Youth Department Staff

Luke Gordon

Youth Director

Luke Gordon has served as the Youth Ministries Director since October 2010.  In this role, Luke provides leadership and vision for ministry to students and their families along with encouragement and support to the youth staff and volunteers. MDPC played a formative role in Luke's faith development and calling and gave Luke a passion to share the good news of Jesus. After growing up at MDPC, he worked as a Summer Intern in 1999, and then as the Middle School Director in 2003. A graduate of Texas A&M University, he is currently completing his Masters of Divinity degree at Fuller Theological Seminary. Luke and Julie have two children.

Robin Stephens

Youth Administrative Coordinator

Jeremiah Collins

High School Outreach Director

Jeremiah (Miah) has been working at MDPC since April 2011. His major responsibility is to provide opportunities for the influence of the youth group outside of the walls of the church. He was born in Muskegon, Michigan, grew up in Durban, South Africa, and sojourned in Grand Rapids (MI), Austin (TX), and Vereeniging (South Africa) since then. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Bible from Cornerstone University, has run an ultra-marathon, and survived Malaria. He is also a skilled barista. He is passionate about God’s kingdom being established around the world. Miah is married to the beautiful Michelle.

Laura Ashcroft

High School Discipleship Director

Laura Ashcroft serves as the High School Discipleship Director at Memorial Drive Presbyterian Church. Laura’s primary role on the youth staff is the planning and implementation of teaching high school students the Word of God and its implication on their lives. Laura attended the University of Texas at Austin and majored in Communication Studies with a focus on Human Relations and a concentration in Education. She began following Christ at age seventeen during her time as a student at MDPC and is blessed to be serving him in a place that so greatly impacted her faith. 

Tara Barker

Middle School OUtreach Director

Tara Barker has served at MDPC as Middle School Outreach Director since May of 2012. In this role, Tara provides principle leadership and vision for the campus fellowship, and missional efforts for the middle school ministry. Tara is a native of Katy, Texas and holds her undergraduate degree in Communications from Houston Baptist University. Tara began to follow Jesus at the age of eight and has grown up serving in the church. Before entering full-time youth ministry, she worked in summer camp ministry at Pine Cove, held a campus ministry leadership role at HBU, and also has lead worship in the 8:30 and 9:45 services at MDPC since March of 2010.

Dan Aikins

Middle School discipleship Director

Dan Aikins has been the Middle School Discipleship Director at MDPC since May 2011. Dan is passionate about helping Christ raise up middle school students who love, trust and serve God. Dan provides vision and leadership for the middle school ministry by building relationships with students and parents and by equipping adult leaders. Dan is originally from Indiana (Boiler Up!) and graduated from Taylor University with a degree in Christian Educational Ministry in 2010. Currently, he is pursuing ordination and a Masters of Divinity from Fuller Seminary, Texas. Dan is engaged to Lauren Seckinger, and they will be married in 2013.