All Ages
A dysfunctional family is brought closer together when their elderly uncle travels from Italy to Chicago for a surprise visit and reminds them of traditional family values.
Discussion Guide
All Ages
A dysfunctional family is brought closer together when their elderly uncle travels from Italy to Chicago for a surprise visit and reminds them of traditional family values.
I have been a hairstylist for 23 years at the same salon. I was married for 42 years to Brian but when he suddenly passed away a few months ago, I needed to make a change at work, also. I joined Koinonia Senior Care because I felt it would be a good fit for me as I love spending time with seniors and hearing their stories.
I also keep busy once a week at an Active Senior Apartment. building with hair appointments. I enjoy crafting and working in my flower gardens and baking for my family. I’m thankful my three kids and grandchildren all live here in town.
My favorite Bible verse is Philippians 4:6-7 where we are encourage to not be anxious!
After working as a Paralegal, Kyla decided to take time off work and raise her four children. In
2017, her family moved to Wichita with her husband’s job. After her
children were old enough to attend school full time, she decided to return to the workforce.
She obtained her CNA and began working at a long term care/rehab facility and taking on a
caregiver position with Koinonia Senior Care. Kyla thoroughly enjoys caring for those in the senior
community.
In her free time, Kyla enjoys walking her dogs, playing volleyball with her daughter, throwing a
baseball or football with her son, reading, singing, watching Husker football, and family time.
One of Kyla’s favorite verses is 1 John 4:18 “There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear.”
BA, University of Kansas 1982
MBA, Webster University 1991
Currently working at Spirit Aerosystems as a contract Program Manager in the SCM organization. He teaches upper and lower elementary children for Bible Study Fellowship and 412 Ministries. Prior to that he worked with Middle and High School students in small group Bible study. He and his wife Ellen have been married for 38 years and enjoy spending time with their two sons and their families.
Rick Schoepf BS in Chemistry & Biology from Oklahoma Christian University in 1976. Rick is President of Shep Chevrolet in Haven, KS. He has worked in the family business for over 47 years which was founded by his father “Shep” Schoepf in 1973 and continues for a third generation with Rick’s daughter Shauna. Rick has been married to Cheryl for over 47 years. They have two children, Jeremy & Shauna, and five grandchildren.
Janet retired after 30 years of teaching and began working on web design. In 2015, she was introduced to Christine through a caregiver working for KSC. She has redesigned the site and continues to work with Christine to improve the site for all visitors.
Favorite scripture: Proverbs 3: 5-6 – Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will direct your paths.
Hobbies: She loves to crochet, knit, and work with beads. She has done afghans, hats, scarves, socks, jewelry, and Christmas ornaments.
Dawn began working with Christine six years ago after chatting at their kids’ ball game and realizing that their strengths might complement each other. Christine was feeling bogged down with office details and Dawn had recently left a similar position for another nonprofit, so they joined forces and Dawn became her office manager.
After homeschooling her three children, Dawn is now enjoying being an empty-nester. As a former English teacher and librarian, she continues to tutor and teach homeschoolers as opportunities arise. Her free time is often filled with reading, journaling, and walking—with a little Candy Crush thrown in on the side.
Teressa fell in love with senior citizens as a young girl. She would often knock on their doors and ask if she could help them with household chores. As a teen and young adult, she loved to share in song and devotion at local senior facilities. She also has a passion for non-profit organizations, as she has played an integral part in the fund raising, feasibility study, and capital campaign of the 7.1-million-dollar restoration of a 1924 theatre in her hometown. Something that ignites her is a team project that leads to an exciting goal.
Teressa has spent the last ten years working with seniors. She is a certified dementia practitioner and has served in several different roles in the senior industry in the Wichita area. She is currently a senior placement consultant with Faith Senior Consulting Services.
She has five children, nine grandchildren, and a goldendoodle named Chai. She and her husband live in Derby. Teressa is a member and Ambassador of the Derby Chamber of Commerce. She is a member of the South Rock Christian Church and has an online ladies’ ministry entitled The King’s Kintsugi. She loves to compose and record music and she enjoys blogging.
