Who We Are
Rev. Keith Turner
kturner@collegeavenuechurch.orgJob Title: Pastor
On staff since: July 2021
Hometown: Hurricane, West Virginia
Family: Dog Dad to Sidney, a bouncy, naughty, stubborn, and beautiful Australian Shepherd
Education: BA in Bible/Theology from Asbury University (2013); MDiv from Asbury Theological Seminary (2017)
Favorite Bible character: Moses
Favorite movie or TV show: Frasier; Schitt’s Creek
Favorite book: Faust: A Tragedy (Goethe); Candide (Voltaire)
Favorite food: Steak Diane with sides of Potatoes Dauphinoise and Asparagus; complemented by Silver Oak Cabernet Sauvignon (Napa Valley, of course)
Favorite part of my job: Preaching, Planning Worship Services, and Administering the Sacraments
My hero: Rev. Dr. Neil G. Thomas
If I had any super power, I’d: teleport. I hate being in the car for a long time.
I’d rather be: on the Straits of Mackinac in Northern Michigan
Three things on my bucket list:
- Travel to Bali, Indonesia
- Have lunch with Dan Levy
- Write and publish a book (Okay, maybe more than one. .
Jesse Longsworth
jlongsworth@collegeavenuechurch.orgJob Title: Intergenerational Minister
On staff since: November 2020, member since 2021
Hometown: Monroe, IN
Family: Wife, Jennie. 3 kids, Tait, Alexyn, and Noelle and 2 dogs, Oliver and Chonko
Education: Lincoln Technical Institute
Favorite Bible character: Peter
Favorite movie or TV show: Show-Breaking Bad. Movie-The John Wick Trilogy
Favorite book: What is the Bible? By Rob Bell
Favorite food: I love a really good Bacon Cheeseburger, but Pizza is always a solid choice, too.
Favorite part of my job: Being able to empower people to grow in their relationship with Jesus.
My hero: Wacko from Animaniacs or Stitch from Lilo and Stitch. They are both unashamedly who they are, no matter what.
If I had any super power, I’d: I would probably pick to be one of those who has all the cool tech stuff like Iron Man or Batman.
I’d rather be: 6' 2" (I am 5' 9").
Three things on my bucket list:
- To be able to take my wife to Fiji and stay in those huts on the water.
- Go sky diving.
- To literally scare the crap out of someone.
Dayna Arnett
darnett@collegeavenuechurch.orgJob Title: Youth Minister
On staff since: October 2020
Hometown: Detroit, MI
Family: Wanzetta Arnett (Mother), Dana Arnett (Father), Jade Arnett (Sister), and Alex Davis (Partner)
Education: Master of Science and Bachelor of Science from Ball State University
Favorite Bible character: Ester, for her fierce power and leadership.
Favorite movie or TV show: Billy Madison and Avatar: The Last Airbender.
Favorite book: Push by Sapphire.
Favorite food: Pepperoni pizza or sweet and sour chicken.
Favorite part of my job: Working with young minds to create a safe space in Christ and the Church for all to worship and walk with God.
My hero: My Mother
If I had any super power, I’d: Space Shifting
I’d rather be: Playing video games, watching tiktoks, or loving my cats.
Three things on my bucket list:
- Traveling to all of Europe.
- Be a Featured Regular on a sitcom.
- Go sky diving.
