Transformation Through Reconciliation

Staff Members

Craig Diestelkamp, Executive Director, has earned a Master of Arts in Theology and is currently pursuing a Master of Arts in Counseling at Covenant Theological Seminary. Craig draws on his 25 years of pastoral experience in working with individuals, couples and families who are facing relational conflict and experiencing personal brokenness. Craig's experience of pastoral counseling and conflict resolution within the church provides the foundation for ongoing group and individual pastoral counseling. Craig has completed specialized training in conflict resolution, including "Conflict Coaching and Mediation Training” and “Reconciling Marital Conflict Training” and is pursuing certification with the Institute for Christian Conciliation™, a division of Peacemaker® Ministries.
E-mail: cdiestelkamp@liveatpeace.org

Joani Nester, Regional Supervisor, holds a Master of Arts in Counseling from Covenant Theological Seminary and a Bachelor of Science in Business Management from Arizona State University. She has extensive experience as a former counselor, administrator, and board member of the Greater St. Louis Pregnancy Resource Centers. Joani is a Licensed Professional Counselor in the State of Missouri and is a Certified Christian Conciliator™ with the Institute for Christian Conciliation™, a division of Peacemaker® Ministries. She has many years of professional counseling and mediation experience working with conflicted marriages, families, and churches, as well as extensive experience serving adults and teenagers experiencing a wide variety of struggles.
E-mail: jnester@liveatpeace.org

Allison Pickering, Senior Staff, holds a Master of Arts in Counseling from Covenant Theological Seminary and is a Licensed Professional Counselor in the State of Missouri. As a Certified Christian Conciliator with the Institute for Christian Conciliation™, a division of Peacemaker® Ministries, Allison serves as an instructor, certification coach and mediator with Peacemaker Ministries. She has extensive experience working as a church consultant and as a member of church crisis intervention teams. Allison's counseling and mediation ministry specializes in church and organizational leadership conflict as well as marital conflict and often focuses on pastors and their families. Her passions include counseling individuals struggling with depression, anxiety, sexual abuse, sexual addiction, and faith crisis. Allison also served for 18 years on staff with a campus ministry prior to training as a counselor.
E-mail: ahaltom@liveatpeace.org

Daniel Teater, Resident, has earned a Master of Divinity from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School and is currently pursuing a Master of Arts in Counseling from Covenant Theological Seminary. Daniel also holds a Bachelor of Arts in Religion from Missouri Baptist University. Daniel draws on his current and previous pastoral experience in working with individuals experiencing various forms of sexual brokenness including addiction, infidelity, gender identity disorder, and same-sex attraction. Daniel's experience in leading and facilitating men's recovery groups within the church provides the foundation for ongoing group and individual pastoral counseling. He is pursuing certification as a Certified Christian Conciliator™ with the Institute for Christian Conciliation™, a division of Peacemaker® Ministries.
E-mail: dteater@liveatpeace.org

Judy Dabler, Reconciliation Specialist and founder of Live at Peace Ministries, works nationally and internationally as a mediator, counselor, educator, conference speaker, and consultant specializing in assisting families, churches and organizations in conflict and crisis. Judy holds a Master of Arts in Theological Studies and a Master of Arts in Counseling from Covenant Theological Seminary, as well as a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from the University of Missouri-Columbia. Judy has more than ten years of experience teaching counseling-related courses at the seminary level, and has completed 42 hours of doctoral-level courses in education at Trinity International University. Judy has coauthored Peacemaking Women: Biblical Hope for Resolving Conflict (Baker Book House, 2005) and is an instructor for Peacemaker Ministries. She is a Licensed Professional Counselor in Missouri and a Certified Christian Conciliator™ with the Institute for Christian Conciliation™, a division of Peacemaker® Ministries.
E-mail: jdabler@liveatpeace.org

Kyrstan Langer, Operations Manager, holds a Bachelor of Music from Oklahoma State University. Kyrstan manages all client accounts, including billing, receivables, and accounting details, as well as coordinating general office functions. She is a member of the St. Louis Symphony Chorus, participates in opera productions in the area, and performs solo concerts and benefits.
E-mail: klanger@liveatpeace.org

Board of Directors

Eugene Fahrenkrog, Attorney at Law, holds a Juris Doctorate from Washington University and has practiced law for over 35 years. Gene received his undergraduate degree from Ohio University and began his career in the office of the St. Louis County Assistant Prosecuting Attorney. He was a founding partner in the prestigious law firm of Walther/Glenn Law Associates in Clayton, Missouri, where he specialized in medical negligence litigation. Gene is a Certified Christian Conciliator™ with the Institute for Christian Conciliation™, a division of Peacemaker® Ministries and has special training including Mediator Training (USA&M), Mediation Training for Civil Cases (UMC School of Law), Family, Divorce and Civil Mediation Training (St. Louis University School of Law), Intervening in Church Conflict (Peacemaker Ministries), and Reconciling Marital Conflict (Peacemaker Ministries). Gene’s leadership experience as president for the Missouri Association of Trial Attorneys (1983) and president of the National Christian Legal Society (2004-2006) enhance his passion for serving families, churches and organizations in conflict prevention through peacemaking practices.

Mark Friz has served since 1993 as Senior Pastor of St. Paul's Evangelical Church in St. Louis. He holds a Master of Divinity from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School and a Doctor of Ministry from Fuller Seminary. Mark is often called on to advise churches considering entry into the Evangelical Free Church and is devoted to serving children through the King's Kid Camp which he founded in 1987.

Mark Kiekhaefer has served since 1998 as Senior Pastor of Grace Evangelical Free Church in Jefferson City, Missouri. A native of Oregon, he holds a Bachelor of Science from Stanford University and a Master of Divinity from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School. Mark's ministry experience includes serving college students, inner city ministry in Chicago, and an associate pastoral role in Madison, Wisconsin. Currently, Mark is working towards a Doctor of Ministry in Spiritual Formation from Gordon-Conwell Seminary.

Mike Priest has served since 1995 as Senior Pastor of Christ Community Church in St. Louis. He holds a Master of Arts in Biblical Languages from the Assemblies of God Theological Seminary, a Master of Arts in Philosophy from Talbot School of Theology and a Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy from Missouri State University. He is passionate about seeing people's lives changed as they become followers of Jesus Christ.