Chaplain Lis Cheesman

Lis Cheesman serves as Formation Pastor at LIFEGATE Denver and is a senior member of the Pastoral Leadership Team. She oversees adult discipleship and formation across the church, including connections and assimilation, hospitality and guest experience, volunteer team development, prayer, missions and outreach, and pastoral care. Lis also helps shape staff culture and leadership development, with a particular focus on identifying, training, and commissioning leaders who can help others walk the way of Jesus. She is a regular member of LIFEGATE’s teaching team.

Before vocational ministry, Lis’s world was soccer. She played at Gordon College (2008–2012), then served as an assistant coach before moving to Denver. In Colorado, she coached at Colorado Christian University and Valor Christian High School while attending Denver Seminary and stepping into pastoral ministry.

Outside of church life, Lis is at her best somewhere outside, ideally with a view. She loves early-morning coffee, a long walk, and anything that gets her moving, especially running, paddleboarding, skiing, and a good Peloton class. She’s the kind of person who will happily plan a day around being in the mountains, then come home and unwind with a book, a great meal, and time with the people she loves.

She’s also a sports fan through and through and has a particular love for soccer, which is why she serves as volunteer co-chaplain to Denver Summit FC, becoming the first co-chaplain in club history and serving in that role since 2026.