BA Sociology and Youth Ministry, Bethel University, IN. 1981
Gwendolyn is Director of Congregational Care and Local Outreach at Pathway Church, Westlink Campus, Wichita KS. She served in several volunteer roles after moving here from Illinois in 1996 then joined the ministry staff in 2007. After graduation she worked in Long Term Health Care for Unicare Corporation as a Social Worker and Marketing Director for over 13 years.
She and her husband Tom were married in her hometown in Ontario Canada and will soon be married 40 years. They have three married children and 4 grandchildren who live in Lawrence KS., KC. and Lexington KY. Their favorite place to gather is at Eureka Lake. Gwendolyn loves flower gardening, reading and traveling to connect with family near and far.
Care and Local Outreach, Pathway Church, Westlink
2001 N Maize Rd, Wichita, KS 67212
P: (316) 722-8020 x1303 | www.pathwaychurch.com
Knox College, 1995
Washburn University School of Law, 1998
Michael is the owner of The Law Office of Michael A. Priddle, LLC, which has earned best law firm awards for 2015, 2016, and 2018. Michael was also Time Magazine’s Person of the Year in 2006. Michael and his wife, Brenda, have been married for 29 years and are actively leading high school youth at Pathway Church, Goddard Campus. When not working or serving, Michael and Brenda enjoy spending time with their grown children and traveling.
MBA, Wichita State University 1977
BS in Mathematics, Kansas State University 1965
Current board chairman and retired President/CEO of High Touch Technologies in Wichita. Long-time Elder, Board member and Bible study leader at Pathway Church in Wichita.
Lyle and his wife Judy have been married for 55+ years and they enjoy travel, being with their daughter and husband and three daughters in Kalamazoo, MI and son and wife and three children in Wichita, spending time with family and friends, calling on and visiting with shut-ins and those in need. He also enjoys being buried in a good novel.
MS Family Therapy 2003 Friends University
BA Elementary Education 1975 Wichita State University
Certificate in Early Childhood Education
Rhonda is a Licensed Clinical Marriage and Family Therapist at Axiom Counseling & Therapy. Her passion is to assist individuals, couples, and families in healing and growth especially during times of personal and family crisis. In addition to her clinical work, she leads support groups, teaches classes, and speaks on family and marriage topics.
Rhonda is active in the community volunteering at the Wichita Children’s Home and is an avid supporter of Wichita State Athletics, especially men‘s basketball. Rhonda is married, has two married children and 5 grandchildren. She enjoys reading, gardening, walking, and especially spending time with family (ages 2-92) and friends.
Mr. Dennis, 54, is the President and Chief Financial Officer of Oxford Senior Living. He is one of two managing members of Oxford. Oxford Senior Living currently owns and/or operates 14 assisted living and memory care communities in four states. He is responsible for overall financial and administrative management and development of financial and operational strategies for the Oxford group of companies. His primary role is to oversee all accounting, tax and finance, human resources, sales and marketing areas of Oxford as well as budgeting, proforma and financial analysis, establishing banking relationships, investor relations and private equity fund raising.
Mr. Dennis has more than 30 years of experience in accounting, financial and administrative matters in various industries including commercial and multi-family real estate, assisted living development, private equity firms, aviation, banking and public accounting.
Mr. Dennis serves on the Board of Directors of Oxford Senior Living. He also currently serves on the Board of Elders at Pathway Church as well as the Board of Directors of the Shocker Athletic Scholarship Organization.
1982 Graduate of Goddard High School
1983 Graduate of Vernon’s Kansas School of Cosmetology
1994 Graduate with BS Church Recreation & minor in Youth Ministry – Southwest Baptist University, Bolivar, MO
2011 CNA Certificate; 2012 HHA Certificates
Founder of Koinonia Senior Care 2012
Christine & Marty had her grandparents live with them for a total of 12 years, where God grew her heart for homebound seniors. One year before her grandmother died, they started Koinonia Senior Care’s non-profit ministry. Christine serves in the homebound senior ministry at her church, also.
Christine is married to Marty and they have one married son and two teen daughters who are uniquely-gifted and make life fun! Christine enjoys supporting her kid’s interests, family time, reading and journaling.
