Alf Halvorson, Pastor/Head of Staff
 Alf Halvorson gets up in the morning passionate to make the lives of individuals and the church whole and purposeful. As Pastor and Head of Staff, Alf applies that passion to his many duties, among them moderating the Session, working with the Personnel, Worship, and Stewardship Committees, running staff meetings and preparing for his most public role of preaching almost every week in both the contemporary and traditional services. In all he does, Alf desires to lead in setting the vision and direction of the church by modeling humble discipleship and service.
Born in Minneapolis, Minnesota, Alf moved with his family to Nevada, Missouri, while in secondary school. In 1987 he graduated Summa Cum Laude from Luther College near LaCrosse, Wisconsin, with majors in Political Science and Psychology. His intension was to become a lawyer, but God had other plans for Alf. With encouragement from professors, his college roommate and future wife, he attended Princeton Theological Seminary from which he graduated with two degrees: a Master of Divinity degree with emphasis in Biblical Studies and Preaching, and a Master of Theology degree in Pastoral Care and Counseling.
Alf is currently at the dissertation phase of his Doctorate in Mission & Evangelism at Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary in Austin Texas. Alf comes to Bethlehem from his recent service as Associate Pastor, Executive Pastor, and Acting Head of Staff at First & Calvary Presbyterian Church in Springfield, Missouri.
Alf is blessed in his wife Shari, who has walked side by side with him for over twenty years. Not only supportive of his ministry, Shari is a strong Christian herself, while maintaining her own career as a part-time medical intensive care nurse and instructor (CCRN). Their two children, Matt who is almost 17 and Kristen who is 15, are both athletes, musicians, good students and growing Christians. Knowing the importance of healthy family relationships to an effective vocation, Alf attempts to give as careful attention to his wife and children as to the demands of his formal ministry.
Though injuries have sidelined him from his first love of playing basketball, Alf likes to golf, hike, camp, play games and read. As our church family has learned, Alf's profound commitment to Christ and the church is animated by his belief that "seriousness of purpose does not require somberness of approach." His wit, scholarship and dedication are leading the church to joy, laughter,and meaning as we worship, grow and serve together.
Manuela Kauer, Pastor for Congregational Life and Care
 Manuela's preparation for service as Minister of Word and Sacrament includes eighteen years of church leadership experience both on the mission field and at home. She is multilingual which includes—as she herself expresses it—"speaking several languages, but also conveying the faith in many different ways." Manuela Kauer is a woman of deep personal faith and wisdom. She has been a servant leader who has discerned God's call for her life in a ministry marked by personal sacrifice and faithful, joyful obedience to her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. She is passionate and committed to serving God's precious children throughout the world.
Born in Spain, Manuela and her family moved to Switzerland where she went to high school and then received a BA degree in Business. Later coming to the United States, she received a Master of Business Administration from Eastern University in St. Davids, PA, followed a few years later by a Master of Divinity from Palmer Seminary in Philadelphia.
Manuela, her husband, Juan, and daughters, Laura and Camila, served during 15 years as missionaries of our denomination in Buenos Aires, Argentina. There she carried multiple tasks as the Executive Director of a small Christian organization, then as the Coordinator of Community Development in the same organization, the Coordinator of PCUSA Young Adult Volunteers in Argentina and Uruguay, and finally held two pastoral positions in local churches in Buenos Aires. She also served as the Interim Pastor of United Presbyterian Church in Pottsville, PA before coming to our church.
She feels blessed to have a wonderful husband who is also deeply involved in the community as a Case Manager working for a non-profit organization in Allentown with many low-income clients—many of them Spanish speaking families. The Kauers continue to be in contact with mission partners they worked with and are passionate to bring the good news in words and deed wherever they are.
The whole family enjoys outdoor activities, reading, traveling, discovering new places and building relationships with people of different cultures.
Cody Sandahl, Pastor for Discipleship
 Cody comes from Austin, Texas, where he graduated from the University of Texas. He also completed his Master of Divinity in Texas at Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary.
Cody served on the youth staff of Covenant Presbyterian Church. Prior to his work at Covenant, he was instrumental in starting a house church, being nvolved in its conception and planning and residing on the Board of Directors. Additionally, Cody spent time at Shepherd of the Hills Presbyterian Church where he worked with children's ministry, preached and participated on a mission trip to Mexico. He has experience in youth ministry, adult small groups and preaching. Cody also has a heart and passion for evangelism and teaching and a gift for relational ministry. Cody's focus is on helping people grow as followers of Jesus Christ, and he leads others by building up and inspiring other leaders to utilize their own gifts.
Cody's sport of choice is basketball, and he is a big fan of the University of Texas' football team.
Jack Brace, Pastor for Mission and Outreach
Pastor for Mission and Outreach, Jack Brace senses that "God is up to something big" at First Pres. and dedicates his ministry to helping the church become internally strong and externally focused. His great hope is for members of FPCB to enter the "mission field" every morning when they begin their day.
Jack's background has prepared him well for this work. He studied Comparative Sociology and Latin American Studies at the University of Puget Sound before completing his Master of Divinity at Princeton Theological Seminary, where he focused on Missional Theology with Professor Darrell Guder.
Born and raised in Washington State, Jack most recently worked for Capitol Hill Presbyterian Church in Seattle as the Director of Student Ministries. Prior to that, as Director of Seattle's Urban Intentional Community at University Presbyterian Church, he discipled young adults as they followed God's call. Jack has also served as a missionary internationally, traveling extensively in Latin America and Africa, where from 1999-2000 he worked with homeless and street youth in the slums of Nairobi, Kenya.
