Jesse Penna - Student Ministries Pastor
Jesse was born in Denver, Colorado as a PK - preacher’s kid. During his childhood, his parents served in pastoral roles at Alva Friends Church (Alva, OK) and Northwest Friends Church (Arvada, CO). When he was in 2nd grade his family moved to Wichita, KS to be church planting pastors at Linwood Park Friends. He has been a Wichitan ever since, although he claims he is a Coloradan!!
Jesse developed a love for playing the trombone during his Jr. High and High School years. His love for music led him to Friends University. During his time there, he sang with the Singing Quakers, played his trombone in various ensembles, was a member of the campus ministries team, served on the residence life team, camped out as much as he could, and managed to receive his B.A. in music, along with an honorary food connoisseur degree! He also managed to develop a love for animals, particularly dogs. He is the proud owner of a Bordeaux Mastiff!
He loves his job as Student Ministries Pastor at NFC!! He began working with the youth at NFC as a volunteer in 2000. After sensing a call into youth ministry, God led him into an Assistant Youth Pastor role at NFC, working alongside his Youth Pastor Matt Macy. This eventually led him into working with Jr. High and Sr. High students as the full time Youth Pastor, a position that he began in July of 2004.
Jesse says, “My passion for seeing youth both experience and recognize God’s work in their own lives, and for practicing and teaching the spiritual disciplines, has led me to pursue a Master of Arts from Friends University in Spiritual Formation. I plan to complete that degree in 2009. I will continue following where He leads, in hopes of advancing The Kingdom of God!!”