Ministry Focus
Tyler first learned about Damascus Road Tucson in 2009, as a college freshman. After attending his first Sunday service, Tyler got involved in every community group he could and attended every event possible. Very quickly, Tyler became a part of the Damascus Road community and wanted to become further involved. At first, that meant running tech on occasional Sunday mornings, but grew to include leading the student small group, being mentored, traveling to California, Haiti, and the Bahamas for service trips, and much more. In 2012, Tyler was appointed with Missions Door as a ministry intern for his last year of college, and a year later, despite graduating with a degree in Aerospace Engineering, Tyler made the switch to full time ministry after feeling called to campus ministry. Ever since, he has served on staff as an assistant minister at Damascus Road, where he teaches on Sunday mornings, leads small groups, heads up the outreach team, and helps co-ordinate service opportunities on campus, in the community, and in other states or abroad. For the last few years, Tyler and his wife, Megan, have hosted the Post-Grad Group at their home, providing ministry and community specifically to young adults who have recently graduated or are in grad school, but still have a space in Damascus Road’s unique ministry. In addition to helping lead the group, Megan also serves on staff with Damascus Road, where she helps develop the curriculum for Damascus Road’s children ministry, mentor young women, and teach on Sunday mornings.
Faith Story
Tyler was baptized and raised in the faith by his parents. They regularly attended church, and Tyler attended private Christian schools from preschool through high school. His parents, and the community he grew up in, laid a strong foundation for his faith. From there, Tyler attended the University of Arizona, where God led him to Damascus Road. In this ministry, Tyler has undergone his greatest growth, learning more about God’s grace, love, and the gifts and passions God gave Tyler for people and ministry. Tyler continues to seek God's plan for him, and in May 2012, he renewed his baptism to proclaim his faith and commitment to following the path God sets before him. Megan came to faith in high school, after being invited by friends to youth services at a nearby church, learning more about Christ in a small group, and being poured into by friends and leaders. After joining Damascus Road in 2012, as a freshman in college, Megan steadily grew in faith and knowledge as she was mentored, given opportunities to serve, and invited to become a leader herself in their community of faith.
Family
Like Tyler, both his parents grew up in Christian homes. They met while in high school in a suburb of Cleveland, Ohio, where much of their extended family still lives. His father, Joe, is an engineer for the city of Aurora, Colorado, where Tyler grew up and his parents still live. His mother, JoAnn, is the director of the preschool at their church, where she demonstrates her love and passion for God and his children every day. Tyler is the youngest of three children. His sister, Stefanie, lives in Fort Wayne, Indiana with her family, and his brother, Scott, and sister-in-law live in Denver, Colorado. In May of 2017, Tyler married Megan Kleinwachter. Megan first came to Damascus Road as a freshman in 2012 after being invited by some of her friends from church. As Megan began to serve more at Damascus Road, Tyler couldn’t help but notice her dedication and care for people. Eventually, she returned his interest. She is an exceptional partner in ministry and in life. They were married in 2017. In 2022, Tyler and Megan celebrated the birth their first child, Joseph Alan.
WAYS TO SUPPORT
Tyler by making a financial donation using a Credit Card or by Direct Debit (ACH).
Learn more about where this ministry happens
In colorful communities and along scenic highways, diverse people and landscapes span coast to coast
Iconic American traditions include Thanksgiving dinner, jazz music and the Super Bowl. They meld with eclectic examples of multicultural heritage: numerous local Chinatowns, family-owned taquerias and even cowboy boots, which originated among the nomadic Huns of eastern Europe.
The nation's landscape shows just as many contrasts — sandy beaches and rocky coastlines, open plains and vast deserts, rugged mountains and winding canyons, and abundant rivers and lakes.
The ideals of life and liberty that founded the United States have made the country one of the world's most prosperous, though not without dark chapters and present troubles. Crime, discrimination and ethics violations make regular headlines, and many people live below the national poverty level.
Families view education as essential to the pursuit of happiness, if not also a path to wealth and power for the most ambitious. Yet Americans also demonstrate a charitable spirit of generosity toward neighbors and nations in need.
Freedom of religion grants opportunity for all faiths, but Christianity holds particular influence in country's history and daily life.
Your participation with Missions Door supports ministry in the United States among college students, including many international students, in collaboration local churches. It also enables social outreach, church planting and leadership development in a wide variety of communities — among Native Americans and other cultural groups, and in urban and suburban settings where growing and changing demographics create new opportunities for the Gospel.
Cultural Snapshot
Aside from the Native American, Native Hawaiian and Native Alaskan populations, nearly all Americans and their ancestors immigrated to the United States.
Faith Fact
In a 2013 survey, 56% of Americans said that religion played a "very important role in their lives” — a larger number than any other wealthy nation.
Country Profile
Population: 320 million
Major Religions: 47% Protestant, 23% unaffiliated, 21% Catholic, 6% other
Languages: 82% English, 11% Spanish, various others
Literacy: 99%
Poverty: 16%
Ministry service area:
Campus Ambassadors
Ministry location:
Arizona, United States