Carl Godwin – Senior Pastor and Founder
A native of Lincoln, Carl Godwin is the founding pastor of Calvary Community Church. Having accepted Christ as his personal Savior as a child, Carl felt God’s calling to the pastorate at the age of 16.
Following graduation from Lincoln High School, he received his B.A. and M.A. degrees from Bible college. In 1995, he was awarded an honorary doctorate degree from Liberty University.
Carl and his wife Gayle met during college and have been married over 47 years. Following graduation, they set out on a journey to observe some of America’s fastest-growing churches. During this time, they both began to sense God’s leading to begin a church in Lincoln. Carl & Gayle have three children and thirteen grandchildren. Want to get Carl talking? Ask him about his yellow lab Scout or his current marathon training. Contact Pastor Carl at cgodwin@www.mycalvary-1.org
Cleve Smith – Adult Ministries
Cleve Smith grew up in Panama City, Florida where he learned to survive bitter winters that occasionally dipped to 35 degrees! At Tennessee Temple University he received his BA in Bible and developed a passion for church ministry. Not to mention his passion for his wife Kim! Before coming to Lincoln, Cleve served for 21 years at two churches in West Virginia and North Carolina.
Cleve and Kim came to Calvary in February 2005 (during one of our record-breaking cold spells!). Here at Calvary, Cleve is responsible for overseeing the adult ministries. Cleve and Kim have four adult children living in Lincoln, South Dakota, and Southern California. Contact Pastor Cleve at csmith@www.mycalvary-1.org
Steve Davenport – Student Ministries
Pastor Steve was born in Atlanta, Georgia and received his Bachelor’s Degree from Trinity Baptist College in Jacksonville, Florida in 1993. From there, he went on to earn his Master of Divinity degree from Luther Rice Seminary in Atlanta. Prior to his coming to Calvary, he served as an assistant pastor at Northside Baptist Church in Charlotte, North Carolina.
Having developed a passion for Husker football at a young age, Steve was in Husker heaven when he joined the Calvary staff in 2000. Steve and his wife Terry have two sons, Nathan and Daniel. Here at Calvary, Pastor Steve faithfully teaches God’s Word to our youth through our Velocity Ministry and develops passionate followers of Christ for the next generation. Away from church, Steve is a national champion weightlifter. Contact Pastor Steve at sdavenport@www.mycalvary-1.org
Mitch Larson – Worship Ministries
Mitch Larson was born and raised in the frozen tundra of North Dakota, so enduring Nebraska weather is a piece of cake! When his family moved to western Nebraska, he added the Cornhuskers to his list of passions (right next to the Minnesota Vikings). Mitch attended University of Nebraska at Kearney where he earned his Bachelor’s Degree in Music.
After teaching music in Iowa for nine years, Mitch followed God’s leading into full-time worship ministry in Fort Wayne, Indiana. In 2000, Mitch brought his wife, Leisa, and four children to Lincoln and Calvary. A man of many talents, in addition to leading the congregation in powerful and inspiring weekly worship, Mitch coordinates dramatic presentations like Christmas with Calvary. Contact Pastor Mitch at mlarson@www.mycalvary-1.org
Shane Sundermann – Children’s Ministries
Shane Sundermann started attending Calvary Community Church with his family when he was ten years old. After attending Parkview Christian School, he received his Bachelor’s Degree from Calvary Bible College in Kansas City. He met his wife Debi in college and they moved back to Lincoln in 1999.
Shane started serving as children’s pastor in 2000. Shane has assembled a staff of volunteers that excite as well encourage kids in their walk with Christ through the use of drama, games and music to make the Bible come alive. Away from church, Shane and Debi enjoy running marathons and hanging out with their four kids. Contact Pastor Shane at ssundermann@www.mycalvary-1.org
Scott Wiles – Grandpeoples-Men’s & Singles’ Ministries
Pastor Scott was first introduced to Calvary Community Church in 1999 when he was invited to join the faculty of Parkview Christian School as English teacher. His spiritual growth while attending Calvary led him to follow the call of Christ into pastoral ministry.
Upon graduating from Grace University in May 2008, Scott welcomed the opportunity to join Calvary’s staff as their Grandpeoples’ pastor. Scott also has a background in theatre so you may catch him on stage in Christmas with Calvary or Summer Spectacular. Scott’s and his wife Karen have four children that remind them daily of God’s lovingkindness. Contact Pastor Scott at swiles@www.mycalvary-1.org
Lane Grone – College and Young Adult Ministries
Lane was born and raised in Lincoln and graduated from Parkview Christian School. After high school Lane immediately began coaching basketball at Parkview while getting his Secondary Education degree from the University of Nebraska – Lincoln. In May of 2012 Lane graduated from UNL and married his high school sweetheart Stephanie. At the same time all of this excitement was taking place, Lane and Stephanie felt God’s call into full-time ministry. Lane then went on to get his Master’s degree from Liberty Baptist Theological Seminary.
Lane joined the team here at Calvary in the fall of 2012 for a pastoral internship, and came on staff one year later to work with middle school students in the youth ministry. In the summer of 2016 he moved to oversee our College and Young Adult Ministries. When not at the church, you can find Lane enjoying time with his wife Stephanie and son Cayson at a local park, at a Husker sporting event, or at his favorite restaurant Chipotle. Contact Pastor Lane at lgrone@www.mycalvary-1.org
Leisa Larson – Women’s Ministries
As the youngest of six children (four of them brothers), Leisa has always been fascinated by the women in her life! She was a sister-in-law at age four and an aunt at age five so she learned the importance of female mentors and friends early in life. After earning a bachelor’s degree in Speech Communication and Theatre Education from the University of Nebraska at Kearney (where she met Mitch) she taught for several years at an all-girls high school, where she learned more about the female mind!
In 1990, Leisa became mom to Emma (followed by Sam, Grace, and Nora) and focused on being mom, wife and student of the Bible. Since then, she has gotten to add the titles mother-in-law and grandma and is enjoying all the love those roles bring.
Leisa came to Calvary in 2000, with her husband, Mitch, and joined the staff team in the spring of 2011. She loves serving full-time at Calvary, where she gets to help women connect personally with the God of the Bible. Contact Leisa at llarson@www.mycalvary-1.org