About Search - Search

The Story of Search

Who is Search?

The story of Search is the search for meaningful stories. It’s our mission to invite adults to take a next step toward God. We do this by asking life’s “big questions,” offering honest answers, and initiating meaningful conversations. These conversations turn into genuine friendships and these friendships then become testaments to God’s grace.

The History of Search

The story of Search begins with a group of courageous young men deeply committed to sharing God’s love with as many people as possible. Their mission? To bring the best news in the world to their communities through honest conversations with spiritually curious adults. It’s the Search mission to meet people wherever they are on their spiritual journey…some still exploring, others taking their first steps, and still others who are committed to helping their friends understand the truth they have personally experienced. That vision became a reality and Search was founded in 1977.

Leadership

Tim Kilpatrick

President

Tim Kilpatrick

President

tkilpatrick@searchnational.org

Tim Kilpatrick, president of Search Ministries, began his association with the organization more than 30 years ago when he was invited to an open forum in his hometown of Fort Worth, Texas.

“At Search we love adventure,” Tim says. “That adventure often comes in the form of exploring answers to life’s tough questions.”

Inventor and entrepreneur, the University of North Texas graduate began his career in the oil and gas industry in Houston. He owned several multi-million dollar businesses, including Stramit USA, a Fort-Worth-based construction material manufacturing company he founded in 2011.

Tim was named president of Search Ministries in 2017. He’s a member of the Board of Dallas Theological Seminary and serves as trustee and the chairman of the Advancement Committee. He also serves on the Dallas Seminary Foundation.

Tim and wife Betty live near their four adult children in Fort Worth. He loves Jesus, his family and spending time in the great outdoors, where God reveals His majesty.

Nola Meyer

Executive Vice President

Nola Meyer

Executive Vice President

nmeyer@searchnational.org

Blaine Larsen

VP Field Operations

Blaine Larsen

VP Field Operations

blarsen@searchnational.org

John Vicary

VP of New Staff Development

John Vicary

VP of New Staff Development

jvicary@searchnational.org

Kyle Sacks

Creative Director

Kyle Sacks

Creative Director

ksacks@searchnational.org

Jennifer Diiulio

Director of Administration and Conferences

Jennifer Diiulio

Director of Administration and Conferences

jdiiulio@searchnational.org

National Board

Nola Meyer

Executive Vice President

Nola Meyer

Executive Vice President

nmeyer@searchnational.org

Jay Cannon

Franklin, Tennessee

Jay Cannon

Franklin, Tennessee

Matt Hamilton

Columbus, Ohio

Matt Hamilton

Columbus, Ohio

Matt Hamilton has been actively involved with Search Ministries for more than two decades, having served in local leadership in Columbus, Ohio before joining the national board.

“God has given me a passion to encourage men and women to live purposeful, invigorated, impactful lives that echo through eternity,” says Matt, who became a Christian in 1972 as a senior in high school. “Search invites you to find life by first seeking the answers to its most important questions and then sending you on a journey to discover the joy of a life lived in its fullest dimension.”

A native of Upper Arlington, Ohio, Hamilton earned a bachelor of arts degree at The Ohio State University and is a Certified Financial Planner. He is founder and CEO of Hamilton Capital, a Registered Investment Advisor providing wealth management and investment management services to a national clientele of individuals and institutions.

Hamilton is trustee of The James Foundation and a member of the professional advisory committee of The Columbus Foundation.

He and wife Claire live in Columbus and have two adult children. Matt describes their home as “a continuous revolving door of friends and family. We love it that way.”

Buddy Kirk

Charlotte, North Carolina

Buddy Kirk

Charlotte, North Carolina

Richard Nix

Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

Richard Nix

Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

Board member Richard Nix grew up in a Christian home in Duncan, Oklahoma. and accepted Jesus as his savior at a young age. He came to better understand what was expected of him as a follower of Christ through his young adult studies with John Singleton, his local pastor.

Nix experienced a turning point in his faith journey about 20 years ago when he attended a Search Ministries open forum.

“I’ve been involved through weekly lunch Bible studies ever since,” he says. “It has allowed me to open my heart and eyes to better appreciate all of God’s blessings and has provided a learning opportunity for me to grow as a ‘servant’ Christian – at home, at work and as a friend.”

Nix earned accounting and law degrees at the University of Oklahoma. He and wife Mindy live in Oklahoma City where he is an attorney with the law firm McAfee & Taft and a frequent speaker at seminars and conferences on employment benefit topics.

The couple has two children and three grandchildren. Richard enjoys spending time with his family, traveling and playing golf.

Mark Norman

Ellicott City, Maryland

Mark Norman

Ellicott City, Maryland

Mark Norman, formerly a longtime church pastor, is Vice Chairman of Search Ministries, Inc. and has served as a board member since 2006.

The St. Louis native came to Christ as a college student. Longing for a greater understanding of the Scriptures he attended Dallas Theological Seminary where he began learning and practicing the principals of relational evangelism.

Mark served as a regular teacher at Search staff retreats and conferences.

“Search provided excellent models of people actually doing lifestyle evangelism,” Mark says. “It also provided the tools for helping the people of my churches love and reach lost people.”

Mark earned a degree in chemistry at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire. After completing Seminary studies, he pastored churches in Syracuse, N.Y and Nashua, N.H. before accepting the call to become lead pastor at Grace Community Church in Howard County, Md., where he served for 26 years. He retired in 2016 but remains actively involved in his church as Pastor Emeritus.

Mark and wife Luana are parents of four married children, and have 16 grandchildren. The Normans lives in Howard County where they enjoy sailing the Chesapeake Bay and motorcycle riding.

