LEADERSHIP TEAM

I have attended First Covenant with my wife, Michelle, since 2009, and we became members in 2011. I was baptized and confirmed at Central Lutheran in Minneapolis, and I have regularly attended churches that were either non-denominational or other protestant denominations. I appreciate the Evangelical Covenant's tradition of agreeing to disagree on topics that some people have rigid beliefs about, such as infant versus adult baptism. I am glad to serve on the Leadership Team to help the church continue to achieve its identity, mission, and vision.

I am a life-long member of First Covenant, baptized, confirmed, and married in this church. I love that our church wants to be an active part of our community, and teaches me constantly how to be a good neighbor. I am thankful that we are a congregation made up of a wide variety of ages, backgrounds, cultures, and beliefs, and that we still all learn from each other. My husband Peter and I have enjoyed volunteering with the First Cov youth for many years and lead a retreat in the Boundary Waters every winter. I am happiest when I am outside- playing with my dog, gardening, camping, biking, and log rolling.

I am married to Bill and we have two adult children (Erin and Erik). Bill and I grew up on the Eastside, and were married at FCC. I have been attending FCC all of my life, and my grandparents and mother were members as well. For me, being an active member started with confirmation. I remember feeling welcomed and accepted, and that feeling of being welcomed was the same for Bill when he first visited FCC when we dated. I think we have wonderful opportunities to serve on the Eastside and I want to support our church as we continue to live out our mission and ministry.

I am Jorge Martinez. My family and I have been members at FCC for 7 years now. Currently, I am serving as a member of the Leadership Team, co-directing our musicals with students from many schools in the metro area, and feeling privileged to serve in other activities in our church. It makes me very happy that our community is strongly committed to opening our doors to others in a deep and truly Christian embrace as our Lord has taught us.

FCC has been my church home my entire life, baptized, confirmed and married here. I sing in the choir, play handbells, serve at funerals and am privileged to serve on the leadership team. It means so much to me that we are a congregation that seeks to share the love of Christ to out community both locally and globally. I am learning how to be a widow after losing my husband and friend of 52 years. I enjoy reading, golfing, gardening, playing the harp and piano and spending time with my grandchildren.

I have been a part of FCC since July of 2014 when I started a one-year internship at First Covenant. Ever since that ended, my family and I have been happy to call FCC home. For the past five years, I have been the Twin Cities representative of Covenant Trust, a financial services organization owned by the Evangelical Covenant Church, our home denomination. I have also been on the Finance Committee at First Covenant the past six years and part of the counting team the past two. Our family currently lives in White Bear Lake and we have two young children, Soren and Annika. My wife, Kristin teaches middle school language arts at Skyview Middle School in Oakdale.

Jim is elected and is authorized to disburse funds for church purposes in accordance with standard accounting procedures for non-profit organizations. He manages and records the payment and outgoing side of church finances, works closely with the bookkeeper, and generates monthly financial reports. He is a member of the Finance Team and Budget Committee.