Get Connected
At New Life Assembly, we are dedicated to helping you take the next step of faith and grow in your relationship with God. The scriptures are clear. We should not forsake the assembling of ourselves together. Therefore, we offer many opportunities for you to connect with other believers. Our staff is excited to meet you!
J.D. Montgomery is a pastor, husband, father and grandfather. He was born and raised in Kansas City, MO. J.D. was recognized as a leader during his high school years, that recognition fueled his next steps as he accepted front line leadership roles in retail businesses as a post-graduate. At 21, he joined one of Kansas City’s premiere employers DST Systems, Inc. where he rose quickly through the ranks of leadership. Although very successful in the business world, he felt a deeper call on his life and obtained pastoral credentials with the Assemblies of God. This work was not foreign to him as he had spent his earlier years leading in a variety of capacities at his local churches. After 34 years in the business world, J.D. accepted the lead pastor position with New Life Assembly of God church in Barnett, MO. There he was and continues to be used by his gracious Lord to see the congregation grow from 30 to an average of 300 in weekly attendance. He has been a public servant, successful businessman and effective communicator but his greatest joy remains sharing the message of the gospel and the transforming power of Jesus Christ in people’s lives.
J.D.’s wife, Toni, serves as an instrumental part of the entire ministry at New Life, while also working full-time at State Street Bank-Kansas City. She leads the Sisterhood (ministries for ladies) at New Life. J.D. and Toni have raised two children of their own as well as provided foster parenting for several other children/young adults.
If you’re visiting New Life for the first time, you’re probably wondering if this is a place you’ll fit in and feel accepted. We want to assure you, we don’t judge or care where you're from or how you look. We just care that you’re here.
At New Life, you’ll be welcomed into a friendly environment by people who are excited to see you. We offer a variety of ministries and resources for people just like you to get connected with.
Tim and Kathy Flora serve as the leaders of children's ministry (R.O.A.R.) of New Life Assembly of God. They have been serving in some capacity of church leadership most of their adult lives. They strive to minister to children, sharing the love of Jesus Christ and helping the children grow in their relationship with God and in service. Tim’s father has been in the ministry over sixty years and has developed a heart of ministry in his family.
The theme verse for the ministry is Revelation 5:5 - The lion of the tribe of Judah has triumphed. This reflects the power of God available to every Christian of every age. Children are encouraged to attend services at 10:00 am each Sunday morning.
Tim and Kathy Flora took over the children’s ministry at New Life in 2019 and have great plans for the future of the ministry. They have one son T.J. who recently entered the United States Armed Forces.
Each Sunday at New Life, infants through 5th graders hang out at ROAR, an awesome area created with your kids in mind. Your kids will get to hear stories from the Bible in a fun, engaging, and age-appropriate environment, all just for them!
But, it’s not just all about your kid having fun. We also want to partner with you, parents, to help you grow your family spiritually. We want to make sure we’re teaching and training up the next generation of Jesus followers to go out into the world and make a big difference.
Matthew and Cara King are both credentialed ministers with the Assemblies of God. The currently serve as New Life’s student ministries pastors. Matt and Cara both have a passion for reaching the lost and loving people. They have contributed to the growth of the student ministries at New Life that currently reaches over 150 students weekly.
Because they have a heart of ministry, they also work full time as Assistant directors at the Southern Missouri district camp, Cross Pointe located at the Lake of the Ozarks. The camp is responsible for thousands of students on an annual basis and provides an opportunity for growth in student’s Christian faith. Matthew and Cara both come from a long line of ministers and ministry heroes.
Matthew and Cara were married in 2010 and have 3 beautiful kids: Niah, Malachi, and Cora. When they are not doing ministry together, they enjoy going to Branson and playing on their farm.
Our midweek environment is a combined service for both middle school and high school students. We create a safe and fun place for students to find and follow Jesus. Through music, games, messages and family group meetings, students have a chance to learn and grow alongside their peers. Midweek services begin at 7pm every Wednesday night.
Maddie grew up in Blue Springs, Missouri where she and her family attended one of the largest churches in the area. As a child and during her youth she began to discover her natural musical talent which was nurtured at home by her parents. She has been used by God in the ministry of music and spiritual worship since being a student in the children and youth programs. She recently felt the call of God to a deeper relationship as well as a desire for leadership in corporate worship.
At the end of 2019, Maddie and her husband Jonathan decided to move to the Eldon area. It is there that God directed her to attend New Life Assembly and she began to participate on the Worship team. Within months it was clear that she was sent to be a part of the team leading the New Life worship experience.
