Her Story
About Jenelle
I started my ministry journey in middle school when I began serving on the worship team because I was a cheerleader and loved dance - they needed somebody fun and energetic. I continued through high school and college, eventually earning my degree in ministry from Mid-American Christian University in 2017, graduating cum laude despite managing ADHD and dyslexia. After high school, I initially explored the medical field and even got my CNA certification, then tried teaching at Kentucky Christian University, but I kept feeling called back to ministry. During my second semester at KCU, I was awarded a resident assistant position, which was a huge piece of me realizing I can lead people and I love people. I did camp teams that summer, and when I got back, I switched my degree to ministry. I took an internship at Christ Church of the Valley in Pennsylvania, planning to stay just 3 months, but God said no - they needed me and I needed them. So I stayed, working full-time while also coaching cheerleading and finishing my degree online. After graduating in 2017, they hired me on as full-time staff with my ordination, and I became the elementary pastor. I worked in that position for about 5 years, then moved into the role of Associate Pastor of Adult Ministries, overseeing all church events, small groups, and many other organizational pieces. One of my proudest achievements was running a kids camp of over 3,000 kids and about 300 volunteers - managing all the moving pieces both inside and outside the organization. When my husband got called to military service and we moved to Virginia Beach, I sat for about a year trying to find the right fit, because in ministry, if you don't mesh well with people, you don't want to just take a job. Then One City Church came into my field of vision, and they gave me the opportunity to be a Kids Director. Now I oversee birth through 5th grade, manage about 100 volunteers, and lead 5 key volunteer leaders who each run different divisions including early childhood, pre-K, welcome team, and our special needs program that we're building up. I'm passionate about creating spaces for special needs kids who are often not able to be in large environments, so parents can feel supported and kids can be with their peers.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Jenelle
01What do you attribute your success to?
I truly believe I am where I am today because of two key mentors who gave me freedom to explore and grow. Melissa Flora, the children's pastor I was under at Christ Church of the Valley, really led me well and gave me the freedom to explore my event expertise and love for that. Frank Chapparino, the executive pastor at that point, also gave me a lot of freedom to explore and grow. They didn't hold me back to just the elementary role - they let me see where I could go and where I could grow. I'm also really proud of myself for graduating cum laude from college even in the midst and chaos of everything, managing a lot of things while having a learning disability, growing up with ADHD and dyslexia. I knew education was important, and so I really wanted to fight to get that right.
02What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
I would say it's very tough, but not in a bad way. Especially in ministry, some people don't believe women should be in leadership in ministry, and so there is a point of proof - not necessarily that you're supposed to be in the space, because you are in the space and you should be in the space, but just the ownership of being called into this position. I would really tell her to hone in on the idea of what she wants to do and where she wants to go. She doesn't have to have it all figured out, because I'll be honest, I didn't. I didn't even know where I was supposed to go with a lot of it, and it kind of works itself out when you trust in God. I would tell her to have an idea of where to go and help her look at some colleges and careers and maybe get her set. The really cool part about my career is there's so many connections within the industry - I have connections over most of the country, so if she's looking to go to a certain place, I could probably connect her with another area that could help facilitate. I would give her the next couple steps of where to go, and then a lot of it is just figuring it out together. I never want somebody to be left high and dry, so I'd be like, okay, let's get this step first, and then let's see where it takes you again, and kind of support her along the way as well.
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