Jack Plating

Greenville, South Carolina

Jack Plating

Greenville, South Carolina

Jack Plating has been actively involved in Search Ministries for 10 years. He leads a weekly Journeymen program in Greenville, South Carolina and has attended several national conferences.

Jack became a Christian at age 28 while attending a Methodist church. Years later he learned what true discipleship of Jesus meant after a friend invited him to attend a Search series of small group discussions.

“I love the approach Search uses to allow seekers to find their relationship with God,” Jack says. “The Biblical understanding of the Search team members is solid and nonjudgmental.”

Plating grew up in Grand Rapids, Michigan. He attended the University of Arkansas where he earned a degree in Business Administration and Marketing and spent a successful career in the telecommunications industry. He is a former Executive Vice President and COO of Verizon Wireless. He also served on the COO board for the Cellular Telephone Industry Association and as independent director for Startek Inc. and Syn Terra Corporation.

Jack and wife Cindy live in Greenville and are parents of three grown children. They have five grandchildren. Jack enjoys fishing and spending time at a lake with family.

Brian Slipka

Shoreview, Minnesota

Brian Slipka

Shoreview, Minnesota

Brian Slipka has been actively involved in Search Ministries since 2008, first participating and bringing business associates to forums and small groups, then in leadership roles within the Twin Cities Area Ministry.

Growing up in a Christian household, his relationship with Christ became personal during his college experiences. “The overwhelming love of Christ, through the resurrection, was truly accepted during that time – thanks to people that came alongside me through relational evangelism and apologetics.” Slipka says, “that’s why Search has never been more vital to our world.”

Slipka grew up in Minnesota, attended the University of Minnesota Carlson School of Management where he earned a degree in Marketing and Management Finance. Following a successful career in the technology and finance world, he now owns and operates True North Equity Partners, a collection of main street businesses across varied industries. He is the Founder/CEO of Honour Capital, as well as Slipka Foundation, a non-profit committed to character development, community stewardship, and educational opportunities.

Brian and wife Megan live in Shoreview, MN with their two children. He is a die-hard Gopher (Univ of MN), Twins, and anything Minnesota sports fan.

Chris Watkins

Columbus, Ohio

Chris Watkins

Columbus, Ohio

Board member Chris Watkins has been involved with Search Ministries, Inc. for the past two decades.

As a fifth grader, the Ohio native asked to receive God’s gift of salvation, but it wasn’t until age 29 that he fully committed his life to Christ as he sat on a park bench in Ridgewood, N.J.
During that period Chris learned about Search through his brother’s best friend in high school who then was on the Search staff in Columbus, Ohio.

“He showed me what life discipleship looked like,” Chris says of John Hansel. “From the time the Lord woke me up, Search has been a primary influence in shaping my worldview. All the ‘Search’ DNA is in my blood, as well as my wife’s.”

Chris who attended The Ohio State University is CEO and co-founder of Cornerstone Global Partners. He lived fulltime in China from 2005-2017 and now commutes to China monthly where his business is based.

Chris and wife Tammy, parents of four daughters, reside in Columbus, Ohio. He also serves on the boards of Mission Columbus and Junior Achievement China and his family established China Hope Foundation that focuses on orphan relief in China.

Tom Schmitt

Hudson, Wisconsin

Tom Schmitt

Hudson, Wisconsin

Tom Schmitt has been associated with Search Ministries for 30 years, and serves as the chairman of the finance committee.

A Minnesota native, Tom grew up in the Twin Cities area and is a graduate of the University of Minnesota. Two years after he became a Christian, in 1983, he began attending Bible Study Fellowship. Following completion of the curriculum he became involved in Search outreach events and small group studies which led to him being invited to join the Search Minnesota leadership board. He has served on the Search national board for more than two decades.

“I love the Search men and women, and its method and materials,” Tom says. “I’ve benefitted in countless ways from my close association with the ministry, particularly in the dear friends I’ve made and in the shaping of my theological convictions.”

Tom is chairman and CEO of Schmitt Music Company, a 123-year-old retail music retail business header quartered in Minnesota.

An avid skier, fly fisherman and bluegrass banjo player, Tom and wife Laura have three married children and eight grandchildren.

The Story of Search

Who is Search?

The History of Search

Leadership

Tim Kilpatrick

President

Nola Meyer

Executive Vice President

Blaine Larsen

VP Field Operations

John Vicary

VP of New Staff Development

Kyle Sacks

Creative Director

Jennifer Diiulio

Director of Administration and Conferences

National Board

Nola Meyer

Executive Vice President

Jay Cannon

Franklin, Tennessee

Matt Hamilton

Columbus, Ohio

Buddy Kirk

Charlotte, North Carolina

Richard Nix

Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

Mark Norman

Ellicott City, Maryland

Jack Plating

Greenville, South Carolina

Brian Slipka

Shoreview, Minnesota

Chris Watkins

Columbus, Ohio

Tom Schmitt

Hudson, Wisconsin

Want to Know How You Can Get Involved?
Select Below and We’ll Get You Plugged in.

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The Story of Search

Who is Search?

The History of Search

Leadership

President

Executive Vice President

VP Field Operations

VP of New Staff Development

Creative Director

Director of Administration and Conferences

National Board

Executive Vice President

Franklin, Tennessee

Columbus, Ohio

Charlotte, North Carolina

Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

Ellicott City, Maryland

Greenville, South Carolina

Shoreview, Minnesota

Columbus, Ohio

Hudson, Wisconsin

Want to Know How You Can Get Involved? Select Below and We’ll Get You Plugged in.

Want to Know How You Can Get Involved?
Select Below and We’ll Get You Plugged in.