Board of Directors

Kay L. Meyer is the founder and president of Family Shield Ministries, Inc. and host of the Family Shield radio program. Meyer is a popular speaker on prayer, family life, spiritual growth, and evangelism; columnist of "The Great Commission" for the St. Louis MetroVoice newspaper; and author of hundreds of Christian publications including: Witnessing--A Lifestyle, Portals of Prayer, Teacher's Interaction, My Devotions, Life in the Sandwich Generation (CPH, 1994), Teaching Your Children Christian Values (CPH, 1995), The Adventures of Billie and Annie: Baby Bison (TLM Publishing, 2003), and Mission Field on Our Doorstep: Jehovah's Witnesses (FSM, 1994). Meyer has an undergraduate degree in early childhood and elementary education and a Masters of Arts in Media Communications from Webster University, St. Louis, Missouri.

She has been married to Tjaden Meyer for over 40 years. They have three grown children, Kevin, Coreen Jander, and Jeff and three grandchildren. The Meyers are members of Concordia Lutheran Church in Kirkwood, MO and asssociate members of Christ in the City. Meyer was recently featured in Cambridge Who's Who.

Pastor Roger Sonnenberg - Chairman
Roger Sonnenberg holds a Master of Divinity degree from Concordia Seminary in St. Louis, Missouri, as well as a masters degree in psychotherapy from the American Institute of Family Relations in Los Angeles, California. He pastors a large church in Arcadia, California, serves as a part time professor in the graduate marriage and family program at Concordia University at Seward, Nebraska, as well as lectures and does seminars throughout the United States in sexuality, marriage and family relations. He now serves as 1st Vice President of the PSD as well as chairman of the Board of Directors. He serves as chairman of Family Shield in St. Louis, Missouri and is a member of the Nightlight Adoption board of Orange County. He has authored many articles, studies and books, including Parenting with Purpose, and Parenting with Values, (two video-based parenting programs), 501 Ways to Love Your Wife and Children, 501 ways to Love Your Grandkids and Their Parents, Human Sexuality, A Christian Perspective (CPH, St. Louis, MO.), and Advent and Lenten Worship Services (2008, 2009 Creative Communications, St. Louis, MO). He writes regularly for magazines and publications throughout the United States.  Roger and his wife Robin have been married for 30 years and have one son, Jacob, who is attending college.

Kay Meyer, President, and Rev. Roger Sonnenberg, Chairman, talk about the ministry and the expansion plan.

Jens Sorensen is a Computer and Network Analyst in St. Louis, Missouri. Jens earned a B.S. degree in Computer Information Systems from DeVry University in 2 years and 8 months. He was hired as the youngest manager of data center operations for a regional communication company. He spent the last 20 years working with large and small computer networks and solutions. Many of the clients have been with Fortune 500 Companies, Federal Government, Armed Forces, Homeland Security and Aerospace Industry. He donates his talents to mentor others and match volunteers/donations with non-profit organizations in need of technical assistance. Jens is married to Darlene Sorensen. They have 3 children ranging from 9 years old to 6 years old. The oldest is totally deaf but has access to sound from the use of a Cochlear Implant.

Rev. Vern Koehlinger graduated from Concordia Seminary in 1986 and served two parishes over a period of twelve years in the St. Louis area. He also was a member of the Pastoral Staff of Stephen Ministries, a nondenominational, not-for-profit Christian ministry that equips congregations for caring ministries. He is now a Thrivent Financial for Lutheran Representative based in St. Louis, Missouri. Vern is active in small group, adult educational, and music ministries at Mount Calvary Lutheran Church in Brentwood, Missouri. He and his wife Marie have three young adult sons.

The Reverend Scott A. Snow. Rev. Snow is a 1979 graduate of Concordia College, St. Paul, Minnesota, and a 1983 graduate of Concordia Seminary, St. Louis. A member of the LCMS World MissionNational Team, he served twenty-two years in the Northern IL Districtfifteen as a parish pastor and seven years as an executive on the district staff. When asked about his passion, Snow commented that he is enthusiastic about assisting districts as they help congregations to identify ways in which to encourage, equip and inspire George and Martha in the pew to frequently and intentionally share their faith in Jesus with people who do not yet know Him as Lord and Savior! He began his work as LCMS Director of Outreach in August 2005. He married Debra (Hamppel) in 1990 and the couple has three children, Rebecca, 15; Joshua, 13; and Bethany, 10. Their family lives in Ellisville, MO.

The Reverend David Vaughn.  Vaughn retired from Anheiser-Busch and then completed his degree at Concordia Seminary-St. Louis. While employeed by A-B he was the Director of the College of Sales and Marketing. He recently served LCMS World Mission as Director of  Ablaze! Connection. He is currently enrolled in the Doctorate of Public Policy program at Saint Louis University. He and his wife Karen are members of Christ Memorial Lutheran Church. The Vaughns have three children and three grandchildren.

Kevin Bueltmann has served in Lutheran camps and churches in Nebraska, Montana, and Illinois in the areas of Youth, Music, and Family Ministry. He enjoys writing songs for CPH's Vacation Bible School and plays in a Christian band, Sibling Harmony at churches, schools, camps, and gatherings. He and his wife, Tawn, are blessed with four children. They live in St. Louis where Kevin is attending Concordia Seminary. They worship at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Columbia, IL where Tawn is Music Director. Prior to attending the seminary  Kevin was the Associate Director at Camp Cilca in Springfield, Illinois. He has a Master's in Family Ministry from Concordia University, Seward, Nebraska and a Director of Education degree.  

