Interim Pastor:  Steve Elliott
     After living my first 22 years in California, Darla and I left San Diego one week after we got married and not long after graduation from Point Loma Nazarene College for graduate school at Bowling Green State University in Ohio. We planned to go right back to California after graduate school, but by way of Florida, Kansas, Ohio and, Colorado, we never did. Although, we like to vacation in San Diego and Colorado whenever we can.
     My second round of graduate school was at Nazarene Theological Seminary where I tried to race through, but instead took 6 years because I always seemed to find serving just as compelling as theology.
     Snow skiing, hiking, swimming, biking are a few of the ways I like to enjoy the great outdoors. I have traveled widely and enjoy the diversity I’ve found. I try to keep an open mind to people and culture and am usually able to see the pros and cons of different ideas in a friendly manner.
     My wife, Darla, shares my interest in serving the church and trying to find ways to connect people who already know Jesus and those who don’t with God’s great love. Darla and I have a deep and renewing friendship that calls us both to be truer humans. I am more like what I am created to be because I have taken an authentic journey with Darla.
     I think God inspires freedom, new beginnings, hope, love, and joy. He is so kind and treats us even better than we usually realize. Learning to live in these realities is the best thing I do, although sometimes with fits and starts and restarts.
     Luke and Zoey make our lives even better by asking good questions as they also learn to follow Jesus and discover what most excites them about life. Luke likes to play and watch football and baseball while Zoey likes dance and gymnastics. Both maintain an interest in video games and origami. I have learned so much about life and our Heavenly Father through parenting these two. Wrestling or dancing with my kids is some of the best therapy I know.

Youth Pastor:  Chris Desgroseillier
      Having been born and raised in Yakima, WA, the Tri-Cities is somewhat of a familiar place to Chris. At 15 years old he embraced Christ as his Lord and Savior after someone invited him to a youth worship service. At 19 he accepted God's call on him to be a youth pastor. Chris attended Northwest Nazarene University and graduated in 2004 with a BA in Religion with a specific emphasis in Youth Ministry. After NNU he served as Youth Pastor in the small town of Pomeroy, WA. In January of 2008 he came on staff with us here in Richland.
      Chris has been married to his wife Kristen since August 8th of 2003. You can find Kristen leading worship in our Aldersgate service on Saturday evenings. On February of 2007 they were blessed with their first child and daughter, Chloe Joy. In June of 2010 they recieved another gift from God, Sean Christopher.
      The passion of Chris's life is loving God and people. Christ has changed his life forever and he feels called to introduce others to the life altering God that he now knows. Within that call, Chris has a specific passion and burden for the youth of today. He believes they are an important part of the family of God today and an essential part of who we will be tomorrow.


Compassionate Ministries Pastor:  Amy Shultz
      Amy joined the staff at Richland First Church in March of 2006 after serving as their volunteer Compassionate Ministry director since 1999. Amy answered a call to formal ministry and is currently enrolled in the Modular Course of Study. She works as Pastor of Compassionate Outreach, providing care and visitation to church and community members. She also serves as the Executive Director of Jericho Road Ministries, a crisis ministry serving Tri-Cities. Amy and her husband Marlin have been married since 1979. They have 4 adult children, 2 granddaughters and two dogs. Amy enjoys singing, reading, drawing, writing and sewing. Her favorite things are strong coffee and front porch sitting. 


Our Children's and Family Pastor:  Sarah Voigt
      Sarah comes to us from various places, having been raised in a pastor’s family, but most recently from Kansas City, Missouri where she graduated from Nazarene Theological Seminary with a Master of Divinity in May 2009. Since May 2005, when Sarah and Ted came together in marriage, life has been full of many adventures as they have grown together in love, friendship, and their relationship with God. They thank God for each other and the ways God continues to work in their lives. They are looking forward to new adventures in Richland and getting to know everyone!
      For Sarah, children and family have an incredible place and value in the church body. As a child it was through her own family and the church family that Sarah came to know and be known in relationship with God. Through the encouragement and guidance of church family members, Sarah embraced God’s calling into full-time ministry. The church, this family who is seeking to more perfectly love God and each other, needs each other – especially children! May we all continue to grow together in our relationship with God and each other as we strive to share the love of God with others.