Meet the Team:
Council of Elders
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Dave Chatlain
After moving to Kansas in 1980 as a design engineer for The Boeing Company, Dave, who had experienced success in many other personal endeavors, was shocked to find people whose lives were filled with joy and purpose through their relationship with Jesus. The dramatic impact of those lives, their peace and example of tireless service to the Lord Jesus, was God’s challenge to something greater than nominal Christianity. Beginning at that time Dave embarked on an earnest discipleship effort combining Bible study, Bible memorization and personal service to the Lord. From his elementary involvement as a children’s ministry bus driver, through years as an Awana leader, Sunday School teacher, song leader and preacher at the Union Rescue Mission, God has offered many opportunities to walk and grow with Him. During these years, God has given him a wonderful wife (and ministry partner). Ann, along with many secular successes and ministry joys. His newest adventure is the "Malachi Dads of Kansas," a prison ministry which calls men to Biblical faith in Jesus and life commitment to continuing discipleship. In addition, it endeavors to encourage meaningful communication from those men to their children about their relationship with Christ and their responsibility to nurture and train their children. He is a participant in the Kansas "Mentor4Success" project and maintains an otherwise over-loaded schedule of commitments. When he can, he welcomes the opportunity to share God’s stories with men’s groups around the Wichita area.
Wes DeSpain
Wes DeSpain was born and raised in Wichita, Kansas, graduating from East High School in 1977. Since he had been greatly influenced by his high school orchestra director, and his father was a teacher, Wes chose to pursue the teaching profession, teaching band and orchestra in the Wichita Public Schools for two years after graduating from Baptist Bible College and Wichita State University. In 1986, Wes agreed to serve as youth and music pastor at Morningstar Community Church (then First Bible Baptist Church) and remained at the church as a staff pastor for 21 years. He was also a clarinetist in the Wichita Symphony Orchestra from 1984-2009. In 2007, Wes was granted a fellowship to study instrumental conducting at The University of Oklahoma where he earned a Doctor of Musical Arts degree in this field. He began teaching orchestra for the Derby Public Schools in 2010 and is the music director at MSCC. He and his wife, Darla, were married in 1980; they have three daughters—Lindsay, Megan, and Jenna, and three grandsons--Adam, Thomas and Benjamin.
Paul Libel (Chairman)
Paul became convinced of his need for a Savior when he was 8 years old. He put his trust in Jesus Christ at that time on a Wednesday evening after the church service. He enjoyed helping out in various ministries at MorningStar (then called First Bible Baptist) even as a teenager. He has been at MorningStar since before he was born! He has served as an elder since 1998. Paul has been employed in the insurance field for 30 years. He also loves to watch football—any game, any time. He can build and fix most things having to do with construction, having built their home in 1993 (with lots of help from friends and family). He met his wife, Julie, here at the church when they were both just 14 years old. They married in the fall after their high school graduation. Paul and Julie served in the youth group for 15+ years and various ministries here at MSCC since their marriage. They have three fantastic children: a son in Chicago, a daughter and son-in-law here in Wichita, and a daughter and son-in-law in Emporia. Paul and Julie have eleven wonderful grandchildren. They enjoy them immensely. Just don’t get Paul started talking about those grandkids!
Dean McGee
Dean is a native of Wellington, KS, where his parents were actively involved in music and youth ministry in a start-up church in his earliest years. Seeing the lives of his parents made it easier to desire Jesus in his own life, and at the age of 5, he asked his mom to pray with him to ask Jesus into his heart. That was just the beginning of a faith that has been challenged by doubts, discouragements and questions along the way, but Dean has always found God to be faithful! After graduating from Wellington High School in 1980, he attended four years of Bible school, but when he didn’t fit the traditional ministry mold, he began searching for another way to make a real difference in the lives of others. Looking at his primary gifting in the areas of teaching, mercy and administration, Dean chose chiropractic kinesiology with an emphasis in nutrition for its natural, preventative, hands-on approach. He received his doctorate in 1990 and has been serving Wichita in a muscle and joint soft-tissue practice ever since. Dean and his wife Janelle both participate on the MorningStar Praise Team (piano and vocals), and Dean has been teaching a 6-week sermon series each spring since 2015. They enjoy an active lifestyle, which includes the P90X exercise program, tennis, biking, traveling, and performing music at assisted living homes. Best of all, they are blessed to share 6 children and their blossoming families with 5 granddaughters . . . so far ;^)
Ronnie Ralls
Ronnie was saved, baptized and became a member of MorningStar Community Church in 1964. He met and married his wife, Kathy, while attending and they have been involved in multiple ministries since that time. Ron has been involved in the bus ministry, men’s ministries, has served as deacon and taught Bible classes. He completed elder training and serves as one of the elders of MorningStar Community church. Ronnie retired after 25 years of service to Boeing/Spirit. He enjoys carpentry, woodworking and traveling with his wife.
Richard Wood
Richard has been a member of MorningStar since 1968. Richard received a Bachelor of Science in Education degree from Emporia State University in 1965 with majors in Mathematics and Psychology. He completed a Master of Science in Education degree from Wichita State University in 1970 with emphasis in Student Guidance and Personnel Administration. In addition, Richard has 36 college hours of postgraduate work in counseling and administration. He has also received Biblical Counseling training from several men and women prominent in the field of biblical counseling. Richard worked as a public school mathematics instructor for 5.5 years and as a public school counselor for 12.5 years before joining the church staff in 1982. While on staff for 29 years, Richard served as counselor, financial administrator, co-pastor, and pastor. He retired from full-time ministry in March of 2011. He currently serves on the Council of Elders and the World Mission Committee. Richard has been married to Donna since 1965 and together have two children and one grandchild. Richard is currently serving as the primary preaching elder for MorningStar.