“I have a passion to care for and extend the character of Christ to homebound seniors and their caregivers by finding creative ways to honor, bless, and celebrate their significance while reminding and training the community to do likewise in their caregiving opportunities.”
Teressa fell in love with senior citizens as a young girl. She would often knock on their doors and ask if she could help them with household chores. As a teen and young adult, she loved to share in song and devotion at local senior facilities. She also has a passion for non-profit organizations, as she has played an integral part in the fund raising, feasibility study, and capital campaign of the 7.1-million-dollar restoration of a 1924 theatre in her hometown. Something that ignites her is a team project that leads to an exciting goal.
Teressa has spent the last ten years working with seniors. She is a certified dementia practitioner and has served in several different roles in the senior industry in the Wichita area. She is currently a senior placement consultant with Faith Senior Consulting Services.
She has five children, nine grandchildren, and a goldendoodle named Chai. She and her husband live in Derby. Teressa is a member and Ambassador of the Derby Chamber of Commerce. She is a member of the South Rock Christian Church and has an online ladies’ ministry entitled The King’s Kintsugi. She loves to compose and record music and she enjoys blogging.
D’Annette
I have always served in one way or another. Raising 7 children takes a lot of serving! While laid off from the plants, I went to CNA and HHA school. I served senior patients in Hospice. I love the work and the stories they shared with me.
Nancy is a Texas native who moved to Wichita with her husband and 3 children for his accounting assignment that has kept them in Kansas now for 48 years. The Lord has increased this family of 5 to 26 and they treasure their time together.
Nancy watched her grandmother and mother minister to their age group in such compassionate ways. She was inspired to continue their legacy of caring in the senior community after “retiring” from leading Bible studies and teaching Old Testament Walk Through the Bible for Children.
Nancy has served in several areas with KSC including transportation, making and delivering monthly Blessing Gifts, visiting widows, and being a prayer support for the ministry. She faithfully served in our weekly Bible study at a local assisted living community until COVID changed all that. The people who attended loved the Lord, HIs Word, and singing hymns! Nancy is the keeper of the lyrics for all the hymns we sing! We continue to minister to the residents with weekly cards, devotionals and letters. “When I finish writing and delivering my correspondence to the facility, I feel the Lord’s assurance that He still has a place for me to share His love, HIs Word, and His compassion.
A favorite old hymn of Nancy’s is “Great is Thy Faithfulness” and a new praise song is 10,000 Reasons. Some favorite verses are Psalm 46:1-3, Habakkak 3:17-19. They both speak of times of trouble and God’s help. John 16:33 says, “I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” (Jesus speaking) My greatest desire is to finish well the life the Lord Jesus has given me bearing the fruit of His Spirit, love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentle humility,and self-control.
When my husband, Ron, and I moved to Wichita from Oklahoma four years ago, I knew that I wanted to volunteer for KSC. My friends, Irma, had mentioned to me how much she enjoyed serving with KSC.
It has been my pleasure and joy to design a cookbook, scrapbook and cartoon album for my senior friends. I drive Ms. Evelyn to various doctor appointments and errands. Her friendship is very special to me.
The fellowship we as caregivers and volunteers have through KSC is very precious.
Carol
Alice’s favorite verse is Phillipians 4:6 Don’t worry about anything, instead pray about everything. Tell God your needs and don’t forget to thank him for his answers. I love helping KSC by sharing the love of Jesus with others. I love sharing with our seniors and learning from them.
Before becoming a mother, Leanne was a social worker and during those years worked with people of various ages and backgrounds.
In 1994, she and her husband settled in Wichita and have raised their three children here. Now that her children are grown, she delights in watching the children at her church grow and learn about Jesus. Since 2007 she has cared for and walked alongside her aging family members as they’ve experienced the challenges of aging. Leanne treasures the encouragement, insight, and support that occur within inter-generational relationships at home, church, and in the community. In her free time, Leanne nurtures her 13 year old cat and the plants in her yard.
Born and raised in Indiana, God transplanted me, along with my husband Matthew, in Wichita, KS during the fall of 1997. It is here we have bloomed where God has planted us and we have spent the majority of our married life. It is here that God blessed us with a set of twins through adoption in 2005. Walter and Dorothy are now 17 years old and going to be seniors this fall.
