Our Leadership Team
TIMMY GIBSON / / Founder & Lead Pastor
Timmy is an artist, he loves helping people create beautiful lives. He is a Kansas City native, graduating Shawnee Mission West High School in 1987. Timmy brings passion to the vision of Mercy Church with his heart to help people grow in faith and develop a healthy relationship with Jesus Christ. Timmy was raised in church yet never wanted to be the overly religious weirdo type. His heart has always been about giving people hope through the message of Jesus’ love without the "I'm superior" religious attitude. He desires to help people have better lives. He graduated Bible College in 1994 and a month after graduation, married his college sweetheart, Jana.  They have two beautiful children, Shaeylea and Vandon, two fun Pomeranians, Shaedon and Ell, and a Kitty Cat named Davi! They enjoy life very much and love what they do here at Mercy Church.
Check out his website and blog: www.timmygibson.com
TAVIER HAARER / / Worship Leader
Tavier was born and raised in Goshen, Indiana.  He followed in his parents footsteps, who are currently worship pastors at his home church, in Goshen.  Growing up, he helped his parents on the worship team, by playing drums, guitar, piano, and finally, leading worship on occasion.  After highschool, he came to Kansas City to do an Internship with the International House of Prayer.  When the internship was finished, he returned home to Indiana, where he felt God called him back to Kansas City.  Tavier is now a Ballroom Dance Instructor and a Professional Competitive Dancer.  He has always had a desire for dance, music and the arts.  He enjoys playing tennis, volleyball, and any other sports he can kick butt at.
JANA GIBSON
Jana is a proud Okie and OSU Cowboys fan. Growing up her mother owned dance studios which started her life long love of dance and music. She spent a portion of her life in Cushing, Oklahoma (a very small town – the population sign was updated when she moved!) where she started attending church on a regular basis. She sometimes misses the laid back feel of the country life, but says she wouldn’t trade her life now for anything. She still loves the outdoors, especially horseback riding when she visits her dad. She also loves playing sports, mentoring women, leading worship and spending time with her family and friends and dreams of one day earning her pilot’s license. Jana graduated Bible College in 1993 which is where she met Timmy. By and large, Jana’s biggest joy in life comes from her husband and two children.
PENELOPE GOWER // Administrative Assistant
Penny grew up in Raytown, Missouri. She was raised attending a non-denominational church and, as an adult, attended Vineyard Church in North Kansas City prior to finding Mercy Church. She has her Associate Degree in Electronics Technology, but prefers administrative work. She has worked as Administrative Assistant at Armour Oaks Senior Living Community since 2002 and loves her job. Her greatest joy is her daughter, Amethyst. She also loves a good book on a rainy day, office supply stores, and Firefly marathons.
TY BROWN // Sound Tech
Ty has been involved with Mercy since the very beginning. He was one of Timmy's childhood friends,  playing tennis together in the apartment complex they grew up in over in Overland Park. After Ty graduated Shawnee Mission West he went off to Kansas University. He still loves tennis, playing softball, and frequently plays drums on Mercy's Worship Team.  He owns his own Mobile Disc Jockey business, which keeps him busy on the weekends.  Ty has a deep desire to help others in need and show them the love of Christ. He has 2 adult children, 4 grandchildren,  and doesn't look a day over 30. 
SHELLY JACKSON // Kid's Life Director
Shelly was born in Kansas City, MO and raised in a Baptist home.  Throughout her life, she lived in California and Massachusetts as well as a few states in between.  She is a big Sporting KC, Royals and Chiefs (when they aren’t playing the Patriots) fan.  She graduated from Olathe South High School and spent about a decade in retail management.  She briefly worked for Legacy Christian preschool which helped rekindle her passion for working with children. She has been happily married to her husband, Bryce,  since 2007, and currently blessed to be a stay at home mom to four children.