After moving to Kansas in 1980 as a design engineer for The Boeing Company, Dave, who had experienced success in many other personal endeavors, was shocked to find people whose lives were filled with joy and purpose through their relationship with Jesus. The dramatic impact of those lives, their peace and example of tireless service to the Lord Jesus, was God’s challenge to something greater than nominal Christianity. Beginning at that time Dave embarked on an earnest discipleship effort combining Bible study, Bible memorization and personal service to the Lord. From his elementary involvement as a children’s ministry bus driver, through years as an Awana leader, Sunday School teacher, song leader and preacher at the Union Rescue Mission, God has offered many opportunities to walk and grow with Him. During these years, God has given him a wonderful wife (and ministry partner). Ann, along with many secular successes and ministry joys. His newest adventure is the "Malachi Dads of Kansas," a prison ministry which calls men to Biblical faith in Jesus and life commitment to continuing discipleship. In addition, it endeavors to encourage meaningful communication from those men to their children about their relationship with Christ and their responsibility to nurture and train their children. He is a participant in the Kansas "Mentor4Success" project and maintains an otherwise over-loaded schedule of commitments. When he can, he welcomes the opportunity to share God’s stories with men’s groups around the Wichita area.
Wes DeSpain
Wes DeSpain was born and raised in Wichita, Kansas, graduating from East High School in 1977. Since he had been greatly influenced by his high school orchestra director, and his father was a teacher, Wes chose to pursue the teaching profession, teaching band and orchestra in the Wichita Public Schools for two years after graduating from Baptist Bible College and Wichita State University. In 1986, Wes agreed to serve as youth and music pastor at Morningstar Community Church (then First Bible Baptist Church) and remained at the church as a staff pastor for 21 years. He was also a clarinetist in the Wichita Symphony Orchestra from 1984-2009. In 2007, Wes was granted a fellowship to study instrumental conducting at The University of Oklahoma where he earned a Doctor of Musical Arts degree in this field. He began teaching orchestra for the Derby Public Schools in 2010 and is the music director at MSCC. He and his wife, Darla, were married in 1980; they have three daughters—Lindsay, Megan, and Jenna, and three grandsons--Adam, Thomas and Benjamin.
Paul Libel (Chairman)
Paul became convinced of his need for a Savior when he was 8 years old. He put his trust in Jesus Christ at that time on a Wednesday evening after the church service. He enjoyed helping out in various ministries at MorningStar (then called First Bible Baptist) even as a teenager. He has been at MorningStar since before he was born! He has served as an elder since 1998. Paul has been employed in the insurance field for 30 years. He also loves to watch football—any game, any time. He can build and fix most things having to do with construction, having built their home in 1993 (with lots of help from friends and family). He met his wife, Julie, here at the church when they were both just 14 years old. They married in the fall after their high school graduation. Paul and Julie served in the youth group for 15+ years and various ministries here at MSCC since their marriage. They have three fantastic children: a son in Chicago, a daughter and son-in-law here in Wichita, and a daughter and son-in-law in Emporia. Paul and Julie have eleven wonderful grandchildren. They enjoy them immensely. Just don’t get Paul started talking about those grandkids!
Dean McGee
Dean is a native of Wellington, KS, where his parents were actively involved in music and youth ministry in a start-up church in his earliest years. Seeing the lives of his parents made it easier to desire Jesus in his own life, and at the age of 5, he asked his mom to pray with him to ask Jesus into his heart. That was just the beginning of a faith that has been challenged by doubts, discouragements and questions along the way, but Dean has always found God to be faithful! After graduating from Wellington High School in 1980, he attended four years of Bible school, but when he didn’t fit the traditional ministry mold, he began searching for another way to make a real difference in the lives of others. Looking at his primary gifting in the areas of teaching, mercy and administration, Dean chose chiropractic kinesiology with an emphasis in nutrition for its natural, preventative, hands-on approach. He received his doctorate in 1990 and has been serving Wichita in a muscle and joint soft-tissue practice ever since. Dean and his wife Janelle both participate on the MorningStar Praise Team (piano and vocals), and Dean has been teaching a 6-week sermon series each spring since 2015. They enjoy an active lifestyle, which includes the P90X exercise program, tennis, biking, traveling, and performing music at assisted living homes. Best of all, they are blessed to share 6 children and their blossoming families with 5 granddaughters . . . so far ;^)
Ronnie Ralls
Ronnie was saved, baptized and became a member of MorningStar Community Church in 1964. He met and married his wife, Kathy, while attending and they have been involved in multiple ministries since that time. Ron has been involved in the bus ministry, men’s ministries, has served as deacon and taught Bible classes. He completed elder training and serves as one of the elders of MorningStar Community church. Ronnie retired after 25 years of service to Boeing/Spirit. He enjoys carpentry, woodworking and traveling with his wife.
Richard Wood
Richard has been a member of MorningStar since 1968. Richard received a Bachelor of Science in Education degree from Emporia State University in 1965 with majors in Mathematics and Psychology. He completed a Master of Science in Education degree from Wichita State University in 1970 with emphasis in Student Guidance and Personnel Administration. In addition, Richard has 36 college hours of postgraduate work in counseling and administration. He has also received Biblical Counseling training from several men and women prominent in the field of biblical counseling. Richard worked as a public school mathematics instructor for 5.5 years and as a public school counselor for 12.5 years before joining the church staff in 1982. While on staff for 29 years, Richard served as counselor, financial administrator, co-pastor, and pastor. He retired from full-time ministry in March of 2011. He currently serves on the Council of Elders and the World Mission Committee. Richard has been married to Donna since 1965 and together have two children and one grandchild. Richard is currently serving as the primary preaching elder for MorningStar.
Staff
Bio coming soon...