Cynthia Parkes

"I grew up just northwest of Bloomington, in Gosport, Indiana, where I attended Gosport Christian Church. For those of you who know Tim Adams and Ken Mitchell, they were both youth ministers there in the late 70's and early 80's (don't do the math!). Tim & Kathi and Ken & Claudia played huge roles in my going into the ministry.

After graduating from Owen Valley, I attended Purdue (Go Boilers!) where I studied Child Development and Family Studies. I then got my master's degree in counseling from IU (Go Hoosiers!). Stacy and I were married and had our children, Kara (15) and Caleb (12). I loved my work at Methodist Hospital as a Child Life Therapist, helping children and families cope with their illnesses or injuries, planning special events for them, and managing the playroom and volunteers. While serving with Claudia at Ellettsville Christian Church, I eventually heard God's call into children's ministry at Hilltop Christian Camp. I have found nothing more satisfying than helping children and families find and deepen their walk with the Lord. On my laptop at home, my background picture is of a child being baptized by her father. It is there to remind me that even though the "busyness" of ministry involves programming, staffing, and leading, the true "business" of ministry involves children's (and families') eternities. "