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Staff & Council


Jealaine Marple
Interim Pastor

Rev. Jealaine Marple ("Pastor J") joins us as our interim pastor fresh off an interim with First Lutheran Church in Mission Hills, KS. Prior to that, she served the people of Elvira Zion Lutheran Church in rural Clinton, Iowa, for 7 years. Pastor J is a graduate of Wartburg Theological Seminary in Dubuque, IA (Master of Divinity) and a proud alumna of Northwest Missouri State University (bachelor’s in English). Go Bearcats! Pastor J is married to Chris (for 21 years) and they have one daughter, Ellen (EJ), who is in middle school. She is also mom to Sasha (a poodle mix) and Brinkley (a Jack Russell mix). In her spare time, Pastor J is an unpaid Uber driver for her kid. Pastor J enjoys reading, current events, movies, laughter and joy, and cheering on the Chiefs and Royals. She firmly believes that grace is for all and that free chips and salsa should be served in more mundane places like the post office.

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Heather Lewis
Director of Worship and Music

Heather Lewis has been the Director of Worship and Music at Salem since 2010, and was the song leader and pianist at a Saturday evening worship service 2004-09. Heather has a bachelor’s degree from Arizona State University in choral music education and a master’s degree from University of Maryland in piano performance. In addition to her work at Salem, she teaches piano lessons in her home. Heather directs the adult choir, children's choir, and youth special music and drama, and coordinates and leads music in all services. She also directs children's musicals and Christmas programs every year. Salem’s music is enthusiastically offered in worship by all ages, and welcomes all levels of experience.

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Shari Van Baale
Communications Coordinator

Shari started as Communications Coordinator at Salem in early 2017. Her job duties include the weekly bulletin and e-newsletter, creating slides for worship, maintaining the Salem website, and the annual directory, as well as other publications throughout the year. She has also worked at a Methodist church since 2010 doing a similar position. She has a bachelor’s in journalism from the University of Iowa. Originally from the Chicago area, she has lived in the Kansas City area since 2007. Her hobbies include reading, hiking, walking, and enjoying nature with her family. She lives in Olathe with her husband and two children, and her two beagles, Cream Puff and Cookie.

Email Shari

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