Our Leaders

Carl Godwin – Senior Pastor and Founder

A native of Lincoln, Carl Godwin is the founding pastor of Calvary Community Church. Having accepted Christ as his personal Savior as a child, Carl felt God’s calling to the pastorate at the age of 16.

Following graduation from Lincoln High School, he received his B.A. and M.A. degree from Bible college. In 1995, he was awarded an honorary doctorate degree from Liberty University.

Carl and his wife Gayle  met during college and have been married over 35 years. Following graduation, they set out on a journey to observe some of America’s fastest-growing churches. During this time, they both began to sense God’s leading to begin a church in Lincoln. Carl & Gayle have three children and nine grandchildren. Want to get Carl talking? Ask him about his yellow lab Scout or his current marathon training.

Cleve Smith – Adult Ministries

Cleve Smith grew up in Panama City, Florida where he learned to survive bitter winters that occasionally dipped to 35 degrees! At Tennessee Temple University he received his BA in Bible and developed a passion for church ministry. Not to mention his passion for his wife Kim! Before coming to Lincoln, Cleve served for 21 years at two churches in West Virginia and North Carolina.

Cleve and Kim came to Calvary in February 2005 (during one of our record-breaking cold spells!). Here at Calvary, Cleve is responsible for overseeing the adult ministries. When he isn’t hashing out details for some ministry endeavor, you can find him jogging or logging his 10,000^th hour of bleacher time at one of his four children’s volleyball, football, or basketball games.

Steve Davenport – Student Ministries

Pastor Steve was born in Atlanta, Georgia and received his Bachelor’s Degree from Trinity Baptist College in Jacksonville, Florida in 1993.  From there, he went on to earn his Master of Divinity degree from Luther Rice Seminary in Atlanta. Prior to his coming to Calvary, he served as an assistant pastor at Northside Baptist Church in Charlotte, North Carolina.

Having developed a passion for Husker football at a young age, Steve was in Husker heaven when he joined the Calvary staff in 2000. Steve and his wife Terry have two future huskers, Nathan and Daniel. Here at Calvary, Pastor Steve faithfully teaches God’s Word to our youth through our Velocity Ministry and develops passionate followers of Christ for the next generation.

Mitch Larson – Worship Ministries

Mitch Larson was born and raised in the frozen tundra of North Dakota, so enduring Nebraska weather is a piece of cake! When his family moved to western Nebraska, he added the Cornhuskers to his list of passions (right next to the Minnesota Vikings).  Mitch attended University of Nebraska at Kearney where he earned his Bachelor’s Degree in Music.

After teaching music in Iowa for nine years, Mitch followed God’s leading into full-time worship ministry in Fort Wayne, Indiana. In 2000, Mitch brought his wife, Leisa, and four children to Lincoln and Calvary. A man of many talents, in addition to leading the congregation in powerful and inspiring weekly worship, Mitch coordinates dramatic presentations like Christmas with Calvary.

Shane Sundermann – Children’s Ministries

Shane Sundermann is no stranger to Calvary Community Church, because he literally grew up at Calvary! After attending Parkview Christian School, he received his Bachelor’s Degree from Calvary Bible College in Kansas City. 

Shane has served as children’s pastor since 2000.  You may not know this, but on Sunday mornings, C3 Kids has become THE place for children in Northwest Lincoln. Shane has assembled a staff of volunteers that excite as well encourage kids in their walk with Christ through the use of drama, games and music to make the Bible come alive.  Away from church, Shane keeps busy with his wife Debi and four children.

Scott Wiles – Grandpeople Ministries

Pastor Scott was first introduced to Calvary Community Church in 1999 when he was invited to join the faculty of Parkview Christian School as English teacher. His spiritual growth while attending Calvary led him to follow the call of Christ into pastoral ministry.

Upon graduating from Grace University in May 2008, Scott welcomed the opportunity to join Calvary’s staff as their Grandpeoples’ pastor. Scott also has a background in theatre so you may catch him on stage in Christmas with Calvary or Summer Spectacular. Scott’s wife, Karen, teaches at Parkview Christian School and they have four children that remind them daily of God’s lovingkindness.

Mozart Dixon – Young Adult Ministries

Mozart was born and raised in Lincoln and graduated from Northeast High School. During his freshman year at Doane college, the Gospel was presented to him and he began a new life in Christ. A few years later, “Mo” began serving as full-time staff for Campus Crusade for Christ at Nebraska Wesleyan University, where he met his wife, Colleen. In January 2011, he joined our Calvary team and kicked-off a new ministry to young adults (and we define that as 18-25 year olds—sorry, Pastor Carl!)

Because of his passion to turn college students into devoted followers of Jesus Christ, you can usually fine Mozart on a campus, meeting students at random coffee shops or on the Frisbee gold course behind Calvary. No luck? He might be playing basketball or coaching his son, Trevoyce, in the finer points of free throws.

John Brooks - Visitation Pastor

A seasoned veteran in serving the Lord, Pastor John joined the Calvary team as Visitation Pastor in July 2010. CCC is a familiar stomping ground for John—he served as our Children’s Pastor from 1987-1998 before becoming Discipleship Director at Harvest Baptist Church in Fort Doge, Iowa. When his beloved wife, Barb, passed away in November 2008, John returned to Lincoln to be closer to his two children and four grandchildren.

Born and raised in Missouri, John is a also proud veteran of the United States Army, where he served as a Medic from 1966-1968.