Deacons

Ken Harding

Photo and bio coming soon

Dan Janssen

Bio coming soon

Russ Queen

Russ Queen is a social worker in the Metro/Boston area where he puts his call to ministry to practice helping and working with the residents and families of our local communities.  Russ enjoys meeting and talking to new people and helping to meet their present and future needs.  He sees it as a very practical way to show the love of Christ. It is with that same attitude that Russ serves as a deacon.  Russ enjoys doing the behind-the-scenes work of a deacon as it reminds him that we all serve because Jesus first came to serve.  Russ views the work as a deacon as a model of what Hebrews 10:24 says, “that we may spur one another on to do good works.”

Russ has been married to his wife Carmen for more than five years. They have a daughter Hannah and a son Michael. Together they view their family as the first line of ministry, and Carmen, in her gracious and giving manner, is Russ’ biggest supporter when it comes to the work he does as a Deacon.  Together they have both served the church in a variety of functions including Youth Group, ROCKS, nursery, Sunday School and the Fellowship Committee.

In his spare time, Russ enjoys fishing and outdoor activities including gardening and landscaping.  If the truth be told, you may often find Russ listening to classic country music, especially Conway Twitty and Waylon Jennings.

Randy Rydbeck

Randy grew up in a Christian family in upstate New York. He met his wife Marti in a high school youth group that focused on ministering to those neglected by society. Early in their marriage they volunteered as Young Life leaders in Yuma, Arizona. Since then, they have led and served in various senior high youth groups, a children’s Bible camp (founded by Marti’s dad), and numerous Nursing Home Ministries.

Randy and Marti started attending First Presbyterian in 2003. They have three sons: Eric, Jeffrey, and Scott–all married to wonderful Christian women. They recently became grandparents for the first time and are rejoicing in the birth of precious Grace.  They are blessed to have all of their sons and their wives living in close proximity to them on the North Shore.

Marti now fills her days taking care of her parents, and spends her time speaking a foreign language to anyone that she meets. Randy currently works as a Sr. Project Engineer at GE Aviation in Lynn, MA.  He counts it a true privilege to serve as a Deacon at First Pres and in the Men’s Ministry as well.

Rob Van Cleef

Rob is the Director of Strategic Project Management at Gordon College where he helps to orchestrate and connect the efforts of many departments across campus. He views his job as similar to his role of deacon, since the deacons continually try to connect the church resources with people’s needs.

Rob has been married to Betsay for 15 years and they live in Beverly. Betsay is a Pre-K teacher at North Shore Christian School – Beacon Campus.  They have one son, Aaron.  Additionally, Liway, Betsay’s mother, has lived with them for the past seven years. Liway will be returning to the Philippines during the summer of 2011.

After Rob and Betsay joined the church, they consulted the church leadership about where they could be of service. For Rob, the deaconate was a good fit for his organizational gifts. Since joining the Deacons, Rob has been part of helping the church be more proactive and systematic in identifying needs, as well as developing response guidelines to many of the regular challenges faced.  Rob has been impressed and honored to work with the deacons, knowing that each one has a strong desire to help and to serve each member of the congregation.

Beyond working for Gordon, Rob is also a 1994 graduate of the college.  He also received a Masters of Arts in Theology from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary in 1999.

Betsay and Rob serve together with the New England Reformed Fellowship as the registrar for the Bolton Conference, which is a reformed preaching conference held during the third weekend each October.

Rob is currently working on his MBA, enjoys going to the gym, and spending time with the family.  He loves Betsay’s cooking, playing strategy games (Chess/Axis and Allies, etc.), and watching movies.

Randy Van Dyke

Randy and his wife Sherrie have lived on the North Shore for 17 years. During this time, Randy has worked as a UPS driver.  He considers his job as a service provider very similar to his role as a deacon.  Both roles require “heavy lifting” and a practical, hands-on mentality combined with courtesy and respect.

Randy and Sherrie have seven children: Abby, Rebekah, Zeb, Levi, Joanna, Daniel, and Ben.  Together they are both very active in the life of the church.  Sherrie is often involved in ministries at church where she can provide food including the bread run, church related catering events, fellowship committee, and meals for those in need. Additionally, Sherrie and Randy have a great love of children and young adults and often invite youth of all ages over for games, hanging out, meals, and whatever else their needs may be.

Randy became a deacon as part of a deacon expansion program in 2006 that sought to meet the church body’s physical needs as well as the more traditional financial work.  Randy felt this was the right fit for him since he enjoys identifying and assisting those in need.  Randy has a large family and wants the church to operate like a large family: serving one another and finding ways to help in times of need.

In addition to his work as Deacon, Randy works with the youth group and is working on his Masters of Divinity at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary. In his spare time he enjoys playing a paintball-like game, Airsoft, and other games with his children (or whatever children are around).  He and Sherrie both love to watch and read mysteries. Randy also enjoys writing.

Carl Walker

Carl and his wife Marge have been at First Pres for over 34 years. Throughout their 53 years (and counting!) marriage they have faithfully served all of the churches they have been a part of.  Carl and Marge have a son and a daughter who both live out of state. Carl is clearly able to trace God’s hand in his life through numerous life-threatening medical conditions beginning with receiving one of the first ever successful pyloric stenosis surgeries at the age of only one month. He is confident that God has sustained him throughout all of his life in order to fulfill His purposes. Carl’s career has been varied but has always had something to do with photography and electronics or service.  He worked at Gordon College in both the print shop and as a Custodian since from 1977 until he retired.  Beyond his professional work, both Carl and Marge devote their time and energy to service.

Since retiring, Carl and Marge have been serving in a variety of ways including driving people who had needs, assisting in VBS and in the Family night program, singing with the choir and doing music ministry at the nursing homes, and providing countless meals to those in need. In addition Carl has been a Trustee at the church for 33 years .  They are both active in the Gideon International Ministry.  Age and mobility issues are catching up with Carl and Marge and while they do not like needing more help than they give, they say that if they can’t work . . . they pray!

Carl knows that there have been very distinct times in his life when the Lord could have chosen to take him but he believes that the Lord still has work for him to do right here.   He and Marge want to be about their Father’s business and think that is the best reason to be a deacon!