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Leadership
Lead Pastor / Elder
Francis O'Donnell
Francis' ministry is rooted in his life verse, Philippians 1:6: “And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion.” He believes God is actively at work in every season—including times of transition—shaping us into who we are becoming in Christ.
As Interim Pastor, Francis provides steady, grace-based leadership to keep Blue Hills Baptist Church focused on its mission. He is passionate about coming alongside people to help them grow and transform, drawing from a Master of Divinity from The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary and a Bachelor of Social Work from the University of Central Missouri.
Francis married his best friend, Shanna, 35 years ago, and they are blessed with four grown children.
His personal journey has instilled in him a deep compassion for those who are hurting, and in his spare time, he loves fishing and hanging out with his family. He looks forward to partnering with Blue Hills to ensure a season of stability, spiritual growth, and forward momentum.
816-343-9077 Ext #1
Children's Ministry Director
Amber Hall
Amber moved to the Kansas City area in 2020 with her husband as they pursued ministry training at Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, where he earned his M.Div. and she took classes geared towards women in ministry. She and her husband now have a toddler son and infant daughter and are excited to serve and grow alongside their church family. Amber brings experience in leadership, team development, and working with children and families in both ministry and residential care settings. She is passionate about creating a safe, welcoming, and Christ-centered environment where children can learn about Jesus, build relationships, and have fun.
816-343-9077 Ext #2
Youth Ministry Director
Tim Collins
Tim and Sydney joined Blue Hills in 2023 and jumped right into serving in youth ministry. Their desire is to see youth grow in biblical truth, embrace the gospel, and become devoted followers of Christ. They adore their daughter, Charlotte, and enjoy the outdoors, quality coffee, and their Goldendoodle, Nala.
816-343-9077 Ext #3
Worship & Communications Director
Aaron Young
Aaron has faithfully served Blue Hills since 2020. He studies at Spurgeon College with a focus on business. As our worship director, he helps us worship the Lord in a biblical and Christ-exalting way, and as our communications director, he helps bring the gospel and the mission of Blue Hills to a wider audience.
816-343-9077 Ext #4
ELDERS
The New Testament shows us two offices within a church, elders (usually called “pastors” today) and deacons. Elders and deacons are entrusted with the responsibility of caring for Christ’s church. Blue Hills is served by a team of elders/pastors who partner together in shepherding souls, teaching the Scriptures, preaching the gospel, and leading the church. They are a band of brothers who work as a team to meet the needs of our congregation. Every pastor at Blue Hills must be servant-leader and his life and character must meet the elder qualifications of 1 Timothy 3:1-7 and Titus 1:5-9. If you would like to speak or meet with a pastor, please call (816) 343-9077 ex. 1. We are available Tuesday - Friday 9:00am to 5:00pm, and on Sundays at 10:30am.
DEACONS
The deacons of Blue Hills work together to meet the tangible needs of church life. They are an invaluable team who do so much to bless our congregation and make our various ministries and activities successful. Each deacon at Blue Hills must be a servant-leader and must meet the qualifications of 1 Timothy 3:8-13. Our deacons are Allen Storey, Kyle Payne, Tyler Hall, and Mario DeGracias.