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Teaching Pastors

The Leadership of the Crossing

Dave Cover

Co-Lead Pastor

Dave Cover

Co-Lead Pastor

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Dave is one of the founding pastors of The Crossing. Before that, Dave and his wife, Jeannette, served with Cru at Mizzou for 17 years. He earned a Bachelor of Arts in Communication from Missouri State University in Springfield, MO in 1982, a Master of Arts in Theological Studies from the International School of Theology in San Bernardino, CA in 1992, and a Master of Divinity from Covenant Theological Seminary in St. Louis, MO in 1999. Dave and Jeannette have been married over 30 years and have two grown children, a daughter-in-law, a son-in-law, and four grandsons.

Keith Simon

Co-Lead Pastor

Keith Simon

Co-Lead Pastor

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Keith became a Christian as a freshman at the University of Missouri. After graduating and marrying Christine, the two of them spent five years on staff with Cru. He then moved to Chicago to get a Master of Divinity from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School. Keith and Christine have three sons and a daughter. Keith joined Dave Cover in planting The Crossing in the summer of 2000. As a pastor, he participates in various ministries, but what he enjoys most is preaching on Sunday mornings.

Shay Roush

Co-Lead Pastor

Shay Roush

Co-Lead Pastor

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Shay has served as one of the pastors since August 2002. He shares the preaching and teaching responsibilities and oversees Connections Classes, Crossing Men, Counseling Ministry, and Care Ministry. After graduating from Mizzou with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science, he served on staff with Cru for 5 years. He then received his Master of Divinity from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School in Chicago, where he met his wife Lynn. Shay and Lynn have three children: Jack, Emma, and Owen.

Jeff Parrett

Pastor, Director of Crossing Students

Jeff Parrett

Pastor, Director of Crossing Students

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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.

Kermit Summerall

Pastor, Crossing Men

Kermit Summerall

Pastor, Crossing Men

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Kermit serves as a pastor to Crossing Men. He loves to help men find life-changing identity, significance, and purpose through following Jesus together with other men. And he helps to lead men’s events, studies, and discipleship groups.

After serving in student and singles ministry in his hometown of Huntsville, AL and then as a missionary to Japan, Kermit graduated from Covenant Theological Seminary in St. Louis with a Master of Divinity.

In 2006, Kermit and his wife, Nicole, returned to her hometown of Columbia to help start and pastor Veritas, The Crossing’s college ministry, where they served for 9 years. From 2015 to 2022, Kermit served as a pastor of Small Groups. He and Nicole have a daughter and two sons.

Kyle Richter

Pastor, Veritas Co-Director

Kyle Richter

Pastor, Veritas Co-Director

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Kyle is originally from Kansas City but has called Columbia home since 2003. While attending Mizzou, God used Veritas to significantly change the trajectory of his life. Kyle joined the Veritas staff team in 2008 and became one of the Co-Directors in 2015. While on staff, Kyle also attended Covenant Theological Seminary where he earned a Master of Divinity. In 2016, he was ordained as an assistant pastor at The Crossing. He is passionate about helping college students see their own stories in light of God’s overarching story. His main roles include teaching on Tuesday nights, and staff and leadership development.
*raises own financial support

Nathan Tiemeyer

Pastor, Director of Crossing Twenties

Nathan Tiemeyer

Pastor, Director of Crossing Twenties

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After graduating from the University of Missouri, Nathan entered into vocational ministry as a staff member with Cru. After a few years, he decided to further his theological education at Covenant Theological Seminary in St. Louis, where he received his Master of Divinity. He and his wife Rachel have been involved with The Crossing since its beginning in the summer of 2000. They married just a few months later and now have three kids. Nathan has served as a pastor since 2006. His desire is to help people grow in their understanding of biblical truth as well as the contemporary culture in which they’re called to live it out. His responsibilities include directing Crossing Twenties—The Crossing’s ministry to those in their twenties—and teaching in various contexts.

Patrick Miller

Pastor, Co-Director of Digital Relationships

Patrick Miller

Pastor, Co-Director of Digital Relationships

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Patrick Miller has called Columbia home since 2006. He met his wife, Emily, at Mizzou, where they both completed their undergrads. Together they have two children. Patrick started following Jesus his Freshman year of college after getting connected to The Crossing. He joined the Veritas college ministry staff team in 2010, helped co-direct the ministry in 2015, and became the Director of Crossing Twenties in 2017. He graduated from Covenant Theological Seminary in 2018 and was ordained as pastor shortly after. Patrick leads the Digital Relationships Team, co-hosts our podcast, Ten Minute Bible Talks, leads two Covenant Seminary cohorts, and teaches Men's and Women's Bible studies.

Ryan Wampler

Pastor, Director of Small Groups

Ryan Wampler

Pastor, Director of Small Groups

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Although born and raised in Illinois, Ryan moved to Columbia to attend the University of Missouri. After a year of serving in college ministry in Hungary, he earned a Master of Divinity from Covenant Theological Seminary in St. Louis. About a year after the start of The Crossing, Ryan returned to Columbia to join the staff team here. Over the years, he has worked with high school students, college students, and 20-somethings, and now oversees the Small Groups ministry.

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