Leadership and Staff

Pastor Josh Harp

Josh Harp grew up as a preacher’s kid in a small agricultural town in northern Iowa. From an early age, he remembers having a deep affection for Christ and desire to know the good news. While in college, God gripped his heart with the conviction that salvation is not based on our works but on the work of Christ – most centrally the death and resurrection of Jesus. In 2005, he entered the pastoral vocation and has been consistently humbled by the ways God serves His church through an imperfect pastor. He has a BA in Cross Cultural Studies from North Central University, and an MA in Missional Theology from Covenant Theological Seminary through the Missional Training Center in Phoenix. He is married to Elizabeth and has three children – Grace, Camille, and Simon.

Questions about Church Leadership?

For additional information about what it means to be in church leadership, please see the following links:

How does one become an elder or deacon at King of Kings, P.C.A.?
What should I look for in a potential elder?
What should I look for in a potential deacon?
Pastor Job Description
Elder Job Description
Deacon Job Description
Officer Nomination Form
KK-Officer-Election-Process (5)

Ministry Coordinator

Gail Howitt was  raised in the Chicago suburb of Hanover Park. She came to Christ through the ministry of The Navigators and remained involved with them through her college years. She married her husband, Doug, in 1985. They have lived in Arizona for over 23 years and have four adult children and one grandchild. Gail enjoys ministering together with Doug and her family. She has taught for 23 years the last 10 in the context of Classical Christian Education. In her down time she enjoys reading fiction and spending time with her family.

Office Manager

Jennifer Carr  and her husband, Eric, decided to relocate to Arizona in 2000, looking for sunnier skies. She grew up in Oregon where she received a Bachelors Degree from the University of Portland. After graduation, she worked as a contracts administrator at a software design firm. When she moved to Arizona, she decided to become a stay-at-home mom to her 3 boys: Ian, Ryan and Brayden. After many years of searching for the perfect job, Jennifer found the King of Kings’ Administrative position. When not working, Jennifer enjoys the many activities her three sons love, including soccer, cross county, track.

Scholar In Residence

Justin McLendon serves as a teaching elder in the Arizona Presbytery of the Presbyterian Church in America and Scholar in Residence at King of Kings Church. He is Professor of Theology at Grand Canyon University and Department Chair for the Master of Arts programs for Grand Canyon Theological Seminary. He has taught at GCU since 2015, having moved to Phoenix from St. Louis where he served as a pastor. Justin is a graduate of Mississippi State University (B.S.), and Mid- America Baptist Theological Seminary (M.Div; Ph.D.). He serves as a managing editor for the Journal of Biblical and Theological Studies and has published essays and articles in various books, encyclopedias, and academic journals. His forthcoming academic books focus on ecclesiology and the intersection of theology and blues music. In his free time, Justin enjoys watching the St. Louis Cardinals, DIY projects, reading fiction and poetry, and playing various instruments. Justin and his wife, Christie, have three children: Marlee, Joshua, and Caleb.

A Scholar in Residence is someone whose vocation includes devoting time, energy, and resources to research, writing, and speaking within and for the Church. This starts with academic research and writing undertaken with an eye to equip and empower Christians to love God with their minds so that they might love Him with all that they are. The Scholar in Residence role calls the scholar to apply their scholarly work outside of academia through writing and speaking that bridges between academics and the body of Christ.

Church Planting Resident

Alex Diaz was born in Puerto Rico and raised in the Humboldt Park Community of Chicago. He came to saving faith in Jesus when a family friend shared the gospel. From that moment, Alex’s life was transformed forever. Alex attended Moody Bible Institute, receiving a B.S. in Biblical Studies. He later continued his studies at Grimké Seminary in Richmond, VA, completing a Master of Theology with a concentration in Urban Ministries. Throughout his academic pursuits, Alex served as Pastor of Citylights Church Chicago, helping to revitalize the church and provide much-needed leadership. Through his service at Citylights, he felt the call to church plant and, through prayer, landed in Arizona in the summer of 2021 with the intent of planting a church. Alex is currently working on a Doctor of Ministry at Covenant Seminary with an emphasis on leading the cross-cultural church.

