Serving Christian Union's Financial Partners
Cheryl Ennis Self, ACFRE
Vice President of Development
Cheryl was the Founder and Chief Development Officer of the consultancy Funding for Change (FFC). Since 2016, FFC has provided expert guidance to both nonprofit and for profit corporations in the areas of creative visioning, innovative strategic planning, excellence in resource generation, and sustainable attainment of stated goals.Prior to serving as a Business Consultant, Ms. Self was the Executive Director of Global Social Partnerships at World Vision (WV). WV is a Christian humanitarian organization with 46,000 employees working in nearly 100 countries. Her prior roles at World Vision over 16 years included leadership of major donor, corporate and foundation development officers, while personally stewarding a strong portfolio of donor relationships.
Her previous experience includes service as National Director of Advancement at Prison Fellowship Ministries, Washington, DC, and Interim Director of Development at The Stony Brook School, Long Island, NY.
In 2013, The Association of Fundraising Professionals, the largest community of professional fundraisers in the world, awarded its highest professional certification, the Advanced Certified Fundraising Executive (ACFRE) to Ms. Self. Available only to senior-level fundraisers who have worked in the profession for 10 or more years, the ACFRE is a distinguished achievement earned by only 104 professionals since the inception of the program in 1992.
Ms. Self holds a BA in French Language from Gettysburg College, PA, where she graduated cum laude. She and her husband of 30 years, Jim, live in Northern Virginia.
Jason Blomgren
Volunteer Ambassador
Jason works most closely with Christian Union alumni, friends, supporters, churches, and foundations in the Western Region and around the country.Jason was born and raised in the San Francisco Bay Area. He earned a Bachelor's degree in Business with a dual focus in Marketing and Finance from Azusa Pacific University in 2001. Prior to joining Christian Union, Jason led a successful sales career building and managing a healthcare equipment division for a regional distribution company. Jason has been active as a board member with several local nonprofits in the Bay area and has spent the last 10 years serving the local Young Life in Palo Alto.
Jason and his wife, Audrey, live in Oregon and are the ecstatic and lucky parents of three beautiful children.
David Cole
Development Director of Technical ServicesBio to come.
Landon Eckhardt
Director of Development
Landon represents Christian Union in the Northeast Region, working closely with ministry financial partners, including individuals, churches, and foundations. His role is to steward their participation in developing Christian leaders to impact culture across the country.Born and raised in the Dallas/Fort Worth, Texas metroplex, Landon earned a BSBA in finance from Samford University in 2009, an MDiv from Palmer Theological Seminary in 2014, and an MBA from Eastern University in 2017. Prior to joining Christian Union, Landon worked in development at The Bowery Mission in New York City where he managed a team overseeing donor relations, donation processing and receipting, and various data and reporting mechanisms.
Landon and his wife, Amanda, currently live in New York City and are avid foodies, coffee lovers, and enjoy spending quality time with family and friends.
Patty Fillman
Administrative Assistant
Patty provides crucial administrative support to the development team. She graduated from Mansfield University with a degree in Early Childhood Education and has worked a variety of secretarial and managerial jobs while fulfilling her primary responsibility of raising her children. Patty has three wonderful, grown children: Adam, Rachel, and Hannah. Between them, she and her husband, Jim, have four children and three grandchildren.
Dave Magnuson
Associate Vice President Strategic Gifts
Dave directs the work of the directors of public affairs. He also works closely with financial partners in the Central Region and around the country.Dave hails from Minnesota. He earned a Bachelor's degree in Business from Bethel University in 1983 and an MBA from Lake Forest Graduate School of Management in 1992. Prior to joining Christian Union, Dave served successfully as the Chief Development Officer at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, Presbyterian Homes, and The Salvation Army in Chicago. Dave has also been active as a board member with several international social service ministries.
Dave and wife, Caryn, live in the Chicago area and are the proud parents of three adult sons, Trent, Caleb, and Nathan, and daughter, Grace, who is in college.
Chin-Chin Minnear
Senior Development Associate
Chin-Chin was born and raised in the Chicago area. She holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Chicago, a Master’s in Public Policy from the University of Michigan, and a Master’s in Clinical Psychology from Wheaton College (IL). Chin-Chin has been privileged to work in various sectors over the course of her career, including state and federal government, non-profit advocacy, consulting, and health care. She is also a trained counselor and coach.
Chin-Chin lives in the Washington, DC metropolitan area with her husband, Adam, and their two beautiful children.
Sara Morrill
Donor Care Manager and Development Support
Sara grew up in Nyack, New York and Grand Rapids, MI. She graduated cum laude from Taylor University in 2013 where she studied communications and viola performance. Prior to Christian Union Sara worked in Development at Trinity International University where she managed the donor relations team.Sara and her husband, Dan, reside in Palatine, IL.
Deborah Oladapo
Data Director
Deborah grew up in Auburn, Alabama. She attended the University of Alabama where she received her BA in International Studies and Spanish and her MBA. She spent eight years working as an IT professional with Rohm and Haas Company, The Dow Chemical Company, and with a non–profit community college before joining Christian Union. Deborah is married to Abiola. They have two children and live in Columbus, Indiana.
Kelly Parks
Development Writer
Kelly Parks graduated from Wheaton College magna cum laude with a BA in Psychology and a minor in English. During her Wheaton career, Kelly studied abroad at the University of Oxford at Wycliffe Hall through an organization called Scholarship and Christianity in Oxford. Her time abroad had a formative impact on her life, helping Kelly realize her passion for higher education.
Prior to Wheaton College, Kelly spent 15 years of her life as a missionary in Budapest, Hungary. While in Budapest, she was involved in refugee relief during the refugee crisis of 2015 as well as youth ministry. Since graduating from Wheaton in 2020, Kelly started her career as a Development Writer for Christian Union where she has been able to combine her passion for ministry, writing, and higher education. When she is not working, Kelly enjoys painting, reading, and going on long bike rides with her family in Grand Rapids, Michigan.
Contact the Christian Union development staff by email using: Firstname.Lastname@ChristianUnion.org
