Our Team

OUR TEAM

We are followers of Christ first.

For the glory of Christ, Covenant Life Church strives to reach Sarasota for the gospel through making disciples, equipping families, and seeking the transformation of the city and of the world. This threefold vision is taken by our staff, elders, deacons and members into the three arenas of life - where we live, work, and play.

Covenant Life is Elder Led, Deacon Served, and Staff Run

Elder Led

The elders have the primary human authority under Christ for the direction, doctrine, discipleship and discipline of Covenant Life Church.

They excercise this authority when acting in unison as prayerful servant leaders. For clarity we have key action verbs as illustrations of their four responsibilities.

Direction - lead, govern, cast vision

Discipleship - feed, connect, build up, model

Doctrine - guard, preserve, teach

Discipline - correct, restore, unify

Deacon Served

Deacons at Covenant Life have the responsibility as servants to support the elders, staff and lay leaders. They steward the church's resources, conduct the church's caring and maintain the church's property.

Steward - encourage generosity, collect tithes & offerings, administer funds

Conduct Caring Ministry - help those in physical, financial or practical need, visit the sick, equip the congregation to serve one another

Maintain Property - keep the buildings and grounds in good shape, develop the site, protect the physical resources of the church

Staff Run

The staff at Covenant Life, plan, implement and manage the vision and direction put forth by the elders. Each staff person is responsible for developing and coordinating their area of ministry (e.g., Children, Music, Students).

Their responsibilities are to:

Plan

Teach

Implement

Manage

Develop

Coordinate

Carry out day to day

PASTORS

Ken Aldrich - Senior Pastor

Ken relocated to Sarasota in 2011 to serve as Senior Pastor of Covenant Life Church. Ken and Amy have two sons and a daughter: Noel, Ben and Molly. Ken enjoys gardening, exercise and discipling men thirsty for spiritual growth. Amy loves to read, play the violin, meet with people over good coffee (Starbucks), and manage the home front.

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Steve Jeantet - Executive Pastor

Steve is the Executive Pastor of Covenant Life Church where he oversees the development and implementation of the church's strategy to connect people to Christ, one another and to service. He has a PhD in Organizational Leadership from Eastern University where he wrote his dissertation on the commitment and satisfaction of volunteers in Christian ministry. His current projects include researching the strategic management of churches and the use of the Biblical offices of prophet, priest and king as a way to understand leadership in organizations today. Steve married the love of his life, Kim, in 2004 and they have four children, Jeremiah, Charis, Rachel, and Micah.

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Scott Mawhinney - Pastor of Discipleship and Mission

Scott attended Dordt College from 1990-1994. After three years of teaching at Westminster Christian School, he spent three years as Middle School Director of Student Ministries at Old Cutler Presbyterian Church in Miami. After marrying Janna Levi, Scott completed his studies at Reformed Seminary in Orlando (2004). He and Janna have two beautiful boys, Michael and Levi and two adorable daughters, Gracie and Hope. He's been on staff here since July, 2006. Scott enjoys long walks on the beach, watching the Pittsburgh Steelers, and most importantly, being married to Janna and being a father to his precious children.

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Chris Knaebel - Assistant Pastor & Church Planting Apprentice

Chris grew up in Maryland and moved to Sarasota in 2015. He has served churches in Illinois, Pennsylvania and Florida in a variety of roles before coming to Covenant Life. He holds degrees from Moody Bible Institute and Westminster Theological Seminary. Chris and his lovely wife Rebecca were married in 2006 and are blessed with two precious children: Elliot and Karis. The Knaebels enjoy savoring good coffee and music, doing life together where they live, work, and play, and connecting with those around them.

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MINISTERIAL STAFF

Amanda Reffitt - Girls Discipleship Coordinator

Amanda joined the Covenant Life Staff in February of 2017 as the Girls Discipleship Coordinator. Amanda worked as a Paramedical Esthetician till God called her into Youth Ministry in 2012 with Suncoast Youth For Christ. During that time Amanda developed and ran Bible clubs on Elementary and Middle School campuses (Kids Live & Girl Talk). Amanda enjoys working with youth of all ages, but has a special place in her heart for students in their Middle and High School years. Amanda and her husband Josh have two boys, Jahven and Jove. Amanda enjoys going to the beach, beading, restoring furniture, and spending time with family and friends.

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Beth Overholt - Director of Women's Ministry

Beth grew up in Illinois and moved to Sarasota to join our staff in 2007 to oversee our Women's Ministry! Nothing brings Beth greater joy then connecting women together, seeing God's Word transform women's lives, discipling women, and leading small groups! Before she began full-time ministry at Covenant Life, she worked in the corporate world for seven years. She has a Bachelor's degree in Speech Communications and a Masters degree in Educational Ministries from Wheaton College. In her free time, Beth loves spending time with her husband, Maurice Overholt (who oversees Worship Ministries), her two step-sons, and Jasmine Isabella (her adorable dog). She loves playing sports, listening to music, spending quality time with friends, reading and watching movies!