While not "working", Jack, an avid outdoorsman, enjoys cycling, mountaineering, birding and the water—passions even more pleasurable when shared with his wife, Elisabeth, and daughter, Maren.
Elisabeth, a Seattle native and teacher of English Language Learners, has a green thumb and enjoys nearly anything that gets her outside. Maren, now four, loves books and people and anything that involves dancing, singing or dressing up.
Jack and his family live in South Bethlehem, where he can share God's passion for the peace and renewal of the city and those who live in it.
Greg Funfgeld, Director of Music—Traditional
 "When in our music God is glorified, . . . it is as though the whole creation cried, 'Alleluia!.' "
As he directs the Middler Boys and Girls Choir, the High School Chorale, and the Chancel Choir, Greg Funfgeld, Director of Music since 1976, seeks to instill an appreciation for art and excellence as an offering in response to God's love. In addition to his commitment to music, Greg fosters a sense of Koinonia within the choirs, demonstrating how the gift of each contributes to the beauty of the whole.
In addition to his work at First Presbyterian, Greg is the Artistic Director and conductor of the world-renowned Bach Choir of Bethlehem, and founder and former music director of the Musikfest Chorus. He also supervises recordings of new choral music for the church music catalogues of Warner Brothers Music and Alfred Publishing Company.
Greg and his wife, Nanci, are the parents of two daughters, Craley Ann and Emma Elizabeth.
Brently Groshong, Director of Music—Contemporary
 Convinced of God's call to leave his comfortable pastorship of nine years in far-off Washington State, Brently Groshong came to First Presbyterian to undertake the challenge of leading new forms of worship.
The founder of Carbonated Worship and the Emergent Worship Leader, Brently is committed to communicating the reality of God's love for us by connecting people with Jesus Christ, a commitment he lives out in his hands-on leadership in worship and in music. Supported by his wife, Kathryn, and 3-year-old daughter, Ashlyn, Brently's energy, imagination, and passion for excellence and genuine relationships permeate all his endeavors.
In addition to his work in Washington, Brently has traveled extensively oversees with Mike Silva Evangelism and with Lamar Boschman from the International Worship Institute. Every day he wakes up with absolute joy because he still can't believe, "I get to do this for a living!"
Sam Huffard, Visitation Pastor
 Retired from his thirty-year pastorship in East Stroudsburg, the Rev. Dr. Sam Huffard now serves our Lord Jesus Christ by ministering to tne needs of the ill, disabled, and elderly of our congregation in hospitals, nursing homes, rehabilitation centers and homes.As a part-time Parish Associate for the past ten years, he appreciates and supports the ongoing ministry of our church through his efforts.
Originally from suburban Philadelphia, Sam and his wife, Barbara, are the parents of five children and the grandparents of eight. For leisure, he enjoys the out-of-doors—fly-fishing in particular.
Helen Cochrane, Visitation Pastor
 Rev. Dr. Helen B. Cochrane serves First Presbyterian as one of two part-time Parish Associates, visiting members in hospitals and assisted living facilities and maintaining contact with those with special concerns and needs.
All of her adult life, Helen has searched for God’s will. Over 35 years ago, as wife of Norman, mother of three children and piano teacher, she became convinced that God was leading her on a serendipitous journey. Through two seminary degrees and in spite of many roadblocks, her journey culminated in 1975 when she experienced one of the greatest joys of her life: ordination to pastoral ministry. Subsequently she served as pastor or associate pastor in three parishes in Western PA and received a Doctor of Ministry from Pittsburgh Seminary with an emphasis in stewardship. She notes that her doctoral thesis has finally become up-to-date, with today’s emphasis on the environment.
In the late 1970’s, Helen served as Coordinator for the Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service for the Vietnamese and later Cambodians, a position that strengthened her belief in the importance of ecumenical and interfaith cooperation in mission. In light of that, she accepted a call in 2000 to be the Director of the Bethlehem Area Council of Churches, retiring from that position in 2004.
Among her many leadership positions is Helen’s current service as a volunteer member on the committee of the Office of the General Assembly and of the Seminary Support Network of the PC (USA).
Helen’s passion is to serve the Body of Christ, as locally expressed through First Presbyterian. She is honored to be able to live out that passion and trusts God’s guidance in seeking to witness tthe love of Jesus Christ.
Jack Felch, Director of Church Business Administration
 Since 2000 Dr. Jack Felch, Jr. has been providing administrative leadership in Presbyterian churches and on a Presbytery staff. He is an Elder, Deacon and former commissioner to General Assembly. Jack graduated from The Citadel and served two tours of duty in Vietnam. Following retirement from the US Army, Jack operated a successful consulting business while completing his doctoral program in Engineering Management at George Washington University. Dr. Felch has held faculty appointments in several colleges and universities. Jack and Judy reside in Coopersburg. They have four children and soon-to-be nine grandchildren.
Andrea Barbehenn, Director of Preschool
 To Andie Barbehenn, the most important aspect of her role as Director of the Preschool is to teach children that God loves them, that they are special to Him and that they are safe and loved here. Andie and her staff strive to create a place where children can explore, learn, ask questions and grow, while developing social skills and having fun. Because the majority of children come from the community at large, the pre-school provides an active ministry to those outside our church. She is filled with thanksgiving for the opportunity to spend her days in ministry to children.
Born and raised in upstate New York, Andie earned certification in elementary education before coming to Bethlehem and joining the church thirty years ago. She has worked for the preschool for over twenty years, most of them as Director, and is a member of the Chancel Choir. She and her husband, Frank ,are the parents of three grown children.
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