Church Staff

Senior Pastor Stu Kerns. Pastor Stu has been on the Zion staff since 1990, having served as Associate Pastor to his predecessor Hugh Barlett. Stu has been at the helm since 1992, the days of Covenant Presbyterian at 40th and Sheridan. He pastored for the 10 years of Zion Church at 9th and D, and the fire transition year to 5511 South 27th in 2007. Under Stu’s leadership, the longtime goals of church planting have seen fruit in the establishment of Grace Chapel in 2001, and Redeemer Church in 2008. Stu is married to Kelli and they have three children: Lindsay, Bryson, and Schyler.

Associate Pastor Keith Ghormley. Pastor Keith and his family came to Covenant Presbyterian in 1996 and were part of the move and merger with the old Zion church in 1997. Keith served as Ruling Elder until 2002 when he was ordained by the old Heartland Presbytery as Assistant Pastor. In 2008, Keith came on staff full-time with particular responsibilities in communication and children’s ministries. Keith is married to Jana and they have five children: Bess, Sam, Kate, Anne, and Joe.

Youth Director Pat Miron. A former heavyweight wrestler at the University of Nebraska, and second-place national finisher in freestyle wrestling, Pat served in a volunteer role with the Zion youth at 9th and D until 2006 when he went back for further schooling. He returned to Zion in 2008 as full-time Youth Director. Pat is an avid outdoorsman who made his dining room table out of mountain pine. Pat is married to Julia, and they have two children: Titus and Hudson, and expect Isabella in October 2008.

Office Manager Lynn Locklear.
The Zion office couldn’t run without Lynn. She has been the hub of just about everything since 1994 at Covenant Presbyterian on 40th and Sheridan. Why, coffee purchases alone …
Lynn is married to Jim (one of our Ruling Elders), and they have three children: Kendra, Karen (Choi), and Greg. (Oh, and we better not leave out Owen Choi, the new grandson.) Jim and Lynn like to visit Owen and his parents at Covenant Seminary in Saint Louis, where Joe and Karen are students.

Administrator Wayne Howlett. Wayne has returned to Zion after 20 years abroad in the mission field serving with SIL-Wycliff. His managerial experience has been extremely helpful, especially in the insurance and budget matters involved in the fire year and move from 9th and D to South 27th. Wayne still travels for Wycliff from time to time as a consultant for their international Bible translation teams. Wayne is married to Marsha, and they have four children: Jason, Kate, Sarah, and Philip.

Office Assitant Sarah Koenig. Sarah is a student at the University of Nebraska and works in the afternoons at the Zion office.

Steve Allen, Reformed University Fellowship. Steve is not technically on the Zion staff; he serves the Platte Valley Presbytery as Campus Minister with RUF, the PCA’s campus ministry. Steve regularly attends Zion’s daughter congregation, Redeemer Church, but he is no stranger at Zion, and is a second pastor to many of our college students. Steve is Married to Jen, and they have a daughter Amelia. RUF Nebraska Web Site: Reformed University Fellowship