Meet Our Staff:
Sheldon Henderson, Pastor
congregations as a full-time settled minister and has served three other congregations as part-time or as
an interim. Before accepting the full-time call to Newton, Sheldon helped organize and start the River
Valley Disciples new church start in Des Moines. He is currently their Spiritual Director on a part-time
basis.
Sheldon has been married to his wife Kim for over 35 years and they enjoy living in Des Moines in their
current house of over 33 years. It has been in that house where Sheldon and Kim have raised their two
children. Their daughter Devon (30) lives in Iowa City. Their son Thayne (28) just recently left the Army
after serving for almost six years and will be living in Des Moines.
Before becoming a minister, Sheldon made his living in the automotive and truck industry where he
found himself owning and operating several businesses in that field. From a towing company that he
and his brothers operated to an award-winning vehicle restoration and custom shop – anything
mechanical has not been far from his hands.
Early on in his life, Sheldon traveled and sang first tenor with a regionally based Gospel quartet called
the Ambassadors. He plays the guitar, trumpet, and just recently has started to learn the trombone. He
is currently completing a recording project of his original songs.
Other interests are snowmobiling in the winter, flying single engine airplanes, and attending the Drake
Women’s basketball games with Kim.
Julie Brown, Office Manager
Tom Goeke, Custodian
Greta Wallace, Pianist/Organist
Cathi Wickett, Director of Music
Cathi has been the Director of Music at First Christian Church since fall of 2006. She was born and raised in Newton. After completion of high school in 1972, she continued her education at Wartburg College and received her degree in 1976 with a Bachelor of Music Education with emphasis in Percussion. She has been very active with her music by playing with the Pella Community Orchestra, Des Moines Community Orchestra, Newton City Band, Ames Municipal City Band and Grinnell College Community Band. She started her Christian faith as choir director at St. Luke United Methodist Church and transferred to First United Methodist Church as choir director with the addition of First Christian Church as Director of Music. She has also given piano and drum private lessons. “Melody Unlimited”, a singing group, was her passion for 18 years. She is very active with the Newton Community Theater. Cathi has a son, Curt, and a daughter and son-in-law, Amanda and Jordan Roberts. In addition, she has 4 grandsons, Bentley, Drayton, Brycen and Davin. Cathi works as a bookkeeper with Nuzum and Montalvo Law Firm.