F
Faith Team
Karen Evenson
Pastor
Pastor Karen was appointed by the United Methodist Church to Faith Church in 2016.
For nearly 30 years, Karen has worked with people as a teacher, in communications, development and fundraising, children, youth/family ministries, addiction/recovery services, homeless/transitional services, community relations, and now as full time clergy. She has a B.A. in Education from Concordia College in Moorhead, MN and a M.Div in Theological Studies from United Theological Seminary of the Twin Cities, with concentrations in United Methodist Studies, Pastoral Care, and Counseling. She lives in nearby Rosemount with her husband, Scott and has three adult children. Pastor Karen's motto: "Choose Joy!" Her favorite Bible verse: John 15:11 "I have said these things to you so that my joy will be in you and your joy will be complete."
Donette Firnstahl
Office Administrator
Donette joined us at Faith Church as Office Administrator in September 2019.
She grew up in Minneapolis and moved to Rochester MN where she attended Jr High and High School, but moved back to Minneapolis to attend the University of Minnesota.
Donette has been a Kindergarten Teacher, Production Manager, and Program Manager and has experience in client and vendor management. She's worked with over 100 universities all over the world as well as government entities for Federal Government accounts. She set up and maintained a Master Contract with the State and worked closely with MMB, DPS, MPCA, MN Board of Water and Soil Resources, Labor and Industry. She set up and still maintains the Federal SAM account for the company SPL that delivers Project Management training to the military.
Her favorite job/privilege has been raising four children with Her husband Tim. They all lived in the Twin Cities until this September when their daughter Liz moved to Copenhagen. This has been an exciting year as three of their children were married! Donette has 4 grandchildren and one more coming in April 2020!
Kathy Gunderson
Piano/Organist
Kathy has been the organist at Faith Church for over 24 years. She is active in Faith’s Women of Faith group, and is the coordinator of the Clothed in Faith clothing closet. After her retirement from Frontier, Kathy co-founded the Mountain Dulcimer Club in Farmington, joined the South Metro Chorale, started performing with the Lake Wobegon Church Ladies String Band, and she also volunteers at the senior center. She teaches piano lessons out of her home in Farmington, which she shares with her dog, Harmony. Kathy has four sons, two daughters-in-law, three granddaughters and one great-grandson.
Josiah Beretta
Choir Director
Originally from Melrose, MN, Josiah graduated from St. Olaf College, with a BA in Vocal Music Education. He was a member of the St. Olaf Choir as well as a member of the Chamber Singers, Gospel Choir, and Lyric Theatre. As a young boy, he was a member of the St. John's Boys' Choir and occasionally sings with the St. John's Abby Schola. He is a talented director, and outside of music, Josiah likes to bike at Itasca State Park where he has worked during the summer. He is doing his student teaching in the Twin Cities and is excited to direct and grow the choir at Faith Church!