New Elder “Introduction” – John Dunham
John grew up in Plains, Kansas, where his family owns a farm. He attended the Christian Church there, where his father was an elder, and spent most of his youth playing any sport he could find.
Lori grew up in Halstead with her dad working as a salesman and her mom as a hairdresser. She attended the Halstead Church of Christ and was involved in sports, band, and other school activities.
John and Lori met while attending Wichita State and rowing on the crew team. They were married in 1998 and have three children. Their oldest, Emma, is married to Riley Roper, works as an elementary teacher, and lives in Edmond, OK. Grant, also in Edmond, is in his first year of Physical Therapy school at OU and is married to Mary Ellen. All four graduated from Oklahoma Christian University. Macy, their youngest, is a junior at Central Christian Academy and enjoys playing volleyball for her school and club team almost all year round, but is currently recovering from hip surgery.
John’s degree is in mechanical engineering, and he works for NetApp. Lori earned a marketing degree and worked for the National Institute for Aviation Research until they had children, when she became a full-time mom.
The Dunham family has made Silver Maple Camp their family mission since before there was a “Dunham Family.” Lori started attending the camp at age 11 and became a counselor once she was in 
college. John joined her in 1999 and all their kids attended the camp in a stroller, as a camper, or on staff every year of their lives, including Macy, who went to camp for the first time when she was two days old. John has served on the board at Silver Maple Camp and is now the director of the third session, which takes place during the last full week of July every year.
John and Lori began attending Northside in 2010 and have been involved with the Loft class, youth group class, teaching adult classes, the golf tournament, Teen Camp, Family Camp, Wednesday night meals, funeral meals, Guest Lunches, BLAST, and the men’s ministry. Lori loves making food for others and John enjoys eating Lori’s food. Their favorite part of Northside is the Christian family, a huge network of friends they can lean on and be leaned on by. Serving the people they love is easy for them.
John has a strong desire to see healthier, stronger families everywhere, especially in the church. In addition to many new responsibilities that come with being an elder, John wants to continue advocating for marriage seminars, marriage retreats, parenting classes, and mentoring from those who have walked these paths before.