The Staff of Community Presbyterian Church

DAN YEAZEL is the Pastor at Community Presbyterian Church. Dan was born and raised in Madison, Wisconsin. He was baptized in the Lutheran Church but grew up in the Presbyterian Church. (As with all baptisms -there is a story there!) His parents still live in Madison. He has two older brothers, an older sister and a younger brother. In high school, Dan spent a year as an exchange student to New Zealand. He has loved traveling ever since.

Dan received a Masters degree in Public Policy and Administration / Health System Administration which led him to serve as Director of Mission, Education and Ethics for a Catholic healthcare system based in San Francisco. During those years his primary responsibilities were overseeing the pastoral care departments and chaplains within a three state region.

As part of seminary, Dan spent six months of training in Clinical Pastoral Education at Stanford University Hospital. He received his M. Div. from San Francisco Theological Seminary in 1995, and was ordained to serve a specialized ministry setting in healthcare.

KIMBREL JOHNSON is the Associate Pastor of Community Presbyterian Church. Kim earned her Bachelor of Arts in Ministry degree from Viterbo College, graduating in 2000.  She was a student at Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary where she earned her Master of Divinity degree. Kim was ordained June 29, 2003 at Glen Avon Presbyterian Church, Duluth, where she was born and raised.

 PATTY MURRAY CHRISTENSEN is the Parish Assistant and has worked for the church since 1990. She has four children and five grandchildren. In addition to managing the church office and building, Patty staffs the Congregational Care Committee. Patty is also the Treasurer for the Township of Grand  Rapids. 

DARCY REICH is the Director of Music at Community Presbyterian Church.  She has been a member of the staff for 25 years and currently serves as organist, accompanist for one of the vocal choirs and director of the five handbell choirs.  She is also the elementary music teacher at Cohasset and Murphy Elementary Schools. She received a BS. degree in music education for St. Cloud State University.

JANICE BURCH is the Director of Informal Music at Community Presbyterian Church.  Janice also teaches k-6 vocal and instrumental music at North Elementary School in Deer River. She was raised in the state of Kansas and attended Fort Hays State University in Hays, Kansas. She earned her Bachelor's and Master's degrees in music education.  After teaching instrumental and vocal music in Kansas for 23 years, Janice and her husband, Richard, moved to Grand Rapids in 1999.  

 NIELS HENRIKSEN is the Director of the Sonshine singers, a choir for youth in grades 7-12. Niels has celebrated 25 years with music at Community Presbyterian Church this year.  Niels also works for Arrowhead Promotion.

JOANN PETERSON is the Director of the Rainbow SIngers, a choir for youth in grades 3-6th.  JoAnn and her husband Doug recently moved back to GR after being gone for 20 years. Both have been active in choir and JoAnn assisted in directing the Chancel Choir and Sweet Adelines when they were first in GR. She is glad to be back directing choirs at CPC and is looking forward to working with the youth. We are going to have a good time.

Kelly Peterson is the Interim Finance Treasurer
Brian Peterson is the Interim Treasurer.

Brian and Kelly Peterson were born and raised in Grand Rapids. Brian attended St. John’s University where he earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in accounting. He then went on to earn his CPA. Kelly attended the College of St. Benedict’s where she earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in accounting. Both Brian and Kelly worked at Deloitte & Touche LLP in Minneapolis for three years before deciding to move back to Grand Rapids to start a family. They have a daughter, Rebekah, who is five months old. Brian works in the accounting department at Ainsworth.