Dr. Tracee J. Swank

Dr. Tracee J. Swank is the architect of Church4Today. As a certified church consultant, Christian leadership coach, Building a StoryBrand Guide, and Business Made Simple Coach, Tracee serves as a strategic guide and coach for pastors, ministry leaders, and Christian entrepreneurs. Tracee is committed to helping others carry out their vision and mission in the Kingdom using the gifts, skills, and resources God has provided.

Tracee enjoys helping others discover and implement creative new ideas for Kingdom projects, speaking at conferences and gatherings, and leading ministry immersion trips with Christian leaders.

Tracee currently helps lead a microchurch plant and works with local marketplace Christians on community development projects. She lives in northwest Ohio with her husband, Matt, and their black Lab, Beckett.

Tracee is a graduate of Winebrenner Theological Seminary in Findlay, Ohio, and holds a master’s degree in theological studies and a Doctor of Ministry degree in Kingdom entrepreneurship. While not traveling and serving the ministry, Tracee enjoys gardening, cooking, watching Toledo Mud Hens baseball, and all things related to the Ohio State University. (Go Bucks!)

Creative Team

Dr. Katie Erickson

Content & Systems Engineer

Katie joined the Church4Today team at the beginning of 2021 as the Special Projects Team Leader. Prior to this, she worked for almost 17 years as an electrical engineer. Katie earned her Masters of Divinity degree in 2010 and her Doctor of Ministry degree in 2023 from Winebrenner Theological Seminary. Katie also serves a few other ministries through writing weekly blog posts, speaking engagements, video editing, podcast publishing, and book publishing.

She has a passion for teaching and tutoring, especially the Biblical Hebrew language. She enjoys helping authors publish their books with her editing and graphic design skills, managing her rental properties, and crocheting and knitting in her free time. She lives in northwest Ohio.

Chelsey Genszler

Creative Guide

Chelsey currently serves as the Creative Guide for Church4Today. She was called to the team in 2018 after completing 10 months of the SEND Movement discipleship training. Through Church Doctor, she has had the opportunity to travel to England, South Africa, Colorado, Washington, Arkansas, Arizona, and around the Midwest for mission trips, immersion excursions, and conferences. She feels truly blessed to be a part of the CDM team. 

Chelsey is married to Matt, and they live in Alexandria, Minnesota, where they enjoy being surrounded by so many beautiful lakes and trails. Chelsey and Matt spend their free time caring for their young children Jeremiah and Amelia, adventuring to new places, hanging out with Chelsey’s family, and making new friends.

Beth Knoll

Editor & Proofreader

Beth Knoll began contributing to the team in June 2004 as a proofreader and now also serves on the social media team. She grew up in the United Brethren denomination and attends a Brethren in Christ church where her family has attended for six generations. Beth discovered her passion for church health before she even knew Church Doctor Ministries existed.

After earning an English degree from Huntington College (now Huntington University), Beth spent nearly a decade in reporter and editorial roles at newspapers in Indiana and Pennsylvania. She enjoys reading nonfiction, gardening, canning, crocheting, and sewing. Beth has played the piano in churches and at home for more than 30 years and currently serves her church worship teams on keyboard. She and her husband, Chris, homeschool their three children in rural Orrstown, Pennsylvania.

Dr. Rupert Loyd

Coach

Dr. Rupert Loyd Jr. has a BA in history from Miami University in Oxford, Ohio, an MDiv from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary in Boston, and a PhD in Leadership from Union University in Cincinnati. He has over 40 years of pastoral experience in both urban and suburban churches, including multiethnic, multi-congregational churches. Throughout his career, he has maintained a presence in both the church and the academy. Dr. Loyd currently teaches graduate and undergraduate classes in the College of Business and Leadership at Lourdes University, and he holds the post of lead pastor at Marketplace Community Church in Toledo, Ohio.

Tom Schaeffer

Coach

Tom has over 30 years of experience in ministry. During that time, he has led churches through transitions ranging from the mission start of a new congregation to the mission redevelopment of a failing congregation to the launch of a satellite worship at a large congregation. He has served in rural, urban, and suburban contexts. In addition, Tom started an award-winning brewery that, during his leadership, supported his ministry and worked under the motto of “Brew good. Do good.” Tom has served as a coach for numerous pastors and ministers. 

Jason Atkinson

Project Manager

Jason Atkinson joined the team in October 2005 and serves as the Ministry Leadership Support, and Assistant to Founder. A few of his roles are coordinating ministry consultations and coaching services, survey scoring, data analysis, and videography. Prior to serving with Church Doctor Ministries, Jason graduated from Huntington University with a B.A. in Mass Communication.

In his spare time, he is an active member and serves on a worship team at his church, St. Joseph UMC, in Fort Wayne, Indiana. In addition to that, he enjoys reading legal thrillers, hiking, traveling, and enjoys spending time with his family. Jason has been married to his wife Laura since 2004 and they have two daughters.