AboutLeadership
Our Leadership
Pastors, elders, and staff who serve Waypoint.
These men and women help shepherd our church, care for our people, and keep us faithful to Jesus.
Elders
Those who oversee and shepherd the church.
Lead Pastor / Elder
Kent Van Natta
Kent Van Natta has served in ministry as a lead pastor, interim pastor, spiritual formations pastor, life groups director, itinerant speaker, and author since 2000. Originally from Orlando, Florida, Kent graduated from UCF with a bachelor’s degree in Interpersonal Communications in 2003 and earned a Master of Divinity from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary in 2006. He enjoys reading, board games, and writing. Kent has been married to his wife, Cassie, since 2005, and they have two children—Abigail and Nathan.
Elder
Jeremy Butler
Jeremy Butler is a retired educator who currently serves at God’s Resort, a transitional living ministry, while also working as a home inspector. A devoted follower of Jesus since 1983, Jeremy has a passion for helping people grow in faith and navigate life’s challenges. He has been married to his wife, Krista, since 1994, after the two met while attending Ozark Christian College. Together, they have been blessed with four adult children—Jake, Jerett, Brittney, and Khloe.
Elder
Nathan Mayo
Nathan Mayo serves as the VP of Programs for True Charity, where he equips churches and nonprofits across the nation to make their poverty alleviation programs more empowering. Originally from Alabama, his heart for service was shaped by his experience as an Army captain and missionary to Haiti. He also co-founded the ministry Berean Holiness to help people from hyper-fundamentalist church backgrounds find freedom in the gospel of grace. He enjoys reading broadly, discussing big ideas, exploring new places near and far, and spending time outdoors with his family. He and his wife, Abbie, make their home in Joplin, where they homeschool their daughters, Heidi and Lillie.
Elder
Hector Romero
Hector Romero Granillo is a Senior Software Engineer who serves on the worship team at Wellspring Church in Webb City. Originally from the small colonial town of Alamos, Sonora, Mexico, he grew up in a family deeply involved in their local church and began serving on the worship team at age twelve. After graduating as a software engineer, he married Chelsea in 2012 and moved to the United States, where they spent five years serving in worship at the church pastored by his father-in-law. In 2017, they returned to his hometown, and for the next eight years, Hector served as worship leader, filled the pulpit when needed, and taught a year-long theology class. Born into a Christian family and active in the church from childhood, he experienced a decisive Damascus Road commitment at age twenty-three to live fully for Jesus. He and Chelsea now make their home in Joplin with their four children—Sophia, Hector Paul, Santiago, and Amelia. He loves studying theology and engaging in thoughtful discussions and is a dedicated coffee enthusiast.
Support Team
Those who serve our ministries week by week.
Waypoint Kids Director