During all services on August 31st, we will be asking Venture Partners to vote on two new trustees.
At Venture, a trustee is part of our core leadership team that works with pastors and staff to shepherd and care for the church especially in the area of financial health and accountability. The pastors and trustees have unanimously agreed to put forward two men to the church to be added to our trustee team. If you have questions or concerns about the appointment of these men, please contact Austin at austin.rammell@daretoventure.org
Blake Manhart
I grew up in a town of 800 people in Central Illinois called Cissna Park. My family was regular Sunday attendees of the Union Church. The church landscape of this little, farm town was broad. We had Apostolic Christians, a German church, Methodist and Lutheran churches to go with the Union Church we attended. Like many homes, church was for Sunday and wasn’t really ever mentioned or solidified in the home…no prayer at meals, no reading of the bible, etc.
At age 13, my parents informed me that they would like me to get baptized. I did what I was told and participated in the baptism with no concept of really what it meant. After the baptism, I don’t remember attending church outside of Easter and Christmas again with my family.
It wasn’t until age 23 that I returned to church, but this time it was with a renewed spirit for relationship with Jesus motivated by the reading of The Purpose Driven Life by Rick Warren. Never had I heard of an intimate, personal relationship with Jesus…just a list of do’s and don’ts to ensure I was a “good person”.
At age 26, I was a regular attendee of church, now in the suburbs of Chicago. Participating in life groups and class offerings at Willow Creek. Shortly after, my wife and I were baptized together, again, but this time with a full understanding of the meaning behind the act.
Since then, it has been a journey of ups and downs in growing my personal faith and relationship with Jesus Christ. Some months of consistent studying and learning; podcasts, sermons, time in the Word, and some months of next to nothing. Learning the discipline of a disciple has been very difficult as it ran counter to everything I saw as a child.
Today, I am more disciplined than at any point in my life prior. Regular devotional readings in the morning (trying to add the evenings but struggling), attending regular life group meetings, hosting a bible study for my employees, and actively engaged in the church and attending every Sunday. There is still a long way to go and lot left to attempt to understand, but I stand firm in Jesus Christ.
One of the biggest aids in this discipline has been attending one-on-one sessions with Pastor Keith Zachary for the past 3 months. Keith has taken the mission of discipling our church body and it has been instrumental in deepening knowledge, growing faith, and building the necessary discipline. The goal: Become mentally saturated in the Word and then go make more disciples! We meet weekly and accountability has been critical to my growth.
My family started attending Venture in November of 2020 at the recommendation of an acquaintance that had urged us to get the kids involved in Venture Student Ministry. It didn’t take long to see that we had finally found a church rooted in scripture and it shone through every message and interaction. After breakfast with Austin and attending for approximately 3 months, we became a partner at Venture. I have been ushering for the 9:30 Dallas service for approximately 3.5 years now and the family has been involved in serving in the Freezer meal ministry, VSM, special events, and for the last 10 months as an auditing trustee. Venture also introduced us to the Dallas Boys and Girls Club where I am currently serving as the Vice Chairman of the board and leading the “Venture Cup” golf outing that raised over $40,000 for the club last year.
In my work life, I own and operate the Mahoney Manhart Agency of Goosehead Insurance, an independent, personal lines insurance agency. We have built one of the 20 largest agencies in the company, employing 5 people, and continuing to grow. My educational background is a B.S. in Finance from the University of Illinois, and I have maintained a passion for math and finance for much of my adult life.
I have been married to Katrina since September of 2008. We have 3 wonderful kiddos: Nora (16), Aubrey (13), and Elias (8). We started our adventure together in the north suburbs of Chicago and lived there until 2014. In Chicago, I managed a public golf course for the city of Glenview for 8 years. In 2014, decided that working for the government was not for me. I entered into personal insurance with State Farm and they moved us to Springfield, VA (where Katrina grew up). We spent 3 years in northern VA, but the urban hustle and bustle was not for me…at least in that particular urban environment. We decided to open our own insurance agency and partner with my great friend that lived in the Charlotte area. I had never been to NC or even driven through it when we came the first time and purchased a home in Concord in May of 2017. Moving to NC, sight unseen, was a massive exercise in faith and God has delivered! In August of 2020, we purchased our current property in Dallas and for the first time in my adult life, I feel like we are home.
I take the opportunity to be a trustee of Venture Church as the highest calling God has afforded me in my faith walk and hope that my impact on the committee will aid in the church achieving its goal of engaging those far from God in western Charlotte-metro and throughout the world.
Jason Kelly
I am humbled and grateful to be considered for the role of Trustee here at Venture. This church has been a part of my life since 2006, and over the years, it has become more than a place I attend, it’s been a place of deep growth, transformation, and purpose.
I was raised in church from a young age, and while I’m thankful for the foundation that gave me, it has been here at Venture, that my understanding of the Gospel truly deepened. God has used this church to shape my faith, my leadership, and my sense of responsibility as a Christian man, husband, father, and business owner.
I had the privilege of serving as a lay pastor for a time, and I was also part of the team that built our first Habitat for Humanity house, a great reminder that the church is not a building or an organization, but a movement of people living out the mission of Jesus Christ. Today, I continue to serve by helping usher on Sundays and staying connected through a life group.
I’ve been married to my wife, Amy, for 22 years, and together we have two sons, Carson (20) and Cole (16). Leading my family spiritually is one of the greatest responsibilities God has entrusted to me. I try to lead with a humble heart, not just through words, but by example: praying, reading God’s Word, serving at church, and talking openly about what it looks like to walk with the Lord.
I own a concrete business, and that too has become a place where I seek to live out my faith. From treating customers with integrity to making difficult decisions based on biblical values rather than just profit, I’ve learned to trust God with both the ups and downs that come with leadership. Starting the business was a step of faith, and I continue to lean on the Lord for wisdom in the day-to-day. As business owners we regularly look for opportunities to give back to our community through sponsorships and fundraising support.
One of the most defining lessons in my life has been learning to trust God, not just when things are hard, but even more so when things are going well. Early in our marriage, we walked through seasons of financial hardship that forced me to rely completely on the Lord. Through Godly mentorship, I came to understand the value of biblical stewardship and the importance of tithing, something I didn’t always prioritize, but now view as an act of worship and obedience.
As a Trustee, I will serve prayerfully and with great care. I believe that leadership in the church is about humility, accountability, and faithfulness to God’s people and His mission.
What I love about Venture is that we are a church who uses our gifts, talents, and finances to honor God and reach those far from Him. I believe our role as leaders is to protect and steward that mission well, to make decisions that allow the church to continue being the church: a visible representation of the Gospel in action.
One Scripture that has stayed close to my heart in this season is:
“Moreover, it is required of stewards that they be found faithful.” — 1 Corinthians 4:2
My desire is to be found faithful, in my home, in my work, and in my church. Thank you for your prayers, your trust, and for walking this journey of faith together.