KBC Blog (2021)

Amanda Nicholls, 

Amanda first connected with KiDs Beach Club® as a volunteer, serving as the worship leader at Farine Elementary in Irving, Texas. Her high-energy personality and joy for Jesus will serve her well as an Area Director.   Amanda is a graduate of the University of Dallas and has been involved as an educator in a variety of ways over the past 18 years. She has served as an elementary classroom teacher, curriculum consultant, teacher mentor and trainer, workshop leader, and preschool music teacher.  Amanda and her husband, Mark, live in Irving and are the proud parents of two daughters and a son.  They enjoy attending dance recitals, guitar lessons, baseball games and supporting ministry and events at their home church, CHRIST Church Irving.  

Western Tennessee and Northern Mississippi 

Christy has spent 22 years as a classroom teacher in public schools in Louisiana, Arkansas, and Texas. In 2009, she worked with a team to bring KiDs Beach Club® to Crestview Elementary School in New Boston, Texas. She had the privilege to serve as the Bible Connection Leader there for 4 years, and during that time saw 115 children ask Jesus to be their "Forever Friend!" In 2013, God led Christy's family to move to West Tennessee. He has used this move to open the door for her to join the KBC team as an Area Director serving churches, schools, and Beach Clubs in Western Tennessee and Northern Mississippi. Christy has been married to Terry Hughes for 18 years. He is the Associate Pastor for Children & Young Families at Faith Baptist Church in Bartlett, TN (which will be starting its first Beach Club this fall!). Together they have one daughter, Grace, who is about to begin her sophomore year at Arlington High School.  

Kathleen Akins

Southern West Texas and New Mexico 

Kathleen, who goes by Kat, has always had a passion for children. It was during her childhood, growing up in Plainview, Texas that she came to believe in Jesus as her Lord and Savior. While professionally trained as a registered dental hygienist, Kat has also served in the children's ministries of various churches over the years and has always longed for the next generation to know and love the Lord Jesus.  Kat has been part of the KBC family since 2012 when she began serving as the worship leader at Donna Park Elementary in Bedford, Texas. She then took KBC with her to Denver City, Texas when her family relocated last year. "I quickly became a "devotee" of KBC as I saw the transformation in both the children and the servant leaders as they learned and celebrated the life that only Jesus can give." Kat said. She feels God's call to help churches partner with KBC and reach kids in West Texas and New Mexico. Kat is married to Marty and they have 6 grown children and 5 grandchildren. 

Laurie Gilbert 

Crowley, Aledo, White Settlement, Texas 

Prior to joining the KBC team Laurie served on staff at Pantego Bible Church in the outreach and children's ministry for five years. Before entering vocational ministry, she spent many years traveling around the country for Wyndham Hotels and Resorts. Laurie is excited to begin connecting more schools and churches together, making Jesus Cool at School!® and seeing the lives of children and families transformed. "I feel so very blessed to be part of this amazing team!" Laurie said. Laurie lives in Aledo, Texas with her awesome husband, Christopher, and two beautiful daughters, Abby (7) and Ally (5), and their 1-year old pound puppy named Murphy.   

Jay Kimbro

Tampa Bay, Florida

Jay has caught the vision for leading churches to reach their communities through ministry partnerships in public schools. Beginning with his own church, he hopes to engage churches throughout the Tampa area in connecting kids to Christ. Jay is passionate about seeing people reached with the Gospel of Christ and experiencing all that living for Christ has to offer. Jay served as a Worship Pastor for almost 30 years and is now the Senior Pastor at Wellswood Baptist Church in Tampa, Florida. He also served as Upward Sports Director for six years. Jay and his wife, Tina, have been married for 35 years and reside in Tampa, Florida. They have three grown children, five grandchildren and another one on the way.