Staff
SDCMB Staff
Tim Sullivan has served the Southern District as District Minister since August of 2004. The primary duties of the District Minister are to be a pastor to the pastors of the SDC churches and to work with the various commissions to carry out the joint ministry of the district churches.
Tim has a BA in Humanities from Tabor College in 1986 and an M.Div. in Pastoral Ministries from Mennonite Brethren Biblical Seminary in Fresno, CA in 1990.
Tim is married to Donna, has three married children and three grandsons. Tim and Donna live in Wichita, KS. Tim’s previous ministry experience was as pastor of the Parkview Mennonite Brethren Church in Hillsboro, KS where he served for fourteen years. He enjoys hunting, fishing, golf and playing with his grandsons. Tim can be reached by e-mailing him at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .
Russ Claassen began serving as District Youth Minister in 2011, and has a long history of ministry within the Southern District. He grew up in Hillsboro Kansas, graduated from Tabor College in 1994 and received a Master of Arts degree in Youth and Family Ministry from Denver Seminary in 1999.
Russ is married to Chandelle and they have two sons, Samuel and Dellen. Russ most recently completed eleven years of ministry at Corn Mennonite Brethren Church as youth pastor. He currently serves the district half time and as half time Youth Pastor at Koerner Heights Church of the Mennonite Brethren in Newton KS. Russ enjoys spending time with his family, motorcycling, camping, fishing, woodworking and athletics. Russ's e-mail address is This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .
Chris Spahr is the SDC Treasurer and the Administrative Assistant to the District Minister. Chris is married to Tharen and they have four children. Their oldest two daughters, Jessica and Lindsay, are both married and live in Omaha, Nebraska. Their son, Zach and youngest daughter, Becky both attend college. Chris and Tharen enjoy spending time with their five grandchildren. Chris’s family attends Lighthouse Community Church in Wichita.
Chris' e-mail address is This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .