Our Staff
Rev. Neldo Schmidt
Senior Pastor
Pastor Neldo Schmidt was born in Santa Rosa, State of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, on February 15, 1960, the son of Alfredo and Helena Schmidt. Pastor Schmidt met Lori Kriiger while serving at his first Congregation, Trinity Lutheran Church, in the state of Parana, Brazil. They were married on October 26, 1985. God has blessed the Schmidt’s with two wonderful children: Vanessa Daniela, born in Brazil and Philip James, born in the USA. German was the predominant language in the house and neighborhood surrounding the home of Alfredo and Helena Schmidt. However, in order to attend school, as was the case for all the children in that area, the young Schmidt boy had to learn his second language: Portuguese – the official language in Brazil. Following his years of elementary school at Saint Matthew Lutheran School, pastor Schmidt attended Concordia Lutheran High School in Santa Rosa. In 1979 he entered Concordia Seminary in Porto Alegre, graduating in December of 1983. In the years of 1985 and 1986 pastor Schmidt studied Philosophy at the State University of Toledo, Parana, Brazil. Pastor Schmidt served the Igreja Evangelica Luterana do Brasil (IELB), the Brazilian partner church of the Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod LC-MS). In December of 1994, Pastor Schmidt began serving Concordia Lutheran Church in South Saint Paul. MN. He was elected Circuit Counselor for the Lyndale East Circuit of the Minnesota South District in 2003 and 2006. In October 2006 Pastor Schmidt accepted the call the serve Saint John Lutheran Church, Woodbury, MN and remained there until he accepted the call to become the Senior Pastor at King of Kings in 2017. He and Lori are looking forward to serving Christ with us.
Kim Bennett
Church Administrator
Kim joined the staff in August 2007 and has been a member of King of Kings since March 1998. Kim has served on the Fellowship, Education, and Trustee boards. Kim currently serves on the Technology committee and Music and Worship committee. She has two kids and enjoys sewing, playing the flute and handbells.
Heidi Langston
Financial Manager
I have been a member of King of Kings since 1991. I am married and have 2 kids. I have served on the ECDC oversight committee/board, the Stewardship board, and I was Sunday School Superintendent for 2 years. I enjoy going to movies, concerts and traveling.
Joseph McKelvey
Organist
Joseph McKelvey is from Alice, Texas and earned his music degrees at Texas A&M University at Kingsville where his main instruments of study were clarinet, saxophone, piano, and organ. His teachers/mentors included Dr. Robert Scott, Susan Etlzer, and Lee Gwodz on organ; and Dr. Jan Drath on piano. Mr. McKelvey has held church organist and music director positions dating back to the late 1990’s. He served as the staff musician and associate organist at St. Gertrude Catholic Church in Kingsville, Texas. From 1998 to 2004, he served as the organist and co-music director at St. Elizabeth of Hungary Catholic Church in Alice, Texas. He also served as interim music director and organist at Our Lady Of Good Counsel Catholic Church in Kingsville, Texas, as well as substitute organist at St. Patrick Catholic Church in Corpus Christi, Texas. After a 12 year “retirement” from organ performance, Mr. McKelvey is extremely happy to serve as the organist at King Of Kings Lutheran Church since March 2019, and to provide great music for Sunday morning worship and all other services. Mr. McKelvey is a member of the following professional organizations: National Association of Pastoral Musicians, American Guild of Organists, Association of Young American Organists, Texas Music Educator’s Association, Texas Bandmaster’s Association, International Clarinet Association.
Lisa Avila
ECDC Director
Hello my name is Lisa Avila and I'm the Director at King of Kings Early Childhood Development Center. I'm married to David and we have two wonderful daughters. I was born and raised here in San Antonio Texas. I have 20 years experience working in a licensed child care setting. Through the 20 years I've worked with all ages of children as both a teacher's aid and a lead teacher. I love working with children and look forward to each day I get to spend with them.
Amanda Laboy Rodriguez
ECDC Assistant Director
Hi, my name is Mrs. Mandy. I have worked at King of Kings ECDC since 2015. I started off as a teacher and now serve as Assistant Director along side Lisa. I have four sons, the youngest attends King of Kings daycare. It has been a blessing and privilege to work with and serve the children here. I enjoy crafting and art with the children and I am often seen in a classroom with the kids which I enjoy.