Our Staff
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C.J. buskirk - pastor circleemail
C.J. Buskirk has served Sulphur Springs Christian Church in a vocational capacity since Aug. 1, 2009, first as youth pastor and since 2010 as senior pastor. He jokingly calls the move from youth pastor to senior pastor a demotion, but is privileged to serve.
One of C.J.’s top strengths is connecting with people. He loves to see people grow in their faith and loves to see people connected within the church.
C.J. and his wife Leann were married Aug. 7, 1999 and have two daughters, Abby and Anna. He calls Leann the perfect pastor’s wife and attributes his longevity at Sulphur due to her likability. “I think our faith family is worried that if they dump me to the curb they’ll lose her, too.”
His favorite Bible verse is Zephaniah 3:17, “The Lord your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you by his love; he will exult over you with loud singing.”
“Praise God that He is mighty to save someone as deplorable as myself,” he says. “Praise God that He, in His goodness, loves me and that the God of the universe rejoices over me.”
C.J. says he relates well to King David, as David had a desire for God though he was also a man of numerous screw-ups. “I too, love God with everything, but I often find myself falling way short of His standard of holiness. Praise God for His amazing grace!”
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Kris Martin - discipleship ministeR
Kris Martin joined the staff of Sulphur Springs Christian Church in 2024 as discipleship minister, and that role has allowed him to expand his opportunities to serve as a teacher of God’s Word.
Kris calls himself a “contagious teacher.”
“I strive to accurately teach the Word of God as I simultaneously do my best to live it out daily,” he said. “I want to be positively contagious with my conviction to our Bible’s absolute truth with those whom I encounter, whether it is family, friends, or strangers.”
Kris and his wife Leigh were married in 2000 and are blessed with two children, a son Josh and daughter Kate. Kris describes Leigh as fiercely loyal, especially to her family and friends.
Kris does not consider himself moody. But he says he is sometimes “moody” about what his favorite Bible verse is. He most often lands on Hebrews 12:1-3 as his favorite. “Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, laying aside every weight and the sin which so easily entangles us, let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfector of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider Him who has endured such hostility by sinners against Himself, so that you will not grow weary, fainting in heart.” He uses that to help fight against daily temptations. “Knowing that I belong to Jesus because He has redeemed me by His own blood gives me the motivation to get up when I fall and continue the fight against my sins.”
Kris relates to Elijah, one of the prophets in the Old Testament. “I have episodes where I am bold for Christ, yet I have seasons where I feel alone. Unintentionally, there are times where I come across aggressive, but I am deeply persuaded that we must stand for absolute truth and that truth is only found in the Bible. I believe love is often expressed best when we stand for Biblical truth, even when it hurts.”
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JONI farmer - office administrator
Joni Farmer joined the staff at SSCC in August 2023 as custodian, and a year later she began adjusting to the position of office administrator. She strives to carry out her duties with a servant’s heart, showing hospitality to all.
Joni and her husband, Brian, have been married since 2012. Brian has served the community as a volunteer fireman for 27 years. They have 5 children: Jeremiah, Audree, Kimberlee, Nathaniel and Natalie.
And Joni strives to fulfill her position – and live her life – like Esther.
“She prioritized her people, ensuring their comfort and anticipating their needs,” Joni said. “She navigated difficult situations with grace and wisdom, remaining calm and composed under stress. Esther took great care in creating a space where others felt welcome and comfortable, all while positively influencing and impacting those around her. I pray to continue to draw inspiration from her courage, thoughtfulness and her dedication to serving others even when it requires personal sacrifice.”
In all situations, Joni leans on Romans 8:28, which says “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.”
“God works in all things,” Joni said. “The ups and downs in life to refine our faith, strengthen our endurance, all the while developing our character. For 30 years Jesus was a carpenter – this wasn’t His highest purpose, but it was part of the preparation. With our obedience and faithfulness, God prepares and molds us in the everyday responsibilities of life for His intended use for us.”
