Chuck Peters is Director of Lifeway NextGen, overseeing Lifeway Kids and Lifeway Student publishing. He is the co-author of Flip The Script: Disrupting Tradition for the Sake of the Next Generation, and host of the ETCH NextGen Ministry Podcast. A graduate of Columbia Bible College, Chuck and his wife Cris have served in Preschool, Kids, Student, and Groups Ministry for many years in New Jersey, California, Florida, and Tennessee. Before joining Lifeway, Chuck had a prolific career in television and video production. He is a 3-time Emmy Award Winning producer, director, writer, and on-screen host. Chuck is driven by a passion to equip and inspire ministry leaders.

Jana Magruder serves as the Strategic Initiatives Director of Lifeway NextGen. She is a graduate of Baylor University with a background in education, publishing, and ministry. As host of the podcast, Kids Ministry Calling, Jana loves championing and equipping leaders and families in the local church. She is the author of Nothing Less and Kids Ministry that Nourishes as well as the co-author of Every Age, Every Stage and Flip the Script. Jana and her husband, Michael, are native Texans planted in Tennessee and love to explore both states with their three kids.

Delanee Williams serves as a Kids Ministry Specialist. She is a graduate of Baylor University and Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. Delanee has served in kids ministry for over twenty years and is passionate about developing, equipping and encouraging leaders.

Melita Thomas serve as Lifeway’s VBS Specialist and Team Lead for Kids Ministry Training and Events. She holds a Master’s in Christian Education/Children’s Ministry and is a passionate advocate for children’s ministry in the local church. When she’s not working, she loves to watch sports like hockey and ACC basketball (Go Heels!), tackle home improvement projects, and bake elaborate birthday cakes for her nephews. Melita lives in Nashville, Tennessee with her cat who loves to crash Zoom meetings. 

Landry Holmes is the Manager of Lifeway Kids Ongoing Bible Studies. He has his Bachelor’s in both English and Business from Howard Payne University and his Master’s in Divinity from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. Landry is the author of It’s Worth It: Uncovering How One Week Can Transform Your Church, co-author of Every Age, Every Stage: Teaching God’s Truth at Home and Church, and co-editor of the Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary for Kids. Landry loves partnering with parents to help them build spiritual foundations in their children’s lives. In his free time, he loves spending time with his grandchildren (and their parents too, but, you know, the kids are cuter), volunteering at his local church, traveling, and sitting and reading with a good cup of coffee. Currently, Landry and his wife live in Middle Tennessee.  

Jeremy Carroll is the Manager of Lifeway Kids Hyfi, VBS, and Kids Discipleship. He has a Bachelor’s from Middle Tennessee State University and a Master’s in Christian Education from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. Having the opportunity to create and provide ministry leaders with high quality resources is Jeremy’s passion. In his free time, Jeremy loves spending time with his family and learning new tech skills. A Middle Tennessee native, he and his family live in Murfreesboro, Tennessee. 

Shelly Harris is the publishing team leader for Lifeway VBS. She is a graduate of Murray State University and the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. As a former kids’ minister, Shelly is passionate about equipping the church to share the gospel and disciple kids. She is the Contributing Editor for What Is A Christian: Answers for Kids and a contributing writer for What About Kids Ministry: Practical Answers to Questions About Kids Ministry. Shelly loves answering kids questions about God’s Word, and she currently serves in the children’s ministry at The Church at Station Hill in Spring Hill, TN.

Tim Pollard is the Publishing Team Leader for Explore the Bible Kids. His passion for teaching led him to earn his Master’s of Divinity from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary in Christian Education with a specialization in Children’s Ministry. Even after 25 years with Lifeway, Tim is still ecstatic about getting to lead a team who helps kids explore God’s Word and know Him in a real way. Tim golfs every chance he gets and enjoys a great cup of coffee—straight black, none of that froufrou stuff. He lives in Mount Juliet, Tennessee with his wife, two children, and two grumpy chihuahuas. 

Kimba Campbell is the Publishing Team Leader for Bible Studies for Life: Kids. She’s a graduate of Texas A&M University (Gig ‘em, Aggies!) with a Bachelor’s in Business Administration, and has a Master of Arts in Christian Education from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. Kimba’s passion for NextGen ministry has led her to serve in children’s ministry since 1998 in Texas, Georgia, California, and Tennessee. She loves witnessing those “a-ha!” moments when kids begin to understand God’s great love for them. When she’s not serving, she stays active with family pickleball tournaments, game nights, and traveling. Kimba lives in Franklin, Tennessee with her husband and their three boys. (The reason she stays active. If you know, you know.)  

Kayla Stevens is the Team Lead for Hyfi. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in English and Religion, as well as a Master of Divinity in Missiology from Southeastern Seminary. Kayla has served the local church for 20 years and is deeply passionate about empowering the next generation to own their faith. She has even written on the subject in books like God Knows Me Inside and Out, What about Kids Ministry? Practical Answers to Questions about Kids Ministry, What is a Christian? Answers for Kids, and Behold Your King. Kayla has called Tennessee her home for over 10 years and loves to explore the outdoors in her spare time.  

Aaron Wilson is the Publishing Team Leader for The Gospel Project for Kids. While earning his Bachelor’s in Psychology at the University of South Carolina, Aaron met his wife at a Lifeway store! He’s been working for Lifeway for more than 25 years and is passionate about children’s ministry. He loves the unabashed curiosity of kids and how fearless they are in asking honest questions about faith. Aaron loves to thrift and is an avid retro gamer—he’s even beaten Nintendo’s own record on a Mario Kart 64 track (Sherbet Land—he dares you to try and beat it). He lives in Middle Tennessee with his wife, their twin children, and a miniature dachshund.