Our Staff
Rhys and Becky John
Rhys is the Director of the Penn State ministry with DiscipleMakers. He graduated from Penn State in Computer Engineering. He started working for DiscipleMakers full-time in 1998. Becky also graduated from Penn State in Computer Science and joined DiscipleMakers in 2002. They both love college students and helping them grow in their faith. Rhys enjoys fixing things (especially if it uses electricity), hiking, and spending time with his children. Becky enjoys homeschooling the children and reading books. They have five young children, three girls and two boys.
Matt and Karlyn Geiger
Matt has been compelled to take the good news of Jesus to where it has never been heard. In an effort to pursue this passion, Matt helped launch an International student ministry at Penn State. He also trains key leaders through directing DiscipleMakers’ internship program. Karlyn serves by his side, fulfilling her passion to train their three children in godliness and invest in staff and students.
They always come back to who Jesus is and the amazing work He has done for us. While we were still sinners—His enemy—He saw us, loved us, and gave His life to rescue us. How could He do so much for us, and we not be passionate about Him? This passion is what first brought Karlyn and Matt to DiscipleMakers.
Jensica Isiminger
After high school, I planned to go to a Christian college. Instead, God led me to Kutztown University and the ministry of DiscipleMakers. All I can say now is praise God that things did not go according to my plan. I quickly learned through DiscipleMakers that God cares most about His own glory—and I was forced to decide whether I wanted to spend the rest of my life being about my own glory, or His. After recommitting my life to Christ freshman year, God has used DiscipleMakers' Bible studies and discipleship to repeatedly show me that while I am the worst sinner, He is the most wonderful Savior.
Greg and Lacy Laplante
I (Greg) have experienced firsthand the impact of campus ministry. I arrived at Penn State as an 18 year old freshman, hungry to be known and significant, which I sought to find in my achievements and athletic performance. I started reading the Bible with a man who introduced me to a relationship with Jesus. This was the identity and freedom I was really searching for in my life. One life changed by Christ can have a tremendous ripple effect, and subsequent generations can experience the freedom of the Gospel because one man asked me to read God's Word in college.
Nick and Heather Smartt
When Nick went to Penn State and Heather went to Lafayette College they didn’t expect to want to stay on college campuses. Nick was interested in partying and leaving to become an mechanical engineer, but the Lord found him after his freshman year and he couldn’t stop telling people about Jesus. Heather waited all through college to finally get to go back to her hometown, but realized her senior year that her real passion wasn’t in a place but in people knowing Jesus. Nick likes playing basketball, hunting, fishing, the great outdoors, and fixing all sorts of things. He looks forward to becoming close friends with many students and helping them love Jesus. Heather loves stories, playing games with friends, ice cream, and puppies. She is thankful for the opportunities she has at Penn State to help women grow in their love of Jesus.
Janae Taft
Like many, I grew up in a Christian environment and asked Jesus into my heart as a child. However, throughout my later teenage years, I lived to serve myself instead of God. It was not until DiscipleMakers’ Fall Conference my freshman year of college that I rededicated my life to Christ. As I’ve matured in my faith, I’ve realized there is nothing else I’d rather do than spread the love of Jesus and His good news for all people wherever He calls me!
Gene and Megan Williams
Gene went to Penn State for the beer and football. Then after realizing he fit in with the sinners in the story of the Bible, Gene repented and embraced faith in Jesus. Megan grew up in the church but her involvement with DM in college helped her repent of pride and gave her the tools to make disciples. Now, we have a vision to serve so that college students can not only meet Christ, but be shown how to make more disciple-makers.