Meet Our Pastors
and Staff

Senior Pastor

My wife Joy, our four children, and I all thank God we are part of the body of Christ called Faith Lutheran. With over 25 years experience serving congregations in California, Texas, and now New Mexico, we are blessed to call Albuquerque our home since 2010. I love teaching the Bible, talking about following Jesus in real life, discussing the culture around us, and where they all cross paths. When any of that involves my family, watching football, or drinking coffee it’s even better.

Associate Pastor

God blessed me with a call to serve the people of Faith beginning in late October, 2020. I am an associate pastor for adult education and discipleship. I graduated from the Lutheran Theological Seminary at Gettysburg in 2005, and then served two congregations in Michigan and one in Alaska prior to my present call. I hold a degree in electrical engineering and a master’s degree in business administration, each attained prior to my ordination as a pastor. My wife, Jessica, and I have been blessed with four children and many grandchildren. My passion is to teach others what God’s word, the Bible, means for us as we live our lives today. I am certain that the person of Jesus Christ is revealed throughout the biblical record, including the Old Testament. His love, grace, and mercy is shown through the lives of others so that His light may be shined on ours.

K-5 Youth Minister

Stephanie has served at Faith Lutheran for 9 years and is in charge of all elementary school programs. She has a passion for working with children and watching them grow in their faith. A kid at heart, you can usually find her tinkering with craft ideas and experimenting with messy object lessons. Stephanie also enjoys hiking and exploring God’s creations, as well as a good cup of Starbucks coffee.

Children of Faith Preschool Director

I am blessed to serve as the school director after having served in education with young children for over 20 years. I grew up in Santa Fe, NM and have lived in Albuquerque for 37 years. I became a member of Faith Lutheran 7 years ago and love to hear my daughter, Anna Gear and her husband Brady sing in our church band. I ask love spending time with my grandchildren Hunter and Harper. I strive to keep Children of Fatih a quality Christian preschool and living out our mission to lead to children to Christ.

Mission & Ministry Coordinator

My husband Lee and our son Alec and I moved to Albuquerque from San Antonio, TX in October of 2001. Alec was 2 at the time and in need of a new preschool and we found that at Children of Faith. I enrolled him, and he and I quickly made new friends. We joined Faith in 2002 and have never felt more at home in a church than we do at Faith.I started homeschooling Alec from second grade on up to his graduation in 2017. Once we started home school, I found opportunities for volunteering at church with our youth. I have volunteered as a youth leader in SURF, and as chaperone with the Shine tours and did a little behind the scenes art for VBS. Lee has chaperoned on mission trips and built props for VBS and now serves on the endowment committee. The youth volunteer work for me soon transitioned into adult volunteer opportunities as well as serving on council for 4 years.We absolutely love our church family and our involvement in church has been an important part of settling in Albuquerque and making it truly home. It seemed a natural transition from volunteering at Faith to working at Faith. I am thrilled to be the Mission and Ministry Coordinator and look forward to working with our wonderful Pastors and staff as well as the members of Faith.

Choir Director

Helen moved to Albuquerque in 2002, and has been on staff at Faith Lutheran Church since 2003. She directs the chancel choir, the children's choir, and small groups. Outside of church, Helen keeps herself busy with the activities of her three children.

Emmaus Band Leader

Tom and his family have been members at FLC since 1998. Tom joined the praise team in 1999, and became its leader in early 2009. He has been playing “at” the piano since he was 4 years old, and has been a singer, songwriter and church musician for as long as he can remember. He and his wife Vicki have three grown children. “I am humbled and honored to lead an amazingly talented and dedicated group of musicians who strive every week to bring glory to God through beautiful music.”

Organist

Ronda grew up in Minnesota and Iowa and graduated from Calvin College in Grand Rapids, Michigan. She moved to Albuquerque in 1983 and started playing organ and piano at Faith in 2000. She and her husband Tom have three adult children.

Handbell Choir Director

Ruth joined Faith Lutheran Church in 1980. The church purchased two octaves of handbells in 1983 and Ruth became the director of Campanas de Fe (Bells of Faith) in 1984. Outside of church, Ruth keeps busy with the Del Norte Rotary Club, ushering at Popejoy Hall and weaving.

Director of Operations

My family and I began attending worship services at Faith Lutheran almost 27 years ago. After moving from Texas, Faith was the church where we felt we belonged and “at home” with our new Faith family. My baptism took place at Faith Lutheran as well as my wedding to my wonderful husband, Chris Otero. After graduating high school in Albuquerque and while working part-time, I attended Central New Mexico Community College (CNM), earning my Associate of Arts in Pre-Management degree. In pursuit of an undergraduate degree and working full-time, I attended the Anderson School of Management at the University of New Mexico (UNM) earning a Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA). The achievement was particularly important to me being the first female in my family to receive a college degree. In 2020, I attended the Anderson School of Management UNM once again to earn a Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree. Past professional work experience includes employment at an Attorney’s Law Offices located in the downtown district, Re-Insurance company domiciled in the Turks and Caicos Islands located in the Uptown area, and briefly at a Real Estate company. During my down-time, I enjoy being in the great outdoors with my four-legged friends and cannot get enough of mother nature. It has been a blessing to serve Faith as a staff member for the past 16 years!

Receptionist/Secretary

My husband and I were raised in Maryland. A job offer to my husband from Sandia Labs brought us to Albuquerque in 1977. My family and I first visited Faith for a Christmas Eve service in 1994 and joined in July 1995. I joined the staff in August 2000. I feel blessed to be part of a wonderful church family, have a wonderful husband, two children, and two grandchildren.

Kitchen Coordinator

Beth was a lifelong Iowan before moving to Albuquerque in May 2021 as her husband, Carl, accepted a position at Faith Comes By Hearing. In her career, Beth has worked a variety of customer service positions from banking to travel and food service to receptionist at a bio-tech firm. Having worked 16 years as a school lunch lady, feeding the hungry has been a significant theme. From the first time they visited Faith Lutheran, Beth and Carl have felt very welcomed and enjoy helping in a variety of ways. Beth looks forward to using her cooking talents and organizational skills to serve the congregation of Faith Lutheran Church.

Kitchen Coordinator - Special Events

I migrated from California to Albuquerque in 2011, looking for a place to retire. In 2015, I befriended a member of this church who invited me along to one of Faith’s services. I joined the church that same year as well as being baptized by Pastor Jerry. I continue to be blessed in many ways with fellowships and volunteering. I was asked last fall to join the staff in the position of Kitchen Special Events Coordinator. It is a new venue and challenge for me. I hope to continue to learn, grow, and be of service to the staff and the congregation of this church.

Sound Control Technician

Multi-Media Ministry Coordinator

Nancy is originally from Texas and moved here to Albuquerque in 2002, when her husband accepted a job offer at Sandia Labs. She has 3 children: one at UNM, one at La Cueva, and one in elementary school.

Facilities Coordinator