I have a degree in Special Education and taught in public schools for 10 years then went on to tutor special needs students who were homeschooled. After adopting our children, I became a stay home mom.
Following Jesus and serving Him is my happy place. My family and I attend Believers Southern Baptist Church where I teach Sunday school, sing in the choir, help lead children’s choir, participate in Bible studies, and participate in an outreach at a local rehabilitation center.
Koinonia Senior Care is a very special organization to me. It allows me to use my gifts and talents to serve and love on senior adults. My grandmothers were wonderful women who greatly influenced my life, but I was not able to be in Indiana to help them regularly as they entered their later years. Koinonia allows me to lavish on others the love and care I wanted to display to them.
Favorite Scriptures: Psalm 119:105 and John 3:16
Hobbies: Card making and crafting
Favorite pastimes: singing, reading, watching movies, teaching, serving others
Fun facts:
I love the ocean and sea shells.
I love chocolate turtles.
I am a breast cancer and brain tumor survivor.
I cannot taste or smell
“They also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?’ He will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.’
I am a recent transplant to Wichita from my birthplace, Colorado. People always ask, “Why did you move to Kansas from Colorado?!?” The answer: It was definitely a “God thing”! We find Wichita is a well-kept secret and are exceeding glad that our Sovereign Father’s guiding hand has brought us here. I am married these 48 years to my high school sweetheart and we have 2 sons and 5 grandchildren. And, oh, the sweetest doggie, a Schnoodle, Tucker. We are retired and find we love the options of having a lot, little, or nothing to do! However, I cannot stay idle for long. I love all kinds of textile/needle arts, embroidery of all types, crochet, knitting, sewing, and I do stain glass. My granddaughter and I recently painted rocks. I also love to travel and have been to all 50 states and about 10 foreign countries. We actually lived in Germany for several years. Another love is to read!
I enjoy reading history and biographies, but my far, reading and digging deep into the Word of the Living God – the Bible – is my ardent passion. Christine asked for my favorite verse… I have so very many, but at present my favorite word in the Bible is “BEHOLD”. Not a word in our common vocabulary, but BEHOLD, to me, means to STOP! – FOCUS MY ATTENTION – AND MARVEL at what is to follow. How often we just hurry along without taking time to BEHOLD people, nature, circumstances that the LORD has put in our path. So, I commend you to – BEHOLD!
How did I come to Koinonia Senior Care? Another “God thing” of a long string of acquaintances and circumstances. I had the privilege of helping take care of my precious Mommy during the last of her 91 years, and in doing so, got to know so many of her dear widowed friends. What wonderful stories, great wisdom, humor, humility and character they shared. So, when the LORD put KSC in my path – it just seemed another dose of all those wonderful “goodies” was coming my way once again. I find I “get” more than I could ever give. Providing transportation to appointments is an opportunity to utilize the resources that the LORD has given me to show His lovingkindness as we take a journey to behold whatever and where ever He has the road lead us….
Jan is retired and a grandmother of 15. She received a degree in Music Education from Emporia State University as a non-traditional student. She has always loved the study of God’s Word and has taught high school Sunday School and women’s groups as well as directing various church and community sacred choirs. She has a background in music as a soloist and plays guitar and piano. “I love seniors, cherish their friendship, and enjoy sharing encouragement from the Word of God with them.”
FUN FACTS: Jan loves to read Christian historical fiction, playing games with family, Mandala dot painting, and crochet.
Nancy was born and raised in Wichita. She lived in CT from 1973-2001 where she raised her three daughters, worked for Bloomfield Public works and was active in her church and community. In 2001 she moved back to Wichita to help take care of her parents. She was their full-time care-giver for the next 12 years. In 2007 she married Dick Yarnell and his three sons! Yes that makes us the Brady Bunch. Her full time job is being grandma to 23 grandchildren and 4 (almost 5) great-grandchildren. She’s also active in her church and runs the church library.
Favorite scripture: Psalms 46:10 “Be still, and know that I am God”.
Fun Facts: She lives in her childhood home, can walk on stilts and delivered her 3rd baby by herself at home. (not by choice)