Jeff Parrett

Pastor, Crossing Students Co-Director

Originally from Kansas City, Jeff has lived in Columbia since graduating from Mizzou in 2010. He spent the first four years of his working life in the professional world while serving as a volunteer in Crossing Students. In 2015, he joined the Crossing Students team in a full-time role to work with high school students. After completing a Master of Divinity from Covenant Seminary in 2020, he began serving as the pastor in Crossing Students. He and his wife, Jessi, have three children: Audrey, Ellis, and Hensley.

Anna West

Crossing Students Co-Director

Anna grew up moving between Missouri and Connecticut. She moved to Columbia in 2015 for college. During her college years at the University of Missouri, she attended The Crossing and began leading a middle school girls small group. She graduated with her Bachelor of Science in Middle School Education and joined the Crossing Middle School Staff team. Now, Anna is the Crossing Students Co-Director.

Anna loves swimming, biking, and running. She's trying to convince any and every one to do an Ironman with her.

Addison Nuetzmann

High School Co-Director

Addison was born and raised here in Columbia and attended Rock Bridge High School. After high school, he continued his education at the University of Missouri and finished with a degree in educational studies with a minor in Human Development.

Addison has attended The Crossing since middle school and started leading a group of 5th graders his freshman year of college. His goal as the High School Co-Director is to develop lasting connections with leaders and high school students and help them grow in their relationships with Jesus.

Sierra Michaelis

High School Co-Director

Sierra Michaelis is the Co-Director for Crossing High School. Originally from Mercer, Missouri, she has lived in Columbia since 2013, when she first came to the University of Missouri to study Communication Arts and History. For the past few years, she has been a middle school teacher.

Sierra spends most of her time reading or drinking coffee. When she's not doing that, she is coaching basketball or watching the Chiefs play. Sierra loves to spend time with her family and friends and being outside! A cool fact about her is that she is average at Spikeball and could tell you everything about World War II. Her role model is Anthony Alphin.

Griffin Strong

Middle School Co-Director

Griffin has lived in Columbia his entire life. He is currently a senior at the University of Missouri, pursuing a degree in Health Sciences (with an emphasis in leadership and policy). He also has minors in both Business and Psychology. Griffin began attending The Crossing in the 9th grade, and he has served as a small group leader since his junior year of high school.

Griffin currently serves as the Middle School Co-Director for Crossing Students. His role is to help 6th-8th graders grow in their relationship with Jesus through teaching, discipleship, writing curriculum, and planning events.

Maddie Murphy

Middle School Co-Director

Maddie has lived in Columbia her entire life. She has been involved in student ministry in Columbia since 2017 and currently leads a group of sophomore girls. After pursuing nursing at Columbia College, Maddie interned for Crossing Students in the summer of 2022 and joined the team part-time in the fall. In January of 2023, Maddie took on the role of Crossing Middle School Co-Director. In her free time, Maddie loves to read, spend time outside, host people in her home, and drink Diet Coke.

Kari Nietzel

Agape Students & Adults Director

Originally from Kansas City, Kari moved to Columbia in 2007 for school and quickly claimed Columbia as her home. Throughout college, she served in Crossing Kids and the Agape program while completing a master's degree in Special Education and Applied Behavior Analysis. She worked as a Board-Certified Behavior Analyst before joining the Agape and Crossing Students team.

Kari and her husband Jordan share life with their 3 little people: Maelyn, Daxton and Hudson.

Laura Miller

CS Operations & Events Administrator

Laura grew up in Wheaton, Illinois and moved to Columbia in 2012 for college. During her college years at University of Missouri, she started attending The Crossing and became involved in middle school ministry by leading a 7th grade small group. In 2015, she took on the role of Middle School Co-Director for Crossing Students. In 2020, she transitioned to the role of Operations Developer for Crossing Students and coordinates weekly & monthly events for the high school & middle school ministries, Camp Awesome & Rockies and manages other administrative tasks for Crossing Students. Laura loves spending time with her husband, Luke, time outdoors, reading and cooking new recipes.