Christmas Traditions for the Whole Family

I grew up much of my life in Tacoma, Washington and went to Clover Park High School. I received my undergraduate degree in Business Administration at Pacific Lutheran University in 1983, and then immediately came on the Young Life staff. After four years of youth ministry in Tacoma and Port Angeles, an internship in a nationally recognized college ministry beckoned me to Bellingham, WA; here I was deeply exposed to a mentor and a ministry committed to making disciples. Bellingham became home for a year. (1987-88). The following year I joined forces with Young Life in Tacoma and began a college ministry at the University of Puget Sound (!988-89). I remained the director for another twelve years, officed in the inner city and I experimented widely with how to disciple students. All along the way, I took classes part time at Fuller Seminary, which integrated well with my ministry experience. Foundational convictions about life and ministry flourished in these ministry years. An internship program was begun with the college ministry (now called Tacoma College Ministry) in 1995 that birthed and used the Kingdom Story (KS) curriculum as an essential ingredient for their training.

A Biblical theologian with 18+ years of experience of training pastors and leaders in theological seminaries and universities. Called to prepare the African church to make its contribution to world Christianity and transform communities using the gospel. A leader and a disciple-maker. An innovator, opening new platforms for advancing the cause of Christ in Africa. Passionate mentor and coach supporting churches to develop a culture of discipleship that is a process rather than a program. A thought-leader creating a robust workplace ministry ecosystem where "every believer becomes a minister and every place, a place of ministry" for sustainable transformation of African communities. 

Rob DeKlotz joined Kingdom Story Ministries as part-time executive director in August of 2020. As an organizational leader with over 40 years of experience with several dynamic and growing organizations Rob has a proven track record of leadership in tackling challenges and growing ministries. Rob served with CRU in campus ministry from 1981-1995. He then spent 21 years on executive teams at Mariners Church, Saddleback Church and South Shores Church. Beginning in 2017, he was COO at Operation Snap Dragon, a global media company partnering with JESUS Film in Asia and then Executive Director of Soul Shepherding. In 2020 he launched a new endeavor, Kingdom Initiatives. His vision is to help churches, ministries, and non-profits live out their peak effectiveness in their kingdom task. Rob is a graduate of UC Berkeley (BA in Economic History) and Talbot School of Theology (M’Div. in Bible Exposition) He has been married 39 years to Jennifer, an MFT with a practice in Mission Viejo, and has four adult kids and 3 grandchildren. He lives in Irvine, CA and enjoys travel, tennis and everything his kids and grandkids like to do.

My background begins as a coach. 11 years ago I began coaching the sport of all-star cheerleading. For many years I coached young men and women through the sport of cheerleading. However, the difference for me was that I also cared about the soul of the kid that was in front of me. I didn’t know it, but all those years spent coaching taught me transferable skills for how to be a discipler for Jesus Christ. After 11 years coaching, God called me out of the all-star cheerleading realm and into vocational ministry.