Our Team
Rev. Dr. Christopher Ritter
Dr. Chris Ritter has been the Directing Pastor at Kingswood since 2009 and has a passion for connecting people with Jesus. He is the author of Seven Things John Wesley Expected Us to Do for Kids (Abingdon Press, 2016) and holds a Doctor of Ministry in Evangelism from Perkins School of Theology in Dallas. He graduated magna cum laude from Candler School of Theology at Emory University in 1997 and is ordained in the Global Methodist Church. Pastor Chris has been married to Becky since 1988, and together they have four adult children. Our pastor blogs at peopleneedjesus.net.
DIRECTING PASTOR
Yvette Biddle
Yvette has been on the Kingswood team since 2010 serving our church family with her hospitality and caring spirit. As our Director of Discipleship, Yvette oversees many ministries that help people get connected within the church. You will find her every Sunday greeting newcomers, caring for our congregation, and praying with people. She is passionate about seeing people grow in their faith and helping them to do so. Yvette regularly leads several ministries including group Bible studies, the Alpha Course, and more. She and her husband Matt are blessed with two adult children.
DIRECTOR OF DISCIPLESHIP
Jan Dallas
Jan has been Kingswood’s Church Secretary since 2006. She is responsible for managing the church office and reception desk, taking care of administrative tasks, and organizing the bulletin each week. Jan has a helpful and caring heart and loves to interact with the church family on a daily basis. She has a B.S. in Marketing and has worked in Project Managing before coming on staff at our church. Jan is married to Phillip Dallas and has two married stepsons, Ryan and Collin, and three grandchildren.
OFFICE SECRETARY
Linda VanDerLeest
EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT TO THE DIRECTING PASTOR
Linda joined the staff at Kingswood in January 2024 as the Executive Assistant to the Directing Pastor. She also leads the Communion team to shut-ins and residents in our local nursing home community. Linda has a degree in Physical Education from UW-Platteville, and a master’s degree in School Counseling from Western Illinois University. Prior to her role at First Methodist, she worked at Newman Central Catholic High School from 1980 until 1991 and Geneseo High School from 1991 until her retirement in 2021.
Joel Simpson
Joel is the Director of Worship at Kingswood Church. He oversees the music, tech, and planning for weekend programming and other services. Joel works with the music assistant and choir director to provide music for the services at First Methodist. Joel also directs the audio-video-lighting tech team and lends graphics and technical support as he is able across the church’s ministry areas. Joel has a Master of Arts degree from UW-Superior and is passionate about using music and digital visual art to worship Christ and serve the Church.
DIRECTOR OF WORSHIP
Tricia Iest
Tricia Iest (pronounced east) is the Kids Ministry Director here at Kingswood Church. She oversees all aspects of Kids Ministry that include Sunday School, Children’s Church, VBS and our afterschool program IGNITE. She is passionate about teaching kids the Bible and encouraging them to know and love their savior Jesus. She graduated from Christ for the Nations Institute in Dallas, TX with a degree in Theology. She is a homeschooling mom of 2 amazing kids, Elliot and Roslyn, and lives with her husband Ryan on a farm where they specialize in raising free ranch chickens, children, a bunch of spoiled barn kitties and 1 energetic farm dog.
DIRECTOR OF CHILDREN’S MINISTRY
Jeff DeMay
Jeff is the Director of Student Ministry at Kingswood. He feels that he has been called to share God’s truths across generational lines. Having lived through life’s blessings and some trials, he has found that God’s grace is what sustains each of us. Jeff says, “I hope that I, the youth leaders, and the youth can learn and grow in our faith together and be light in this world.”
DIRECTOR OF STUDENT MINISTRY
Terry Haars
Terry Haars is the Financial Secretary here at Kingswood Church. She also works at the Little Green Apple Preschool. She is passionate about children and loves to be with them and teach them. Terry also teaches Confirmation classes for our 8th graders and leads missions trips with them. She has a servant's heart and enjoys helping out in any way that she can. Terry has four children: Amanda, Kasey, Kolby, and Gia.
FINANCIAL SECRETARY
Linda Flatt
Linda Flatt is a longtime member of Kingswood and has served as treasurer since 2018. She also serves in Choir, Worship Band, Orchestra, Tech Team, Vacation Bible School, and directs our Children’s Choir. She and her late husband, Steve, co-founded the Miracle Bluegrass Band. She has six children and twelve grandchildren spread across Illinois and Wisconsin.
TREASURER
Amber Lilly
ASSISTANT TO THE DIRECTOR OF DISCIPLESHIP
Amber joined our staff in 2023. She loves serving in the area of discipleship and has helped lead the Find Your People study, IF Women's Retreat, Backpack Blessings, and Operation Christmas Child. Amber and her husband, Chuck, have made Geneseo their home since 2018.
Marsha Kuriger
Marsha has been on staff since 1993 serving as our Music Assistant. Marsha faithfully plays the prelude for our traditional services, accompanies the choir, directs the Women’s Ensemble, and assists our Director of Music in their job as well. Occasionally, Marsha plays the flute in the wind ensemble and also plays the organ. She is passionate about touching people’s hearts with music and feels that it is such an important aspect in our worshiping God. Marsha is married to her husband, Craig, and together they have four children and step children: Steve, Karen, Doug, and Karen.
MUSICAL ASSISTANT
Michelle Gramling
Michelle is a longtime member of Kingswood Church and joined our staff team in 2019. She delights in her ministry role serving the needs of the church. Michelle enjoys her involvement with women’s events, Bible studies, and women’s mentoring group. Michelle is married to Keith and they have two children: Brennon and Kaytlyn. Their son Brennon is married to Marley and they are parents to Michelle’s beloved grandchildren. Kaytlyn serves in the US Navy and is stationed in Norfolk, Virginia.
HEAD CUSTODIAN
Clarissa Simpson
Clarissa is the Childcare Coordinator at Kingswood Church. She began serving in the nursery ministry in late 2024 and loves ministering to the nursery children, parents, and staff. Clarissa and her husband Joel have two children, and their family enjoys being a part of the Geneseo community.