Meet Our Leaders
Rev. Holly McKissick
Pastor
Holly is the visionary founder of Peace Church, which from its start in 2011, has been a workshop for reimagining traditional worship. Holly’s inimitable style of sharp and thought provoking preaching (always with a dash of Texas wit tossed in) is the centerpiece of services at Peace. Before pivoting to Peace, Holly served for 21 years as founder and senior pastor of a progressive suburban congregation. Throughout her ministry, the hallmarks of Holly’s work as a congregational pastor have been a progressive, open, justice-oriented faith, and rich, meaningful worship, striving to show what an open-minded, open-hearted Christian community looks like.
Holly was ordained into the Christian ministry in 1987 after graduating from seminary at TCU’s Brite Divinity School. A native Texan, she completed her undergraduate studies at Texas A&M and TCU. A mother to two young adults, and a marathon runner, Holly is an enthusiastic booster for her adopted hometown of Kansas City. When she is not pounding the pavement for Peace Church or progressive politics, she is rooting for the Royals with her husband and spending time with her family, here and around the country.
A longtime community activist and spirited voice for progressive causes, Holly is also an accomplished writer and speaker. She has been a contributing religion writer for the Kansas City Star, and the the author of two books–a Hallmark gift book, You Are Blessed: Prayers for Checkout Lines, Ice Cream and Other Simple Moments and one on leadership, Tall Poppy: How to Lead Without Losing Your Head, which was released by Abingdon Press. Holly is a mentor at Operation Breakthrough, Big Brothers, Big Sisters and Lead to Read. Her work with StandUp KC, Missouri Jobs with Justice, and MORE2 is an extension of her commitment to racial and economic justice. Past community involvements include service on the Board of Directors for Midwest Innocence Project, Planned Parenthood, and the Midwest Center for Holocaust Education. You can feel Holly’s passion as she shares God’s justice and delight in every moment and every thing.
Rev. Paula Lafferty
Pastor
Born and raised in Kansas City, KS, Paula is a 2010 graduate of Chapman University, a Disciples of Christ University in southern California. She graduated from St. Paul School of Theology with a Master of Divinity and is now the Associate Pastor at Peace Church. She lives in Overland Park with her husband and their incredible daughter. Paula is a talented communicator whose ability to navigate and explain a world where people create community and engage one another through social media gives her a smart, youthful outlook that is current, refreshing, and hopeful. And she frequently lends her clear, lovely voice to music at Peace.
“From singing to preaching, pastoral care to planning, Paula’s infectious spirit is a gift! Bright, insightful, compassionate, creative, and deeply committed to an inclusive faith centered on justice, Paula brings energy to Peace Church.” - Rev. Holly McKissick
Paula’s goals as a member of the Peace staff are to facilitate small group community, to create space for thought, warm embrace, and challenging questions, and to build a deep network of support for our children and youth.
Paula feels called to walk alongside young people on their journeys and help them recognize how very capable they are to make change and cultivate peace in the world.
Breanna Thompson
Children & Youth Programming
and Mission Engagement Coordinator
Breanna (Bree) Thompson grew up in Southeastern Pennsylvania and has spent much of her adult life in the Kingdom of eSwatini, in Southern Africa. Bree has made a career in community development, where she been able to integrate her Masters of Peacebuilding and Conflict Transformation with her love of sustainable development, as well as her most recent credentials of Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health Specialist in her work internationally. She is excited to bring her professional skills and passion for service to Kansas City and to Peace.
Bree’s primary goals as a new staff member are to get the children and youth more intentionally connected to their faith and involved in the Peace community, whether through Sunday School, special roles in the service, or in whatever ways uniquely fit each individual.
Alex Holsinger
Music Leader
Alex and his family have lived in Overland Park since 1999. Since then Alex has worked with local, state and Federal correctional agencies, improving rehabilitation practices and working toward a more just prison system. In addition, for the last several years Alex has been an active musician, playing (along with Eli Chamberlain) in the band On The Record at many local and regional venues. More than just about anything, Alex loves coordinating music and helping to lead worship at Peace – since doing so ties together EVERYTHING he loves – family, friends, music, and worship in a community dedicated to justice!
Alex’s parents always made sure music was a big part of his life — years and years of violin lessons, piano lessons, trumpet lessons and involvement in choirs, orchestras and symphonies throughout childhood, high school, and college. “To help with the provision of our music programming at Peace is an incredible privilege, that often surpasses my own understanding. Playing and singing both explicitly sacred music, as well as searching for an incorporating the sacred pieces from the secular world, is without question the best part of my week. Peace Church has literally brought new meaning to the term ‘worship’ for me, and I look forward to every single service, and every single song as we come together as a community of peace, love, and justice.”
Eli Chamberlain
Music Leader
A Kansas City native, Eli is firmly rooted in the heritage of her Cuban emigre parents. Eli grew up with the rich spiritual and musical tradition of a racially integrated Southern Baptist church, building a deep faith and a real love of music and ritual. Staying close to home for college, she completed degrees in music and English at William Jewell College. Serving at Peace is the perfect opportunity to blend Eli’s passions for singing and writing. Eli describes worshipping at Peace, with so many others who are on a spiritual journey that is defined by a vision of God’s justice and peace for everyone as a gift and a privilege.
Along with Alex Holsinger, Eli leads singing at Peace and describes her role as a dream job. “Every week at Peace is a delight,” she says. “Collaborating with the staff and Alex to find music that enhances the message and illuminates the week’s theme is an incredibly creative process and deeply satisfying.” Eli and Alex founded On The Record, a local Americana band, and still play as Undercurrent (there’s a story there) at private parties and at events like First Fridays in the Kansas City Crossroads. Eli and her husband are the parents of two clever and compassionate twenty-somethings, and one very curious rescue dog.
Dre’Shon M. Tolbert
Choir Director
Dre’Shon Tolbert (Dre) serves the Peace community as choir director. Dre's passion for vocal music was sparked during his high school career at Platte County, which later led him to pursue degrees in vocal and instrumental music education at William Jewell College. While at WJC, Dre's love and passion to serve church communities all over KCK and KCMO was fostered, and now he is blessed to serve you at Peace Church. See you this choral season!