Cynthia Neufeld Smith is Associate Pastor of Southern Hills. A trained musician, Cynthia works with worship planning, leads the adult choir, and plays organ some Sundays. She also works with pastoral care and various other aspects of church life. Cynthia graduated from Bluffton College in 1976 as a music education major, has a Masters of Divinity degree from Anabaptist Mennonite Biblical Seminary in Elkhart, Indiana, and a Doctorate of Musical Arts in church music from the University of Kansas. In addition to her work at Southern Hills, Cynthia teaches organ at Washburn University and accompanies the Washburn University choirs and a number of other local choirs and soloists.
Roger Neufeld Smith has been pastor at Southern Hills since 1988. He graduated from Bethel College, North Newton, KS, in 1975 with a degree in chemistry. But soon after college he was called to be youth pastor in his home congregation in Newton, KS. After graduating from Anabaptist Mennonite Biblical seminary in 1986, Roger served as an interim pastor in Indiana before moving to Topeka. In addition to pastoring, Roger has been active in denomination ministries in Kansas, serving on the Western District Conference Evangelism and Executive Committees, then as moderator of WDC for three years. He is an occasional consultant for WDC congregationsRoger and Cynthia have two delightful adult children – one in Washington, DC, and the other in Newton, KS.
Lois Grummert has worked as 1/3 time Director of Youth and Young Adult Ministries at Southern Hills since 2013. Lois grew up in Mont Ida, a small town in southeast Kansas, where her father was a Church of the Brethren pastor. Lois graduated from McPherson College in 2005, majoring in theatre. She was the youth coordinator for the McPherson Church of the Brethren for 2 years and regional director for junior high youth for the Western Plains Conference of the Church of the Brethren before joining the staff at Southern Hills. Her husband, Nick, is an instructional coach at Shawnee Heights Elementary School. Lois and Nick have two lively preschool boys, Malachi and Marley
Rebekah Wheaton has been the half time administrative assistant at Southern Hills since 2002. She grew up in Sterling, Kansas, where her father was a District Superintendent for the African Methodist Episcopal Church. Rebekah has also worked for the Kansas East Conference of the United Methodist Church and for Friends University. She is an active member of the Asbury Mount Olive United Methodist Church in Topeka
Dianne Turnbow is the director for preschool children’s activities during worship at Southern Hills. Dianne is a preschool teacher at Christ the King Catholic School in Topeka