Dan Leeman's career has spanned 30 years dedicated to estate planning as a lawyer and charitbale estate advisor. He currently works for the American Bible Society as the Philanthropic Advisor and is a licensed attorney in Texas and Arkansas. Previous positions include being the President of Concordia Benefits Plan and working as the National Endowment Director for the Boys Scouts of American. Dan has three grown children and attends Concordia Lutheran Church in Kirkwood, Missouri.  

FORMER BOARD MEMBERS AND ADVISORS

Mark J. Cares graduated from Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary in 1977. Since graduation he has served congregations in Colorado and Idaho. He authored the book, Speaking the Truth in Love to Mormons, and presently serves as founder and president of Truth in Love Ministry, an outreach ministry to Mormons.

Ken Tobler is the Teaching Director for the St. Louis Teen Community Bible Study class, where he has taught the past three years. Ken served on the Deacon Board for Kirkwood Road Christian Church for 12 years and headed up their Resource Center. He also teaches Sunday School regularly. Ken graduated from Connecticut College with a B.A. in Economics and Anthropology and worked in the Fine Watch Industry for Rolex and later Maurice Lacroix in sales and marketing and as a Vice President of Sales.

Ken came to faith in 1991 through Christian Radio and currently serves as an advisor for Family Shield Ministries and attends First Evangelical Free Church in Manchester with his wife Missy and their daughters Britteny and Kelsey.

Rev. Timothy Knapp has served Christ as a pastor in the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod for 18 years. He has pastored congregations in Connecticut, St. Louis, and currently serves as pastor at First Lutheran Church and school in Holyoke, Massachusetts. He has been there for 13 years. In addition to parish ministry, Pastor Knapp has served the New England District as a vice-president for the last four years. Prior to that he was a member of the Board of Regents at Concordia, Bronxville, NY. He has been a member of the Holyoke Hospital ethics committee for five years and has served as an adjunct professor at Springfield college in the area of marriage and family therapy.

Pastor Knapp has received training as an LCMS Reconciler using the Peacemaker model of Biblical resolution. He has served as a consultant to both LCMS and ELCA congregations struggling with conflict and has taught Biblical conflict resolution skills at confirmation retreats, pastoral gatherings, LWML zone rallies, congregational meetings and in counseling settings.

Most importantly, Pastor Knapp gets to practice what he preaches with Gayle, his wife of 25 years, and teenage children Hannah and Aaron.

Rev. Dr. John Oberdeck - Rev. Dr. John Oberdeck, M.S., M.Div., Ph. D., is the Assistant Director of Lay Ministry for Concordia University, Mequon, Wisconsin. Prior to taking this position he was the Director of Continuing Education and Parish Services, and Associate Professor of Practical Theology at Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, MO. He received a Masters of Science in Education from the University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, in 1976. In 1979 he graduated from Concordia Seminary, St. Louis. In 1989 Oberdeck accepted a call to Concordia Seminary as Director of Residential Field Education, a position he held until 1995, when he became Director of the Doctor of Ministry Program and Director of Continuing Education and Parish Services. In 1997 he left the Doctor of Ministry Program in order to devote time toward the completion of a Ph.D. in Educational Psychology from the University of MissouriColumbia. Professor Oberdeck is married to Virginia, a Lutheran teacher. They have: Andrew, Debbie, and Christy.

Curt Wittbracht. Curt is a CPA and is the Chief Financial Officer of Lutheran Hour Ministries. He graduated with a BS Degree in Accounting in 1973 from Southern Illinois University, Carbandale. For seven years he was in charge of corporate accounting at Horace Mann Education Corp. in Springfield, IL. He has also worked at General American Life as the Internal Control Administrator and Manager of all Security and Real Estate Accounting. In 1990 he went to work for Lutheran Hour Ministries. Curt and his wife, Linda, are members of Immanuel Lutheran Church in Waterloo, IL. They have 3 daughters.

Tim Hetzner has served in Parish ministry for 25 years, 20 of those years as Director of Discipleship at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Palatine IL. During that time at Immanuel, Tim combined Adult Bible Study and Human Care Ministry as intregral ministries in the parish. This lead to the starting of Good Samaritan Ministries, which provided assistance to individuals and families in need. Today Tim serves as President of Lutheran Church Charities in Addison IL where he works with initiating, developing, supporting and promoting a unified effort of Christian Human Care ministry at the Parish, District and Agency level. Tim travels several times each year to the Middle East leading Biblical study tours. Tim is author of an in-depth Bible study program called Word Among Us which is being used in parishes across the United States and on the internet. Tim is married to Jackie and has four children, ranging from college to elementary school.

Steve Subracko has over twenty-five years of experience in the Human Resources field, including compensation, recruiting, benefits, workforce planning and employee relations. He is currently employed at BJC HealthCare in St. Louis, Missouri as Director, Compensation and Employee Relations. His degrees include a Bachelor of Arts, Business Management, Tarkio College. Masters of Arts, Business Administration, Webster University. He is currently a member of Central Presbyterian Church in Clayton, Missouri. Steve is married to Janice. They have two grown children.

David J. Siscel is an attorney in St. Louis County, Missouri. He and his wife, Becky, are members of Concordia Lutheran Church in Kirkwood, along with their children, Heather and Jordan. David has earned a B.S. degree in Electrical Engineering, an M.B.A. and his law degree. He spent over 7 years working as an engineer in the electric utility industry, followed by 5 years with a defense contractor doing estimating and cost/financial analysis. David now has his own general practice law office where he emphasizes in family law, bankruptcy and general business matters.

To learn more about ministries, services, or resources:
Phone: (314) 772-6070
Email:
Write: Family Shield Ministries, Inc., P. O. Box 230015, St. Louis, MO 63123