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Blythe Sizemore - Director of Children's Ministry

Blythe joined the staff of Covenant Life in August of 2014. She graduated from Berry College with a B.A. in Sociology and Anthropology and has an M.A. in Theological Studies and an M.A. in Educational Ministries from Covenant Theological Seminary. Blythe has worked full-time in various ministry capacities throughout her career including: serving as a missionary in Bulgaria for 3 years, working in Youth Ministry, Church Admistration, Women's Ministry and Children's Ministry. She is married to Jared and they have 2 daughters, Annie and Eden. Blythe is passionate about discipling the next generation to know, love, and live God's Word.

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Maurice Overholt - Director of Worship

Maurice has served as the Director of Worship Ministries since October 2012, and is passionate about encouraging artists of all kinds to use their creative gifts in worship leadership. Maurice says it this way: "God’s image is reflected in each of us through the creative gifts he has given us, and church should be a safe place where artists can share those creative gifts in worship.”
Maurice grew up in a pastor’s home and has been involved in worship leadership since his early teens. After receiving a Bachelor of Music degree in Music Education from the University of Florida and a Master of Music degree in Choral Conducting from the Eastman School of Music, Maurice served in Worship Ministry leadership for over 10 years in Rochester, NY, before moving to Florida.
Maurice loves spending time with his wife, Beth, who is also on staff at Covenant Life as the Director of Women’s Ministries, and his two boys, Isaac and Timothy. He also enjoys reading, writing, composing, and watching movies.

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SUPPORT STAFF

Amy Conner - Administrative Assistant

Amy was born and raised in Maryland and spent five years in England as a teenager. She attended James Madison University, where she played soccer and became involved with the Fellowship of Christian Athletes. That led to a desire to do ministry. She received a Master's Degree in Christian Education from Wesley Theological Seminary and worked as a Director of Children and Youth Ministries at her home church in Maryland before moving to Florida in 2004. She has three grown children, Shannon (married in PA), Ty and Sara, and a granddaughter, Makayla.

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Ed Gross - Senior Visitation Coordinator

Ed was born and raised in St. Louis, MO, graduating from Southeast Missouri State University. He worked in various aspects of Real Estate throughout his career. When Christ came into his life as a young man, Ed became deeply involved in Ministering in the Church as an Elder here at Covenant Life. He and his wife, Betty, have taught many Sunday school classes, and have held small Bible studies in their home for about 40 years.

Since retiring Ed has been involved in Missions, mostly with a missionary, Anchor Your Life, in South Africa. After his first trip to Africa, he gained a heart and soul for the lost and the least.

The Lord laid on his heart a few years ago a compassion and a love for our precious Senior Citizens. So he became the Senior Care Coordinator at Covenant Life in 2015, where he and his team visit people in assisted living homes, their own homes, and in hospitals when needed.

Ed loves to read, ride his bicycle, do leather work, dote on his 2 beautiful daughters, Cathy and Julie, and his five awesome grandchildren, and spend time with Betty, his amazing “bride” of 55 years.

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Eric Babington - Director of Worship Technology

Eric came on staff at Covenant Life in April of 2017 as the Director of Worship Technology. He graduated from the Connecticut School of Broadcasting in 2009 and has since worked as a freelance media designer, Media Director for LifePoint Church in Oviedo,FL, and as a producer at the University of Central Florida. Eric’s goal is to create an environment that facilitates the worship of God by his people. Eric likes to use a definition he was taught in high school for Godly worship: “Worship is focusing your mind's attention and your heart's affection on God.”

In 2002, Eric married his high school sweetheart Vicki. They are the proud parents of three beautiful and awesome children, Hannah, Eli, and Talia. Since moving to Sarasota they have found lots of time to spend together doing activities like kayaking, digging around at the beach, and just hanging out at the pool.

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Lisa Carlson - Children's Ministry Assistant/Nursery Director

Lisa was born and raised in Rockland County, NY and moved to Florida in 1987. She graduated from Palm Beach Community College in 1992, and later studied criminal justice at Florida Atlantic University. She volunteered in children's ministries for many years as a Kindergarten Sunday School teacher, and then as a 2nd/3rd grade discipleship teacher at Covenant Life before joining the staff in October 2015. Lisa enjoys reading, watching action movies, and spending time with her husband Kevin and son Luke.

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Nancy Wadlinger - Administrative Assistant

Nancy Wadlinger grew up in the Bronx and moved to Florida in 1995 and worked for Globe Communications, now American Media Inc. She was the Photo Editor for Mira! magazine, the Spanish tabloid of The Star magazine. She has been working at Covenant Life Church since 2006. Nancy and Steve met here at the church and were married in December 12, 2015. Between them, they have 3 children: Brianna, Steve's daughter, and Nancy's children Tyler and Serah.

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Rocky Shiffner - Little Explorers Preschool Director

Rocky was raised in Northern Indiana and frequently vacationed in Sarasota with her family. After graduating from Purdue University with a BS in Environmental Health, she moved to sunny Sarasota. For many years, she worked in the Blood Bank Laboratory and then enjoyed being a stay-at-home mom. Later, she joined the Covenant Life Staff by working in the Children’s Ministry and as a VPK teacher at Little Explorers for 7 years before becoming our Director. Rocky enjoys crafting and spending time with her 2 daughters, Jessica and Hannah.

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ELDERS