School Ministries California: Released Time Christian Education the Open Door To California Public Schools

About SMICA

Certifications

  • SMI CALIFORNIA is a 501 c3 nonprofit religious organization and is the state office of School Ministries. (www.schoolministries.org) and is a member of Christian Educators Assoc. Intl.  www.ceai.org
  • SMI CA is endorsed by Gateways to Better Education. www.gogateways.org
  • Focus on the Family. www.focusonthefamily.com

The School Ministries CA Executive Board


Dr. Carolin McKie - Executive Director

Dr. Carolin McKie is a recently retired Elementary Principal and is currently serving as the Vice President of SMI CA (Schools Ministry, Incorporated California – formerly CaRT – California Released Time Education) and as Executive Director of Christian Released Time Education, Los Angeles/Inglewood Chapter. She believes that God has prepared her for such a time as this to continue to spread the Gospel Message to children.

Her first introduction to Christian Released Time Education (CRTE) was in 1964 as student in Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD). As an Administrator for LAUSD she was instrumental in getting Released Time Education started in 4 elementary schools which are still active today. During her tenure in LAUSD, she served as a Master Teacher and Mentored New Principals; as well as served as Recording Secretary and Financial Secretary for the Council of Black Administrators of Los Angeles. Dr. McKie was instrument in obtaining local and federal grants for her classroom and school.

Dr. McKie is a member of Love and Unity Christian Fellowship where she serves as a member of the Intercessory Prayer Team, the Mass Choir and Praise Team. She enjoys singing and as such is a member of the Gospel Music Workshop of America (GMWA), Los Angeles Chapter, Keith Pringle and the Pentecostal Community Choir and Alexander Hamilton and the Voices of Inspiration. These various groups have afforded her the opportunity to sing for the Lord at telethons, the Hollywood Bowl, Shrine Auditorium and the Grammy Awards. While growing up in church, Dr. McKie served in many capacities: Sunday School Teacher, Devotional Leader, Children’s’ Church Director, Vacation Bible School Director, Church Clerk and Treasurer. She loves to give and supports many worthy charities. Once ask by her son, “What one word would you say describes you?” She replied, “Giver! I love to give of my time, talent, and treasury.” She resides in Paramount, California and has one son.


Stephen Kia - Board Chairman

Stephen Kia grew up in a missionary family in Nigeria, spending furloughs as a kid in Los Angeles, California. After high school he attended the University of Southern California (USC), graduating with a degree in Civil Engineering - Building Science. While still at USC he interned for three summers and two winters at the US State Department in Washington DC, working with the team of engineers responsible for designing our diplomatic posts overseas, specializing in seismic readiness at our embassies and consulates in the earthquake prone region of Central Asia.

While continuing on at USC, Stephen sensed the Lord’s call and began to work bi-vocationally in ministry while pursuing his Masters. He is currently based in Los Angeles with his family where he works as a project manager and zoning analyst at the architecture and urban planning firm Urban Concepts, working on projects that range from single-family home remodels, to creative adaptive reuse projects, to new housing subdivisions, and larger-scale commercial developments as well. Education is an ongoing pursuit for him, and his interests currently lie at the intersection of law and land use.

Stephen is in fellowship at Monrovia Gospel Hall which serves as his home church, but he also travels to speak at various churches, camps, and conferences throughout California and around the country. Unity in the body of Christ has been a major theme of Stephen’s ministry spanning the past 20 years. He is always looking for ways to build bridges and break down walls between people and groups within his sphere of influence. He sees SMCA as a great way to bring people together in the cause of Christ.

Stephen serves as President & CEO of a local non-profit in the Eagle Rock neighborhood of Los Angeles, known as the ROCK (Reach Our Community Kids). The ROCK provides after school programming and other services for the community - such as music and exercise classes, addiction recovery groups, a community fridge and pantry, and a Little Free Library. Additionally, ROCK Coffee House runs a for-profit business operating within the community center which helps subsidize the overall mission of the non-profit. Their coffee is sourced from sustainable farms in Central America (Guatemala), and a portion of the proceeds is directed to clean water projects in West Africa (Nigeria).

Stephen is also an avid distance runner and loves exploring on foot while his two school-aged children ride their bikes ahead of him.

 

Haweda Nash - Board Secretary

Haweda Nash is retired since 2011 from a 32-year career in Human Resources with public sector agencies. Retiring as the Human Resources/Risk Management Director with the City of Upland, she also worked for the City of Buena Park and San Diego Unified School District.

She received her B.A. degree in Journalism (Radio/TV) from San Diego State University and her Master’s in Human Resources Management from Chapman University. Raised in a Christian home, Haweda made a firm commitment to Christ while in college. She is a lay minister with the Church of God of Prophecy. She has served in various leadership positions within her local church: Sunday School Teacher, Women’s Ministry Leader, Outreach Director, Small Group Leader, Treasurer, Finance and Stewardship Committee Member and Trustee. Currently, she serves on the State Finance and Stewardship Committee for her church organization in California.