He is married to Maria and, by God’s grace, has blended a beautiful family of four kids (Amanda, Fabien, Gabriel, and Ruby). And now, they are the proud grandparents of four wonderful children (Leo, Camila, London, and Mahalia).

Elders

Doug Howitt  grew up in Norridge, Illinois. His parents came to the USA from Guelph, Ontario. While attending Western Illinois University his roommate, Fred Martin, explained the gospel to Doug and Christ transformed his life forever. During his college years, he was involved with the Navigators Collegiate Discipleship Ministry. There he met his future wife, Gail, the love of his life.  She is truly the best thing that happened to Doug, after his relationship with Christ. Doug and Gail married in 1985 and have 4 children: Ryan, Lauren, Ashley, and Elizabeth. Doug thinks that his kids are the funniest and most fun people he knows. They moved from Chicago to Phoenix in 1989 where God has been faithful in growing them in their faith and love for worshiping Him and serving others. Their family has been attending King of Kings PCA since 2008 and fell in love with the church’s worship and people. Doug is employed with the City of Glendale as a purchasing agent. He enjoys watching films with his family, bicycling, and listening to Johnny Cash and U2.  His wife Gail serves as Ministry Coordinator for King of Kings Church.

Mike Daniels was blessed to be born into a home where Jesus Christ was taught every day of his childhood, born in Nebraska, he spent his early years in southern Arizona before relocating to the Philippines where his father served as a missionary for 7 years. Returned to Arizona in 1972. He and Norma were married, in 1978. They relocated to Washington State, then to Southern California, before returning to Arizona Christmas on 2012. Mike has been an owner operator of a steel installation company since 1983, and Norma works with him in that endeavor.  They have 2 married sons, and 3 magnificent grandchildren, all of whom live in Washington state. Mike and Norma first attended King of Kings on the merger Sunday, and have attempted to be active there since. Mike has been involved in church leadership and small group teaching for the past 15 years.

Randy Kutz was born in Chicago and came to saving faith while serving in the US Marine Corps. After the military he went to Bible College where he met and married Cathi in 1990. In 1996 they returned to Cathi’s home state here in Arizona where they raised their 3 children and now have the joy of 2 grandchildren. Randy has spent most of his career in a variety of leadership roles in ministry, business, non-profit organizations and on Capitol Hill. He loves the people side of business and currently runs his own real estate and negotiation training companies. Randy and Cathi both studied international missions and served on summer teams overseas and in the U.S. reaching out to the Muslim community. They desire to serve the body here at King of Kings and help facilitate local and global cross cultural missions.

Doug Rosenbaum, born in 1949, was adopted and raised by a Jewish family in Sacramento California.  He has been joyfully married to Colleen since 1971 and is blessed with six terrific children, and 15 amazing grandchildren.  Doug worked in Nuclear Power  as an operator and instructor for 38 years.  He was called to Christ in 1979 by a local evangelist and was lead to the Reformed faith 5 years later. After being ordained as a Ruling Elder at Cornerstone PCA in southern Maryland in 1992 Doug served there and other PCA churches for more than 25 years . Doug has a strong affinity for encouraging those who struggle with mental issues such as anxiety  and depression.

Luke Thompson was born into a family with a multigenerational history in the church. As a child and young adult, he attended a Christian school, memorized scripture, and had a sincere affection for biblical truth. At the age of 17, he joined the United States Air Force and traveled the world, eventually meeting his wife, Suzette, in the frozen tundra of North Dakota. Together, they have raised two sons as they traveled from place to place until finally arriving in Arizona. Luke retired from the military in 2022 and embarked on a new career in Operational Risk. He has a BA in Philosophy and studies the development of the early Christian creeds and the period of Reformed Orthodoxy.

Mike Tinker, his wife Jodi, and their two boys, Will and Paul, joined King of Kings after moving to the Southwest Valley from central Phoenix. He was raised in Southern Arizona and moved to the valley to attend ASU. During college Christ took hold of his heart and led him to repentance and faith. After graduating from ASU with a Religious Studies degree in 1997, he became part of the pastoral training program at Camelback Bible Church for several years. Although he did not pursue vocational ministry, he remains dedicated to the local church and helping it grow in maturity and Christlikeness.

