Rev. Long was appointed to Centenary by Bishop Schnase in September 2005 after previously serving Missouri churches in Eureka, St. Louis (Affton) and Ellisville. A native of Pittsburgh, PA, he is a graduate of Westminster College (Pa.) and Eden Theological Seminary. He is expecting to complete a doctor of ministry degree in May 2010.  Married to his college sweetheart, Lois, since 1982, the couple has two children: Emily and Rachael.

Jeff’s first career was in radio broadcasting, working in Youngstown (Ohio), Pittsburgh and St. Louis, where he won multiple awards for news reporting at the state and regional levels. Jeff has a deep interest in the sacraments of baptism and communion and in the Protestant Reformation. The guiding Scripture verses for his ministry (which form the basis for Centenary’s credo of “Honor God, Help People”) are Mark 12:30-31:  “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your mind, with all your soul and with all your strength…and love your neighbor as yourself.”

Rev. Karen Nothdurft has served on the staff of Centenary since September 1999. She is a graduate of Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary in Chicago, Illnois, and has a graduate certificate in pastoral care from Aquinas Institute of Theology in St. Louis. She was recently commissioned as a clergy member of the Missouri Conference.

Before serving in the local church Karen worked in health care as a registered nurse and continues to hold an active license. She has a specific interest in ministry to the whole person--body, mind and spirit--and serves as an on-call chaplain at Southeast Missouri Hospital. Karen is newlywed to her husband, Paul.

Karen's life verse is Proverbs 3:5-7,"Trust in the Lord with all your heart. Do not lean on your own understanding; but in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will direct your path."

Mike is a native of Jackson, Missouri, and has been an active leader in church music for over 35 years. Mike is married to Elizabeth “Betsy” Dumey who is a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist at Southeast Hospital. They have two daughters, Lauren and Caitlyn. Mike holds a Bachelor of Music Education degree from Southeast Missouri State University.

In addition to his role as director of traditional arts at Centenary, Mike is the vocal instructor at Cape Central Junior High School, a position he has enjoyed for 19 years. Prior to this appointment, he has served as music instructor for Cape Public Schools at May Greene Elementary and for Oak Ridge R-6 Schools.

Mike’s favorite Scripture is Matthew 6:33: “Seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you.”

Penny began working at Centenary UMC in August, 2009. She grew up in Dexter, MO, and attended college at Southeast Missouri State University where she met her husband, Mike DuPerier. They were married in 1986, and Penny later graduated from Texas Tech University. During Mike's 21-year career as an Air Force pilot they were stationed in TX, FL, AL, and Ohio. Mike retired from the Air Force in 2007, and they moved back to Jackson to settle down and be near family. Penny and Mike  have three children:  Zachary, William and Megan. . 

Penny has been very involved in church activities wherever they have lived. She has worked as pianist, Sunday School teacher, children’s choir director, youth choir accompanist, VBS volunteer, and many other jobs. Most recently, she was Director of Children’s Ministry at Shalimar United Methodist Church in Florida. Her hobbies include piano, scrapbooking, and spending time with her family. One of Penny’s favorite scriptures is Proverbs 22:6: “Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it.”

Gail is a native of Honolulu, Hawaii, and has lived in several states as the child of a Navy man. She graduated from Quincy University in Illinois in 1995 with degrees in pre-school through high school special education, elementary education, elementary and middle school music, language arts, and history. In 1998 she and her husband, Dan, moved to Cape when he accepted a job at KFVS 12. They have four daughters: Lauren, Emily, Jayna, and Natalie.  Gail is a Girl Scout leader, volleyball coach, and helps with many children’s ministries at church. Before moving to Cape Gail taught high school special education and fourth grade at the former Washington school. 

Gail became Preschool director in 2005, because she felt called to it.  Gail says, “Staying in the same town for eleven years straight is a new record for me, and it makes Cape the place I have lived the longest. I have enjoyed being part of this very special ministry and consider myself lucky to be able to work with these very special children and share God’s word with them.”