Haweda has participated as a member on several Youth Mission Teams (Kenya, Indonesia, Alaska & Delaware), including a humanitarian trip to Zambia. Presently, Haweda is a seminary student with Gordon Conwell Theological Seminary based in Boston. She is working on a Master’s in Christian Leadership. She is a life long learner and feels it is important to prepare herself to provide “excellence in ministry” for Christ.

She defines her most important role in life as “being a servant for Christ” to make a difference in the lives of others. Haweda looks forward to this opportunity to help support and promote Released Time Christian Education classes and serve her community. Having seen for several years a Christian Released Time Mobile Unit parked outside one of the elementary schools near her home, she feels this is a chance to connect the dots.

Haweda resides in Anaheim, California. She loves to travel and spend time with family and friends.


Jim Kensinger - Board Treasurer

36,35,221,216.613373Jim Kensinger is currently serving as the Executive Director of Ministry Operations at Water of Life Community Church in Fontana, Ca, also his home church. After spending a lifetime in the restaurant business, his career recently took a turn into ministry service that only could have come from above.

Prior to his current position, Jim worked as an independent restaurant consultant, and at Johnny Rockets restaurants as Vice President, Operations Services and Training. Previously, he held the position of Executive Vice President at Catalina Restaurant Group primarily overseeing Operations and Training, but also including Franchising, Facilities, Information Technology, and Real Estate. Catalina Restaurant Group owned Coco’s Bakery Restaurants and Carrows Restaurants chains, both family-style full service restaurants. Kensinger also held various multi-unit positions within operations including regional and district management.

When asked about serving at School Ministries California, Jim immediately recalled his days attending Released Time Bible Education in a trailer parked in front of his elementary school. He enjoys serving today on the board to give back as a small measure of the blessed impact that early bible education had on his spiritual walk.

Jim lives in Upland, California with his wife of 42 years, Karen. They have three grown children, and fourteen grandchildren.

 

Genny Madison - Board Member

Genny Madison has lived in Ontario since 1964. She has 3 adult children and 4 grandchildren. Her family attended First Christian Church when they moved from Arizona to California. First Christian Church was one of the founding churches for Released Time Christian Education in Ontario.

She was asked to be on the Released Time board when their oldest son was in 5th grade and a Released Time student. She served on the board from 1968 and as the appointed Director from 1973 until 2018 when a new director was appointed.

While her children were growing up she was active in the children’s area at church and at the children’s school serving as PTA president and helping with the annual fundraisers. Genny loves books and learning so she took classes at the local community college. When all three children were in school she worked as a teacher’s aide and transferred to Cal Poly Pomona to finish her liberal Arts Degree. In 1985 she finished a Master’s in Education and earned a teaching credential. She started teaching kindergarten in Ontario-Montclair School District and continued as director of Ontario RTCE. Genny retired from teaching in 2000 when she felt the Lord leading her into other areas of Ministry.

When it was decided to start a network with of Released Time Programs, Genny helped organize a state organization - California Released (CaRT) Time Christian Education, started in 1988 to support and learn from the experience of other RT leaders. Genny has served on the CaRT board in various positions including President and Vice President. When CaRT became an affiliate of the National RTCE Program School Ministries, Genny became president of SMCA.

Genny says Released Time Christian Education fills the need she has to serve the Lord with the skills she learned when she was growing up and when she became a public school teacher. Released Time Christian Education is the perfect fit. Genny loves to spend time with her children and grandchildren, gardening and reading. She is a member of Sunrise Church Ontario.


Pam Lee - Board Member

Pam Lee is a teacher at heart and a lifelong learner. She became a believer in Christ in elementary school and accepted Christ as Lord and Savior. Pam’s teacher preparation began in elementary school teaching her stuffed animals each day after school the lessons learned that day. Her stuffed animals learned Bible lessons after church on Sundays from Sunday school lessons/sermons from that morning.

Upon completion of teaching her stuffed animals in elementary school, she continued her education by attending Hope International University in Fullerton California obtaining a B.A. degree in Bible and Diversified Studies. She then proceeded to earn her teaching credential from California State University, Fullerton. Having the goal of teaching grades kindergarten through sixth grade, in private and public school, she obtained her Master’s Degree from Azusa Pacific University in Curriculum and Instruction in a Multicultural Context and her certification for Elementary Administration.

While going to school and teaching over the years, Pam has been involved in her church and community by volunteering. She has volunteered teaching girls Sunday School classes, Children’s Church Ministry, participated in short term mission projects overseas and stateside, served on Mission Board, ministered to Senior Citizens, taught Women’s Bible Studies, participated in choir, AMOR Ministries overseas missions, Samaritan’s Purse Operation Christmas Child Year Round Volunteer, and has recently begun ministering to those who suffer from traumatic brain injuries.


Ken Breivik - Board Member

Mr. Breivik is a businessman and current Executive Director for School Ministries. He has extensive knowledge in public relations and specializes in professional communications services to ministries and non-profits. He currently is the President of Nehemiah Communications. He is a former Southeast Regional Director of Charles Colson's Prison Fellowship Ministries. Previously he served as the Director of Carolinas for Justice Fellowship after serving three years as a nationally awarded State Director. Mr. Breivik has extensive experience working with government appointed task forces to promote basic pro-Christian values. He resides in Columbia, SC with his wife Penni and has two sons, Luke and Matthew.