men to have their life and gifting evaluated to ensure we are within the Lord's revealed will for leadership.
In addition to the Bible, we will be using resources from biblicaleldership.com as well as Alexander Strauch's classic work on Biblical Eldership.