Becky Lee serves as a New Life Ministries office administrator. Her duties are numerous in this capacity but most importantly she assists in providing oversight to the daily operations of the church.
Becky has spent most of her life at New Life Assembly of God and joined the church as administrator in March, 2016. She also serves as a member of the worship team delivering enthusiastic worship experiences.
Becky has lived in Eldon for 30 plus years. She was raised in High Point, MO, and graduated from Eldon High School. Becky has 2 grown boys, Jordan, age 31, and Ashton, age 29. Becky is married to Rodney Lee, of Columbia, MO. Rodney has 2 grown daughters and 3 grandchildren.
David Vernon is a Licensed Minister with the Assemblies of God. In addition to the role of Pastoral Assistant, David leads our Security Ministry and is our Media Director responsible for our Online Campus.
As a staff member, David spends a sizable amount of his time at New Life working in the Audio-Visual Ministry. Discerning the best equipment for each campus and the way to steward the enhancement of the worship experience is a continuous learning curve with ever changing technology. David explains the best thing that can happen with the A/V Ministry, or the Security Ministry, is nobody notices what the team members are doing. That way, the congregant can focus on the worship experience and the ministries’ enhancement to that experience.
Whether leading the Security Team, the A/V Team, or assisting other ministries within the church, David has found God is looking for a willing heart - a servant’s heart. With a servant’s heart God will give us the skills needed to accomplish His will for us.
Joseph Dwyer serves as head of facility presentation at New Life Assembly of God.
Joseph was born in Gainesville, Texas. He moved to southern Kansas when he was twelve years old. He has lived in the Eldon area since 2017. Joseph has been attending New Life for a little over two years.
Dale and Bonita Gregory serve as part of the Adult Ministry at New Life. They have been married since August 1988 and began serving in ministry together as youth leaders soon after they were married.
Dale and Bonita have both served in various ministries and positions in the church including children’s ministry, youth ministry, men’s ministry and women’s ministry. Dale has been a licensed credentialed minister for many years. He and Bonita fill in for other pastors and personally were senior pastors at Birds Corner Assembly of God for 6 years. Bonita has worked for the State of Missouri for 17 years and accepted a position at central office in Jefferson City in 2015, after moving to Rocky Mount MO.
Dale also works for a medical transportation company in Jefferson City. They began attending New Life in 2017 and are presently serving as the leaders of SALT ministry which is focused on ministry to those who are 50 years and older.
In January 2016, our Recovery Ministry was started at New Life. Our Recovery Ministry is ran by Bob Summers. Bob is a former marine, who has personally gone through the 12 step program with Celebrate Recovery. This ministry is for anyone struggling with an addiction, to come to a place where you can feel safe and get the questions you have answered. You will be victorious!
Our Recovery Ministry meets at 6:30 P.M on Thursday evenings. Please use the Youth Center entrance.
Coming from a disciplined and strict culture, Elva was invited to a Pentecostal church in Columbia, Missouri. On her third service, she received the baptism of the Holy Spirit, and it changed her life. Shortly after that phenomenal experience, Elva felt the calling to minister to women.
For eighteen years out of the twenty-four years she attended that church, Elva organized the social events of the church and did women’s ministry as well. Since attending New Life Barnett, she has been become the leader of Ladies Ministry Team. She is both humbled and honored to guide and encourage the ladies to further their passions in working for the kingdom.
Don & Jeani Schutte have been involved in full-time ministry since 1990. Don is an ordained minister with the Assemblies of God and served as a pastor to several Ministry A/G churches over the course of 30 years. Prior to this, he and Jeani were involved in part-time ministry while both earning bachelor’s degrees from JSBC and CBC Bible Colleges. Jeani also went on to earn a bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education.
Don & Jeani currently serve in various ministries at New Life under the leadership of Pastor J.D. Together, they coordinate the First Impressions ministry team. In addition, Jeani teaches a weekly girls’ class on Wednesday night for middle school students. Don fills in as needed, teaching at times for the Wednesday night adult service, the water baptism instruction class, and the new members’ class, and occasionally helping with hospital calls. Don also helps with maintenance and building improvements at the church.
Don & Jeani have been married 41 years and have 3 grown children including: John & his wife, Melody; Courtney & her husband, Chancey; and daughter Moriah who serves as the Administrative Assistant for New Life as well as being involved in many various ministries at the church.
NEED A RIDE? Wednesday evenings and Sunday mornings we have our New Life church bus go through the Eldon area picking up children for church services. If you would like to have your child picked up for church services contact our church office.
Contact the church office at:
573-789-4999
