The Staff

If you wish to contact a staff member please click on their name.

Pastor Randy Johnson This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it Randy is a graduate of Southwest Baptist University with a B.S. in Church Recreation and a Minor in Psychology. He also graduated from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary with a Master of Religious Education. He is currently serving on the Executive Committee of the Southern Baptist Convention. Randy & Janice have two grown children; Jason and Joshua.
Discipleship/Family Life Pastor Denny Marr This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it I received Christ as Savior and Lord at age 11 and was baptized at First Baptist, Mt. Vernon, MO in the Spring of 1967. I had no idea how that event would dominate the direction for the remainder of my time in this world. As a teen the Lord called me to serve in full time ministry. After graduating from Mt. Vernon High School I attended Oklahoma Baptist University in Shawnee, OK and then Southwest Baptist University in Bolivar, MO where I graduated in 1981. The Lord used my love for music and for people to direct me to three different churches as Minister of Music and Youth. During those years I was privileged to attend Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary during which God prepared my heart to serve here at Calvary Baptist. I met Dorothy, my wife of 30 plus years at First Baptist, St. Robert while in college. From there we took our blessings, Amy and Emily with us to First Baptist, Licking, MO where God blessed us again with our son, Aaron. From there we went to Red Star Baptist in Cape Girardeau, and then in 1995 we came to Republic. Our children and their spouses have given Dorothy and I seven grandchildren, and number eight will arrive in late summer. We are blessed beyond expectation. The Lord has further enriched our lives with many friends from among our church family as well. I anticipate a great moving of God among us as we join hearts and hands in reaching our city with the gospel of Jesus.
Minister to Students Dan Updegrave This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it Dan serves as the Minister to Students (7th grade-College Age). He graduated from Missouri State University with a B.S. in Music Education (Vocal & Instrumental). Dan has been a member of Calvary since 1994 and has been the Minister to Students since 1999. Dan and his wife Tory have been married since 1999. Dan is also involved with the Springfield Homeschool Orchestra & Band Program and the Springfield Youth Leaders Network.
Minister of Worship Ben Kendall This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it Ben is a graduate of Southwest Baptist University in Bolivar and Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in fort Worth Texas. Ben has served churches in Texas, South Carolina, Ohio and the country of Spain before coming "home" to Missouri. He has traveled extensively on mission trips to Spain, Honduras, Bahamas, China, South Korea, Hong Kong, Portugal, Norway, and Canada. Ben and his wife Carrie are foster parents and have a passionate ministry to children who pass through their home. Ben and Carrie have two sons, James & Dillon.
Associate Teaching Pastor Richard Baker This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it Richard serves as Associate Teaching Pastor. He is also a full time Financial Advisor at Lawing Financial in Springfield, MO. He earned a bachelor’s degree in business from College of the Ozarks in Point Lookout, MO, a Master's of Divinity degree from Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Kansas City, MO and is currently pursuing a doctoral degree at Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. Richard serves on the Board of Trustees for Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. In his free time Richard enjoys teaching pastor schools around the world and being involved in many other international mission trips. Richard is married to Sara and they live in Nixa, MO with their daughter, Anna Grace and son, Micah.
Senior Adult Pastor Ben Brown This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it Ben began serving as the Senior Adult Pastor in December of 2012. He is a retired Senior Pastor after serving in churches from 1963 until 1999. He has a Bachelor’s degree from Southwest Baptist University and a Master’s degree from Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. He and his wife, Freida, have been married since 1958, have 2 sons, 2 daughters, 15 grandchildren and 3 great grandchildren. They have been a part of the Calvary family since 2005.
Children's Ministry Assistant Genisse Stahl This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it Genisse has lived in Republic for 30 years and graduated from Republic High School in 1994. She has served in several different churches in the area and has over 15 years of experience in Children's and Youth Ministry. She became Calvary's Children's Ministry Assistant in August 2012. Her and her husband, Ron of 16 years, have two sons, Connor and Logan.
Student's Ministry Assistant Cliff Henry This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Church Administrator Tory Updegrave This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it Tory is a graduate of Missouri State University with a Bachelor's in Accounting and a Master's of Business Administration. She began as Calvary's Office Manager in September of 2000 and became the Church Administrator in January 2013. Besides being involved in the office she is also involved in the Youth Ministry, with her husband Dan (the minister to students), playing the clarinet and handbells and singing in the choir.
Head of Custodial Maintenance Lowell Carder
Ministry Assistant This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Custodian Tyler Boyer