Calvary’s Amazing Staff

Please meet the tremendous people with whom I spend most of my professional life. I write about them sometimes on this blog, and when we finally got together for a group picture I thought I’d share with you all a little about why I love them so much.

Front Row (l to r):

Edgar Palacios, Associate Pastor of Christian Education and committed peace activist, Pastor Edgar was one of the founders of the National Debate for Peace in El Salvador. He also is a really good soccer player.

Allyson Wisdom is disarmingly cute but don’t let her fool you. Allyson is one amazing, committed young woman who works tirelessly for her Horizons kids. She also turned 23 yesterday but the rest of us try not to think about that.

Harold Ritchie, church business manager, often looks like he’s asleep, but don’t let this picture fool you. Harold is a fabulous cook and spends a lot of time taking care of the rest of us. Spring means his garden is underway and I fully anticipate being the beneficiary of his efforts.

Back Row (l to r):

Eric Bebber, whose office nickname is really embarrassing, makes a striking Missions staffer, wouldn’t you say? Commissioned and supported by the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship, Eric sticks his sunglasses in his shirt a lot so we all remember how stylish he really is.

Church Administrator Paul Rosstead is the wind beneath our wings and, we feel, is probably genetically related to Jesus. Or at least the disciples. Paul handles the running of our building with a calm that, come to think of it, is really rather scary. And, while Paul has been known to have questionable fashion taste, he has made significant progress in the last few months.

Cheryl Branham is Calvary’s exceptionally talented Music Director. Cheryl is a fabulous pianist, but she’s also an incredible director. If you sing in Cheryl’s choir you suddenly begin to think you actually sound good. Cheryl teaches piano, too, and she does not like it when duct tape is put on the grand piano.

That’s me, next, with my braces for all of you who sent in requests for a photo. For the record, I don’t like the duct tape thing, either.

Mary Andreolli, our Director of Youth and Outreach, takes seriously the perfection of the “I am so cool” stance. She’d never want you to know this, but she is not that scary in person. Plus, you’ll note she has a very trendy haircut. Mary loves thinking deeply about social justice. Mary loves thinking deeply about, well, pretty much everything. She’s teaching me to love and appreciate introverts for the unusual, exotic creatures they are.

Al Jeter keeps everything running around the building. Yesterday was a banner day for Al, as he discovered that he might not dislike couscous as he’d previously thought. Al’s a really nice guy, but you should meet his son, Randy, who sings like an angel and heads for the Manhattan School of Music this fall.

I give them all a hard time (believe me, they reciprocate) but I know how incredibly fortunate I am to work with such a dedicated, honest, hardworking bunch. They are all amazing.