STAFF
MINISTERIAL STAFF
GANNON SIMs
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Gannon felt God's call to serve as Cliff Temple’s pastor and lead missionary in 2022 because he fell in love with the people and the rich history of innovative ministry here. He’s a church planter and a founding director of Fresh Expressions North America, a movement seeking to help take the church Jesus loves closer to the people Jesus loves. He’s the author of Bringing Church Home and has a deep passion for showing how our homes and family life are primary places for discipleship, evangelism and mission. A graduate of Baylor University and Duke Divinity School, he’s married to Carey, a leadership coach and spiritual director, who also is a graduate of Duke Divinity School. They’re residents of Oak Cliff where they’re having fun exploring the rich diversity of the neighborhood.
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Senior Pastor; Lead Missionary
Kenny CheshieR
Associate Pastor
Minister for Youth, Senior Adults, and Hospitality
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Kenny joined the staff of Cliff Temple in 1999. He is married to Stephenie, and they have two wonderful children, Kennedy and Madison. Kenny graduated from the University of Texas at Austin. His passion is to see teenagers and senior adults come to a living faith in Jesus that results in them making more disciples for Him. Kenny also enjoys films, American history, politics, and sports.
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Emilie Flaherty
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Emilie joined Cliff Temple staff in 2023. She and her husband, Matthew, have been members of the church since 2022. Emilie is passionate about advocating for and building relationship with children. Her background in Early Childhood Development and Elementary Education prepared her for her current role of helping children and families grow and develop their own relationships with Jesus. Emilie has two sons, Leighton and Knox, who attend the Cliff Temple CDC. She is an avid reader and loves bug hunting with her boys and conversations with friends over a cup of coffee.
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Minister for Children and Families
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Dan is from Frederick, Oklahoma. He has a BA (English) from OBU and a M.Div. and D.Min. from Southern Seminary in Louisville, KY. He and Marilyn have been married since 1961. They have three adult children, five grandchildren, and three great grandchildren. Dan was Cliff Temple’s pastor from 1979 to 1989. His last church was First Baptist, Lancaster, TX. The Griffins live in north Arlington. Dan was an adjunct professor of Bible at Dallas Baptist University for 15 years. He continues his pastoral duties as needed and teaches the Global Affairs SS class at CTBC.
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Dan Griffin
Pastor Emeritus
Jeremy McCasland
Minister for Music and Worship
Creative Director
Lauren Vandillon
Child Development Center Director
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Lauren came to Cliff Temple from a career in multi retail store operations and human resources. She enrolled her daughter Ava as an infant in our Child Development Center and started attending Sunday morning worship. In 2013, Lauren volunteered to help streamline the CDC's operations and that eventually landed her the job of Assistant Director. When the previous director retired in 2017, she was promoted to Director and hasn't looked back. The CDC consistently receives high marks from the Texas Workforce Commission and the parents who entrust their preschoolers into our care. An Alabama native, Lauren enjoys spending time with her family, fishing, boating, grilling, DIY projects, and long drives in the country.
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214-942-6319, ext. 401
lauren@clifftemple.org
ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF
Susan Shanks
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Susan has been on the Cliff Temple staff since 1982. She is married to David and has two married sons and six grandchildren. In addition to church activities, Susan enjoys watching baseball (especially the Texas Rangers), doing needlework, reading, playing with dogs, and any activity that takes place outside.
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Ministry Coordinator
Barbara Evetts
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Barbara worked in public accounting before transitioning to church administration and joining Cliff Temple’s staff in 2009. She and her husband Greg live in Oak Cliff and have two adult children, Erin and Scott. Barbara enjoys photography, Aggie sports, and weekend trips back to the family farm.
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Church Administrator
VICTORIA AGUIRRE
Facilities Manager