The Team
Alongside our Director/Dean and our TUMI Topeka students are our highly-engaged Board of Directors and several teams of volunteers who do all the things. We are a community of servant leaders committed to serving the urban church.
We invite you to click on the “Join the Team” button to apply for a volunteer position!
Mary Flin,
Director and Dean
Mary Flin is our Director and Dean of The Urban Ministry Institute of Topeka. Mary holds a B.S. in Bible/Christian Education with Emphasis in Counseling from Manhattan Christian College and the Master of Arts in Theology (MAT) from Fuller Theological Seminary. Her greatest desire is to help empower urban Christian leaders to advance the Kingdom of God through the local Church in our community’s most challenged neighborhoods.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Clark Boatright, President
Our Board President, Clark Boatright earned his BS in History with Education Emphasis from Washburn University. He teaches 6th grade history in Robinson Middle School and pastors a house church, Christ the Victor-Fillmore, in Central Topeka. He and his wife, Meghan, and their children open their home and hearts to foster children and adoption.
Clark shares a vision for the potential of house churches to impact neighborhoods through family groups. He believes that, through seminary-level education, TUMI Topeka will continue to send biblically-trained Christ followers into the heart of Topeka to win the city through disciple making.
John Cantrell, Vice President
John is a man of business, an athlete, a person devoted to his family and his community, and a person of heart. He is a current student in the class of 2025.
Holding multiple boxing championships and having great influence in boxing culture, John has a dream of building a business in collaboration with individuals re-entering from incarceration. He credits his son, Cooper, and his wife, Tayler, with his inspiration and drive for excellence.
A member of Central Park Christian Church, John demonstrates his faith, vision, and commitment through service in the church and neighborhood. He brings experience with incarceration, re-entry, recovery, teaching, fundraising and project management, along with a firm belief in the power of the Gospel to transform lives.
Cindy Patton,
Treasurer
Cindy Patton graduated from Washburn University with a BA in Political Science and JD from Washburn School of Law. She was a research attorney for the Kansas Court of Appeals for taking time to raise her family of four children. She resumed the practice of law in 1994, joining her husband, Joe Patton, in their law firm of Patton and Patton.
Her experience includes serving as Chief Administrator of Cair Paravel Latin School and as Executive Director of the non-profit, Topeka City of Character, mentoring in the HiCrest community, singing with Tokepa Acapella Unlimited, and playing bass on her worship team at Tokepa Bible Church.
Cindy currently serves as Treasurer on the Board of Directors of The Urban Ministry Institute of Topeka, and also is on the planning team for the Women Who’ve Changed the Heart of the City event to raise funds for the organization. She will also be using her extensive experience to develop and direct our new Urban Character and Ethics Institute.
Tiffni Williams, Secretary
Tiffni Williams, mother of Parker Williams, is a musician and or Board secretary.
Tiffni is an Alum of TUMI Topeka’s Capstone Seminary program. Coming from a background heavy in musical worship, training with TUMI Topeka has now opened doors to the love of adult Christian Education.
Tiff believes that through focused leadership training we will see a reduction in unemployment, homelessness and substance abuse. She envisions more “hands on deck” to help where needed, and others to give where the needs are as more disciples become available through our urban training initiatives.
Jennifer Lewis, Member
Jenny is a 4th year student of SOUL’s Capstone Seminary program. She is a kindergarten teacher with a passion for loving and educating young children. She is also an excellent speaker and teacher of adults.
Jenny has the ability to listen and respond to challenges as a student representative on our Board of Directors. She provides the student voice and also communicates the heart of our Board to our classes. We are honored to have her serve with us!
Terry Kimes,
Member
Terry Kimes is retired from many years of successful business enterprises and Board service. He hosts two Bible Studies, including a study for men in business and a home group for his church, Topeka Bible Church.
With a heart given to evangelism, Terry has joined with us to train urban leaders to serve the church that more may be led to the saving Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.
We are honored to have Terry on our Board for his wisdom, experience and ability to mentor new Board members for humble, productive Kingdom service.
Pastor Hal Smith
In Memoriam
Pastor Hal Smith served as President of our Board until he went home to be with Jesus April 12, 2023. He brought 18 years of Board service to the position, including 16 years as president of the Board for Topeka Rescue Mission. His faith and vision encouraged many pastors, organizations and businesses.
Pastor Hal believed that TUMI Topeka can reach people who desire focused Bible training in a co-hort environment, but who cannot afford traditional seminary. He shared our vision for equipping prisoners to find places of significant ministry and service in their communities and to remain free. As the work of Christ impacts all, so he believed trained, urban leaders will impact all around them. We will forever be grateful for his mentorship, vision, faith and leadership.
Pastor Norm Jackson
In memoriam
Pastor Norm was an alum of our seminary and served our Board and our students faithfully. He was also a member of our team of pastors who served in Shawnee County Jail. He has gone home to Jesus before us, but his wisdom is still among us. He believed in excellence and training for urban leaders and loved us well!
“For all the promises of God find their Yes in (Christ).”
— 2 Corinthians 1:20
