Meet Our 2026 Camp Sychar Evangelists

EVANGELIST

Dr. Matt Ayars joined Wellspring Church in 2024. Matt is a graduate of Asbury University (BA), Wesley Biblical Seminary (MA), and St. John’s College of Nottingham (PhD). Matt is the former President of Wesley Biblical Seminary (2020–2023) and Emmaus University of Haiti (2012–2020). Matt is married to Stacey and has five children.

EVANGELIST

EVANGELIST

Bill Kierce began serving as FAS President in June 2023. While in seminary, Bill served as an associate evangelist with the Society and values the privilege of being mentored, like so many others, by Dr. Dennis Kinlaw during those years. He considers it a high and holy privilege to provide leadership in helping to extend the legacy of Dr. Kinlaw’s influence and the message of biblical holiness.

Bill completed a Bachelor’s degree in Mass Communication from Auburn University, Master of Divinity from Asbury Theological Seminary, a Master’s in Leadership and Organizational Development from Saint Louis University (SLU), and a Master’s in Communication from Arizona State University and is completing a PhD dissertation in Organizational Leadership at Eastern University in St. Davids, PA.

Bill has served as an itinerant evangelist, pastor, congregational consultant, as well as graduate and undergraduate adjunct instructor, roles that have converged in his presidency at the Francis Asbury Society. Bill and his wife, Kim, have three grown children and eight grandchildren. Kim is a registered nurse and nurse educator.

BIBLE TEACHER

Caleb T. Friedeman (PhD, Wheaton College) is a Wesleyan pastor-theologian dedicated to teaching, preaching, and writing in service to the church. He currently serves as David A. Case Chair of Biblical Studies and associate research professor of New Testament at Ohio Christian University.

Dr. Friedeman's research interests include the Gospel birth narratives and holiness in biblical theology. He is the author of The Revelation of the Messiah (Cambridge University Press, 2023) and Gospel Birth Narratives and Historiography (Baylor University Press, 2025). He has also coauthored The Doctrine of Good Works (Baker Academic, 2023) and Holiness: A Biblical, Historical, and Systematic Theology (IVP Academic, 2023). Dr. Friedeman is the editor of Listen, Understand, Obey (Pickwick, 2017) and A Scripture Index to Rabbinic Literature (Hendrickson Academic, 2021). He has published articles in academic journals including New Testament Studies, Catholic Biblical Quarterly, and Journal of Theological Interpretation. [Full publications ›]

Dr. Friedeman is an ordained elder in the Church of the Nazarene, and he preaches and teaches regularly at camps, churches, and conferences. He is married to Isabella, and they welcomed their son Paul in the spring of 2025.

HILL SERVICE EVANGELIST

Gareth Lee Cockerill is no stranger to Camp Sychar. He has served as Bible teacher, evangelist, and facilitator for the hill service, but many years he comes just because he loves Camp Sychar and wants to be blessed by the ministry of others. Gary (as his friends call him) is Professor Emeritus of New Testament and Biblical Theology at Wesley Biblical Seminary, Jackson, Mississippi, where he taught for thirty-five years. Gary and his wife Rosa also served for nine year as missionaries in Sierra Leone, West Africa. God has given Gary opportunities to continue speaking and writing since retirement. His book ‘Yesterday and Today . . . and Forever’: Listening to Hebrews in the 21st Century, (2022 Cascade) takes you through the Letter to the Hebrews in seven weeks of daily readings enabling you to digest the wonderful message of this great biblical book.  The Jesus Question: Discovering the Identity of Jesus in His First Biography will be available from Hendrickson Publishers in the fall. In this book Gary invites you to join Jesus’ followers in the Gospel of Mark as they discover the answer to the world’s most important question: “Who do you say that Jesus is?” The Jesus Question is Gary’s testimony to the Jesus who embraced him as a fifteen year old and who has held him close throughout his life. God has given Gary Psalm 71:17–18 as verses for his retirement, challenging him to “proclaim [God’s] might to another generation,” and His “power to all those to come” as long as God gives him the strength to do so.

SONG EVANGELIST

Carla Shuck is a musician and educator from Indianapolis, Indiana, with a lifelong dedication to sacred music and Christian education. She earned her Bachelor of Arts in Music from God’s Bible School and College in Cincinnati, Ohio. Throughout her career, Carla has directed numerous church choirs, cultivating vibrant worship through music and mentoring singers of all ages. She served as a Professor of Music at Kentucky Mountain Bible College, where she invested in the next generation of musicians and worship leaders. During her time at KMBC, Carla pursued graduate studies at Asbury Seminary in Wilmore, Kentucky. While there, she was featured as a soloist in several performances of Handel’s Messiah, highlighting her vocal ability and passion for classical sacred repertoire. In addition to her collegiate teaching, Carla has taught in various Christian schools and has consistently shared her talents as a pianist. She is currently serving at Southport Nazarene Church in Indianapolis, Indiana, where she continues to contribute to the life of the church through music ministry.

WORSHIP LEADER

Sophie serves as the Director of Worship and Communications at Journey Community Church in Plain City, Ohio.

YOUTH EVANGELIST

YOUTH SONG EVANGELIST

CHILDREN’S EVANGELIST

Charissa is excited to be returning for another year as our Children's Evangelist! She is currently serving as the Worship and Youth Pastor at Trinity Assembly of God in Columbus, Ohio with her husband, Gary, and their daughter, Emery. After growing up at Camp Sychar and having life changing moments in both the Children's program and Youth program, Charissa has been ministering since 2003 in a variety of roles including 20 years as a Children’s, Youth and Worship Pastor. She is honored to be a part of a legacy of leaders that instill God's love in the next generation and beyond.  

PRESCHOOL MINISTRIES

I live in Frazeysburg, Ohio with my husband and our two children, Pearl and Burke. Farming is at the heart of our family life, and we love the rhythms and rewards that come with it. I’ve spent the past 30 years attending Camp Sychar, a place that has deeply shaped who I am. I also serve as the Director of Farm Fun at McDonald’s Greenhouse, where I get to combine creativity, community, and a love for agriculture in a meaningful way.

PRESCHOOL MINISTRIES

Nicola is excited to be a part of the preschool ministry team this year helping with crafts and other activities. As a stay-at-home mom to an energetic and curious ten-year-old, she is looking forward to serving Camp Sychar and inspiring our smallest Christians about what the love of Christ means.

Nicola holds a Bachelors degree in Finance from The Ohio State University and lives in Pataskala, Ohio with her husband, Drew, their son, John and their dog Lucy.