Kris joined Lipscomb in the summer of 2008, serving as the Student Missions Coordinator. He earned a bachelor of science degree from Lipscomb University in engineering mechanics. Before joining Lipscomb, he worked 3 years as an engineer for Dynamic Structures and Materials (DSM).

Kris has combined his engineering work and his passion for missions to further God’s kingdom. He has worked in Honduras building a water tower, a solar-powered lighting system and a composting toilet system. He also worked in Guatemala building a 130-foot pedestrian suspended steel cable bridge. The bridge will be used by 10,000 people over the course of a year and serves approximately 150 people a day. Kris has also traveled to Baja, Mexico, and Cap Haitien, Haiti. He assisted with house construction, medical and food relief, and VBS.

Most recently, Kris has played a leading role in the vision and implementation of a strategic community development project in rural Guatemala called Project Ulpan. In August 2011, Kris and DeeDee moved to Guatemala to further their involvement in this effort, with Kris assuming the role of Field Coordinator, Project Ulpan.

Kris and DeeDee were married in September 2008. In his spare time, Kris enjoys backpacking, hiking, mountain biking, road biking and smoking ribs.

Mark has been part of the Lipscomb Missions staff since August 2003. He holds a bachelor of science degree in management from Lipscomb University, along with masters of business administration degree with a concentration in nonprofit management. Mark has previously served as the director of special events for Nashville Rescue Mission, coordinating events to raise awareness of and increase funding for the organization. Other previous professional experience includes coordinating game-day special events and promoting player involvement within the community for the Tennessee Titans. He currently sponsors Sigma Iota Delta at Lipscomb and volunteers in various positions at Harpeth Hills Church of Christ.

Mark has also focused his talents on raising support and awareness for the expansion of Lipscomb missions. His vision for the program includes both strengthening the existing work done by Lipscomb faculty, staff and students and broadening the mission field for all involved. Mark began his mission work while still in school. Since 2004 he has been involved with leading Lipscomb spring break misison teams to Cozumel, Mexico, to serve the Ciudad de Angeles orphanage.  Since 2010 he has served on the Board of Directors for the home in Cozumel with an emphasis on overseeing the mission teams aspect of the ministry.  Mark also has been heavily involved in Lipscomb's mission efforts to work with churches and youth in Brisbane, Australia since his senior year in the summer of 2000.  He continues his involvement by taking Lipscomb teams to Brisbane for a month every summer to encourage his friends in Australia

Mark is an avid Los Angeles Dodgers baseball fan fascinated by the team's history, especially their time in Brooklyn. He enjoys reading various books about that era in baseball history, the old Brooklyn teams and the nostalgia that was experienced by those who lived it.

Mark and his wife Beth (McCauley) were married in May 2003 and live in Nashville. They have two children, Brooklyn (born June 2008) and Harrison (born December 2010).

Earl serves as the director of missions and professor in the College of Bible and Ministry at Lipscomb University. He also coaches the David Lipscomb High School cross country team. A 1975 associate degree graduate of Ohio Valley University, he earned a bachelor’s degree and a master of arts in Biblical studies degree from Lipscomb University. He also completed a Ph.D. in historical theology and patristics at St. Louis University in 1991. He has served on the Lipscomb faculty since 1990. He was honored as the 2008 Alumnus of the Year at Ohio Valley University in Vienna, W. Va.

Dr. Lavender has authored numerous books and articles including entries in The Encyclopedia of Early Christianity, and in 2004 he co-authored Living God’s Love: An Invitation to Christian Spirituality with Gary Holloway. He is currently working with Holloway and Leafwood Publishers in writing and publishing a meditative commentary series on the New Testament. In addition, Earl has published commentaries on Mark, Luke and Acts, I and II Corinthians and the Prison Epistles.

Earl was born on the mission field in Trieste, Italy. He and his wife, Rebecca, planted churches in Italy and Illinois. He has also served as the missionary in residence for Lipscomb. He has led education initiatives, participated in missions or led mission trips to: Italy (multiple cities), Australia (Brisbane, Perth), Germany, England (London, Oxford), Scotland (Livingston, Glasgow, Dundee), Ghana, China (Wuhan, Guangxi, and Kunming), and India (Raja Mundri).

Earl and Rebecca have three grown children: Rachel, Beth and David. Rebecca teaches 6th grade in the Lipscomb Campus School. Earl is a private pilot. He has finished 45 marathons. He and his wife have won 5 state championships in cross country.

After living and working as a missionary in Guatemala and Belize for over 20 years, Steve came to Lipscomb as the missionary in residence in 2002. He also serves as the missionary in residence at Otter Creek Church of Christ. He holds a bachelor of arts degree from Harding University, a master of arts in religion degree from Harding Graduate School and is working toward a doctor of ministry degree from Gordon Conwell Theological Seminary.

Steve draws on his extensive experience on the mission field to guide Lipscomb mission teams in Guatemala and Kenya. He has traveled with the medical mission team and the engineering team to Guatemala and a summer mission team to Made in the Streets in Nairobi, Kenya. Steve also oversees the English Language Learning program for the housing and maintenance personnel at Lipscomb. He is a board member for Made in the Streets, a ministry for street children in Kenya.

Steve and his wife Magda have three daughters Lisa, Sara, and Amy.

Paul joined the missions program as a student worker in July 2008. He graduated in August 2008 with a bachelor of science degree in finance and economics from Lipscomb University. Following his graduation, Paul continued to work part time for the program through the next year. In September 2009 he accepted the position of program assistant, and in December 2010 began serving as the Missions Coordinator, Special Projects & Events.

Paul's involvement with the program began as a student participant in mission trips. Through the experiences of these trips, he has developed a passion for mission work. He serves as the team leader for Lipscomb's trip to the Village of Hope orphanage in Ghana, West Africa and the spring break mission team to Baja California, Mexico.

Paul and his wife Rachel (Jones) were married in August 2010.

The presence of a truly dedicated individual such as Julie strengthens our department daily. She has been working with Lipscomb Missions since September 2010, primarily handling incoming funds and check requests. She coordinates much of the bookkeeping efforts for the fundraising projects led by our students and mission teams. Her patience is invaluable.

In response to her thoughts on her position, Julie says, "I am deeply grateful for the opportunity God has brought me to serve through my job to help others serve Him.  Whether it's on the mission field or in the classroom, working with God's people to encourage each other into a deeper faith is an honor."

Julie has a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Texas A&M University. Julie and her husband, Tim, have three children: Sarah, James, and Jonathan.