Say hello to the leadership team at Tower View Baptist. Got questions for the lead team at Tower View? Contact us by clicking here.

Darin Smith has been senior pastor since 2015.

He has 15+ years of various ministry experience including preaching/teaching, student ministry, evangelism/apologetics, internet ministries, church planting, and a passion for anything and everything in the local church.

He has his B.A. in Communication from William Jewell College, a Master of Divinity from Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, and is currently pursuing his Ph.D. in Apologetics from the Puritan Reformed Biblical Seminary. Darin is the author of The Daily Message Devotional: 365 Devotions to Bring You Closer to Christ and 10 Short Prayers of the Bible. Darin has been published and featured since 1999 on numerous Christian websites, blogs, and podcasts. He is married to Natalie, and they have three children.

Words and phrases that excite Darin include: God, Gospel, Natalie, Simeon, Scarlett, Seth, family, running, local church, fishing, pizza, BibleWorks, exegesis, penal substitutionary atonement, God's attributes, and more

His favorite verse? Psalm 68:19 (ESV) // "Blessed be the Lord, who daily bears us up; God is our salvation."

Nelson Nissley has serve as Pastor of Family Life and Discipleship since 2018

He is concurrently serving as the Family Life Chaplain for the 451^st Sustainment Command (Expeditionary) in Wichita, Kansas for the U.S. Army Reserve. He has served as a campus minister, pastor, and military chaplain since 1997. He has taught as a Bible Study teacher for every age group since 1986. He desires to find ways to bring people closer to God and to bring God closer to people, through prayer, study, and making godly choices in life.

Nelson was the first in his family to graduate from college in 1989 with a bachelor of science degree in computer science from Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology, Terre Haute, Indiana. After his call to the ministry he graduated from Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary with a masters of divinity in 2003. In 2014 he graduated from Texas A & M-Central Texas, Killeen, Texas with a master of science degree in counseling psychology—marriage and family therapy through the U.S. Army Family Life Chaplain Qualification Course. 

Nelson’s Army career began as a 1^st lieutenant in 2005. He has served overseas on three deployments to Iraq, Qatar, and Kuwait. He currently holds the rank of major and holds the additional skill identifier as a Family Life Chaplain. He oversaw the development of a set of 8 courses entitled “Moral Leadership Development” for battalion chaplains to teach to their soldiers. Nelson created courses entitled, “The Issue of Anger” and “Integrity in Relationships.” He has a public Facebook page “Chaplain Nelson Nissley”

Sonja has been married to Nelson since October 1991. They have four (nearly) grown children, Andy, Allison, Alex, and Adam. They are excited to see what God has in store for them as they transition to a new stage of life.

Nelson enjoys following the space program, teaching, bicycling, running (an Army requirement), golfing, and watching what his children will accomplish.

Psalm 139 provides inspiration, comfort, and a challenge daily.

Craig Johnson has served as Pastor of Worship since 2019.

He has a bachelor of music from Belmont University and a master of arts in worship from Southern Seminary. He is married to Staci and they have three boys - Seth, Cole, and Luke.

I am from Greenwood, Arkansas. I was saved and discipled at River Valley Community Church for nearly a decade before moving to Kansas City. I earned a B.A. in psychology from the University of Arkansas-Fort Smith in 2019. On occasion I lift heavy weights for fun. Otherwise, I am an avid reader of all things theology, and it is my joy to teach the Word of God.

Judy Braden joined the Tower View team in 2015 as our office manager. Judy is married to Steve and they have two grown kids.