Dirk Uphoff was born and raised in Central Illinois, then moved to San Diego in 1985. Shortly thereafter, through the witness of a co-worker Dirk received Christ and his life was radically transformed. He began to attend a large church in San Diego where He met his wife Helen in the College and Careers group and they were married in 1988. In 1995, Dirk, Helen, and their four children, Derek, Samantha, Drew, and Devin moved to Mexico to become full time missionaries with Real Life Ministries. After 5 years in Mexico, Dirk wanted to finish his college degree and they returned to the US where Dirk earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Christian Ministries from Bethel University. Dirk has worked in the Office Furniture industry in sales and sales management with a specialization in office ergonomics since 2003. He enjoys reading, movies, spending time with his grandson and working out at the gym. In January of 2013, he and his family became members at King of Kings in the merger with Emmanuel Covenant Church where he served as Elder.

Note: Within the Presbyterian form of government the session, which is the governing body of the church, is made up of both the pastor(s) and the elders. The word ‘session’ literally means “a sitting together” and describes Christ’s rule of the church through a plurality of elders (Acts 14:23; 20:28; Titus 1:5; etc.)

Deacons

Bill Lewis was born and raised in New Jersey. After graduating from high school he joined the U. S. Air Force. He came to faith while living in Europe..  He is a veteran of the first Gulf War having served 8 months in Saudi Arabia. He married his wife Joni in 1989. They have two adults daughters, Brittany and Stephanie. He spent 30 years in government service between his 13 years in the military and 17 years at Newark Airport with the TSA. They moved to Arizona in 2020.  He follows The New York Mets regardless of the pain that causes.

Kelly Jowdy was born and raised in Phoenix and graduated from Sunny slope high school. He met his wife Lori in 1973 on a blind date, and in August of 1974 we were married. They have two children Casey and Steven and three grandchildren. Lori and Kelly enjoy road trips to St. Louis to see grandchildren, and to San Diego to be with all the family. Kelly had worked in construction for seven years before going to work for Safeway/ Albertsons where’s he is has been working for the last 40 years. He enjoys activities such as  hunting, fishing, skiing, hiking, and anything that else that catches his attention!

Greg Gilliam grew up in Iowa where he was born. He was raised in the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod. He became a believer in high school at a summer youth camp. After serving in the Army he moved to Arizona where he met his wife TC. They were married in 1987 and were blessed with four children, three of them are married, and they now have three (as-close-as-you-can-get-to-perfect) grandchildren. Greg has worked in the construction and facilities maintenance industries for most of his life. He retired from the City of Phoenix after 26+ years and now works for a local school district as the Director of Maintenance and Operations.

Brad Mercier was born and raised in Minnesota. He was raised in the Methodist church as a child, and later on his family transferred to Christ Episcopal Church. He went through confirmation as a teenager and became a believer afterwards. He served in the Air Force for twenty years and while serving overseas, met his wife Gloria. They eventually moved to Arizona in 2008, which is where he retired from the Air Force. Brad worked in aircraft maintenance throughout his active duty days, and still continues to serve on Luke Air Force Base as a standards and evaluations contractor in an F-35 fighter squadron.

Chris Seufert was born in Wooster, Ohio. His father took a job with the University of Notre Dame when
he was a young boy and his family moved to Mishawaka Indiana where he was raised. There they joined
First Presbyterian Church of Mishawaka. At age 15 he went through confirmation, accepted Christ and
joined the Church. After high school he attended Hillsdale College where he graduated with a B.S in
Biology. He also met his future wife Elizabeth, while attending Hillsdale College. After graduation he
moved to Phoenix, married Elizabeth and attended A.T. Still University where he earned his Doctorate in
Physical Therapy. Chris is a clinic manager of an outpatient orthopedic practice in Avondale Arizona.
Chris and Elizabeth moved to the west valley in 2008 where they are raising their two children,
Catherine and Bentley.