John Emert
jemert@collegeavenuechurch.orgJob Title: Organist and Assistant Director of Music
On staff since: 2004, member since 1989
Hometown: Knoxville, Tennessee
Family: Wife Elizabeth and son Jacob
Education: Ph.D., University of Tennessee
Favorite Bible character: King David
Favorite movie or TV show: The Lion King
Favorite book: today, it's Twelve Again - next week, who knows
Favorite food: Grandma's pound cake
Favorite part of my job: Communicating through music
My hero: J.S. Bach
If I had any super power, I’d: Keep all instruments in tune
I’d rather be: Me
Three things on my bucket list:
- Travel more with family
- Take time to write
- Take time to read
Dennis Williams
dwilliams@collegeavenuechurch.orgJob Title: Chancel Choir Director
On staff since: February 2018
Hometown: Indianapolis, IN
Family: Wife Angel, Son Scott, Son Corey (Lydia & Keira), Son Todd (Angela)
Education: DMA, MCM Southern Baptist Seminary, BME Indiana University
Favorite Bible character: David
Favorite movie or TV show: Frasier
Favorite book: Isaiah
Favorite food: Steak Frites
Favorite part of my job: Hearing music that touches my soul
My hero: Mozart
If I had any super power, I’d: be able to do miracles
I’d rather be: living in a perfect world
Three things on my bucket list:
- Travel in Italy, Germany, and Austria
Chuck Tuite
ctuite@collegeavenuechurch.orgJob Title: Praise Team Director
On staff since: March 2017
Hometown: Alexandria, Indiana
Family: Wife - Jo; son Dustin, daughters Shae, Mariah and Sophie
Education: BA German Studies, MS Information and Communication Sciences
Favorite Bible character: Jonah - he's a cautionary tale about placing ego over obedience.
Favorite movie or TV show: Movie: UHF. TV Show: NCIS
Favorite book: There are too many to list!
Favorite food: Italian
Favorite part of my job: Hearing the music and voices reach out together to speak to people.
My hero: There are many, depending on the aspect. Mozart would be a good musical hero, but would be terrible from the free throw line.
If I had any super power, I’d: Slow down time.
I’d rather be: Traveling.
Three things on my bucket list:
- Remodel a Victorian house
- spend a month traveling through Scandinavia
- complete a Spartan Race
Pat Bennett
pbennett@collegeavenuechurch.orgJob Title: Parish Nurse
On staff since: 2000, member since 1978
Hometown: Yorktown
Family: Husband, Ben; Four adult sons -- Benjamin, John Mark, Brian, Patrick and their wives – Mary, Julie, and Dang; five grandchildren – Jessica, Jeremiah, Jamie, Jennifer, Lindsey and step-grandson, Ben
Education: BSN, MA Counseling Psychology, PhD Nursing
Favorite Bible character: Jesus, Mary and Peter
Favorite movie or TV show: Big Bang Theory
Favorite book: Anything written by Thomas Merton, Henri Nouen, or Annie Lamott
Favorite food: Meat Loaf, corn on the cob or spaghetti
Favorite part of my job: Love being able to help with families at times of health crisis.
My hero: Mother Teresa
If I had any super power, I’d: Create world peace and tolerance.
I’d rather be: A more disciplined writer.
Three things on my bucket list:
- A trip to Scotland
- River cruise Eastern Europe
- Finally learn the dulcimer
Nichole Call
ncall@collegeavenuechurch.orgJob Title: Director of Communications
On staff since: December 2009, member since 2009
Hometown: Erie, Pennsylvania
Family: Husband-Dave, Kids-Will and Lizza, Cats-Kyra and Claire
Education: Onondaga Community College, Edinboro University, Syracuse University
Favorite Bible character: Elizabeth
Favorite movie or TV show: Outlander
Favorite book: The Outlander Series
Favorite food: Snowball cookies
Favorite part of my job: Working on the computer
My hero: I have several, but they are all people I know personally.
If I had any super power, I’d: Be able to give others what they need the most.
I’d rather be: Shopping!
Three things on my bucket list:
- Travel to Spain
- Visit Scotland
- Learn to not kill plants
Robin Stevens
rstevens@collegeavenuechurch.orgJob Title: Administrative Assistant
On staff since: July 2016
Hometown: Muncie, Indiana
Family: Husband, John, son, Robert, daughter, Autumn, and the zoo :-)
Education: Ball State University
Favorite Bible character: Mary Magdalene
Favorite movie or TV show: CSI
Favorite book: Soul Identity, currently
Favorite food: tomatoes from the garden
Favorite part of my job: Meeting members of the church
My heroes: My father
If I had any super power, I’d: Give homes and gardens to homeless
I’d rather be: in the garden
Three things on my bucket list:
- Greece, Italy, UK, Scotland visiting my ancestors graves and homes in these countries.