Pastor Dezo

Rev. Dr. Dezo Schreiner is originally from the beautiful Caribbean country of Haiti. She moved to Lawrence, KS in 2011 for advanced schooling. On the night of her arrival, she quickly learned to love K.U. Basketball. She grew up with eight siblings. As a young girl she organized church services for her siblings. Dezo's passion has always been to work with people, to proclaim the gospel, to work for social justice, to heal souls and bodies, and to create community. She earned her Masters of Divinity from Central Baptist Community Theological Seminary of Shawnee, KS in 2017 and her Doctor of Ministry at Chicago Theological Seminary in 2025. Dezo exhibits a contagious joy to everyone she meets as well for the gospel which she naturally expresses to everyone through pastoral ministry. Jesus taught us a way of love, grace and forgiveness; and that is how Dezo lives her life. Dezo says, " I live my life by the motto Jesus Christ stated in John 13:35, this is how everyone will know you are my disciples, if you have love for one another." She is an encourager, a visionary, teacher and a prayer warrior. In her spare time, she goes on long walks, road trips, window-shopping, or reads a good book. Dezo's ministry in our church is through worship leadership, preaching, pastoral care, teaching and working with our children, youth and young adults.

In 2018, Dezo married Andy Schreiner, and together they have five children - Benjamin, Charlotte, Enzo, Flora, and Grace. With two sets of twins and a singleton, there is never a dull moment in her household.  

Pastor Megan

Dr. Megan Bedford-Strohm grew up here in Kansas City. After spending fifteen years away, she returned in 2022 with her family. During those years, her journey took her through study, ministry, art-making, and research in communities across the globe. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Community Art and Missions from Wheaton College, a Master of Arts in Religion from Yale Divinity School, and a Ph.D. in Theology from Heidelberg University. Megan and her husband, Jonas, were married in 2016 and are now raising their three children in the city she has always called home. Megan’s ministry centers on creativity and community building, both within the congregation and beyond the church’s walls. She is dedicated to cultivating spaces that feel like a safe home base–places where people can face the complexities of life together with honesty, faith, and hope. Her work includes worship planning and artistic initiatives, with a particular focus on nurturing community among children, youth, and young adults, helping them explore faith and follow Christ with imagination and curiosity. One of Megan’s passions is bringing the visual arts into the life of the church through prayer walls, community murals, curated art, and interactive spaces that invite people of all ages to engage their senses and express their faith. Megan is currently pursuing ordination in the American Baptist Churches USA.