Our Team
The office is open Monday through Thursday 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
Please stop by to say hi.
Pastor Daniel Cunningham
Interim Pastor
Pastor Daniel Cunningham has served as Pastor of First Baptist Church in Jefferson, Iowa since July 2022. Prior to coming to Jefferson, he spent eighteen years serving in healthcare ministry as a chaplain throughout the Chicago and Milwaukee areas.
Daniel holds master’s degrees in Theology from the University of Dubuque Theological Seminary, Gerontology from Western Illinois University, and Bioethics and Health Policy from Loyola University Chicago. Throughout his years of ministry, he has developed strengths in leadership and mentoring while serving as a department head in numerous healthcare facilities. His professional experience includes advance care planning, critical incident debriefing, and grief and bereavement counseling.
Although now serving in congregational ministry, Daniel continues to carry a chaplain’s heart and especially values opportunities for spiritual care with the ill and elderly.
Pastor Cunningham remains active in the community as a member of the UnityPoint Health–Des Moines Ethics Committee, the Greene County Medical Center Patient and Family Advisory Council, and the Greene County Salvation Army Unit 250 Committee. He also participates in the Greene County Clergy Association and community worship services.
Daniel is ordained for Christian ministry and endorsed as an Institutional Chaplain through the American Baptist Churches USA.
He and his wife, Toni, a retired BSN-RN and healthcare manager, have two sons: Gordon of Dubuque, Iowa, and Joshua of Charlottesville, Virginia.
Daniel grew up on a small dairy farm near Dixon, Illinois, where he later spent many years operating the family farm. He was baptized in the Disciples of Christ Church and continues to value the strong faith foundations of his upbringing.
Outside of ministry, Daniel enjoys biking on Iowa’s trails, including the Raccoon River Valley Trail, High Trestle Trail, and Sauk Rail Trail, though he admits the Jefferson-to-Yale stretch is not his favorite. He also enjoys golfing “for the exercise,” adding with a smile that “keeping score is depressing, so I don’t.”
Laura Wyatt
Office Manager
Where were you born?
I was born in Boone, Iowa, but traveled with my family around the Midwest. We lived in a different town almost every school year.
When did you come to Jefferson?
I moved to Jefferson in 1978 when I married my husband, Mike.
Tell about your family:
Mike and I have been married for since 1978. We have two wonderful children, Kelly and Sean. Kelly and her husband, Jason, have two amazing daughters, Nora and Corinne. Sean is an electrician and acts as Project Manager of several crews doing commercial and industrial work. They both live in Iowa now, so we see them often.
Hobby?
I love to read and do crossword puzzles. I enjoy sewing and crafting as well as baking.
Pets:
Two dogs, Walter, and Archie
One cat, Anne
Favorite Food?
I have a terrible sweet tooth and love a good steak.
Favorite place to go on vacation?
I have only been on one vacation and that was to Seattle and the coast north to Bellingham. It is awe inspiring territory.
What do you love most about CCC?
That’s easy. The people! I get to come to work everyday and spend time with some pretty amazing friends.