Jessica Bauml

Interim Director of Children’s Ministries

Responsibilities:

Implementing the ministry for children from birth to fifth grade, for the purpose of guiding children in developing and on-going relationship with God.  This includes: the nursery, children’s Sunday School, Kidz Connection, Vacation Bible School and special family events.

Hobbies:

Jessica dedicates most of her time to her family, but when she has free moments it is spent with kids, kids and more kids.  She volunteers at her daughters’ school regularly and is the Cubbies Director for our AWANA club.  If she needs a quiet moment, she also enjoys quilting and reading.

Family:

Jessica has been at HCC since middle school.  She and her husband Jim have twin 6 year old daughters, Audrey and Ava.  Family ties run deep for her in our church as she is one of 4 active generations who attend here.

Contact:

jbauml@harborcovenant.org

Jill Branham

Administrator

Responsibilities:

Operations, facilities, supervision of clerical and facility staff, working with church leaders to ensure our many ministries run smoothly. 

Education:

B.A., English, Pacific Lutheran University

Hobbies:

Jill's passions include her family, reading, traveling and SCUBA diving (has dived at Hawaii, Vancouver Island, Puget Sound, Gulf of California, Caribbean). She was deeply moved by two mission trips to the Dominican Republic with other women from HCC for Children of the Nations (COTN).

Family:

Jill and her husband, John, are the parents of teenage sons, John and Erik.  They have lived in the Tacoma/Pierce County area since graduating from PLU, coming to Gig Harbor in 1999.  She enjoys having active teenagers around, living in Gig Harbor and the friendliness and slower pace that comes with residing in a small community.

Contact:

jbranham@harborcovenant.org

Jen Easton

Director of Middle

School Ministries

Responsibilities:

To create, develop and implement a ministry for Middle School Students (Grades 6-8) which includes Wednesday Night Youth Group, Sunday School, Small Groups, Camps, Retreats and Mission Trips.  Also to equip a Volunteer Staff team as well as to build relationships with and minister to children, youth and their parents.

Education:

B.A., Sociology, Central Washington University

Hobbies:

Jen has attended Harbor Covenant Church since grade school. While in high school he was part of the leadership team with the youth group and leading a small group of middle school students.

When not in his office, you can usually catch Jen spending time with his wife Rachel, hanging out with some cool middle "schoolers", eating at Kinza, or at home tinkering with his computer. When the weather cooperates, Jen can be found playing Disc Golf around the make-shift course circling the church grounds

Contact:

jeaston@harborcovenant.org

Christine Erikson

Administrative Assistant

Responsibilties:

Sunday Bulletins, PowerPoint presentations, media

Hobbies:

Christine's life is centered around her family. She also loves animals
(mostly horses), skiing, hiking, riding on the back of husband Thor's
motorcycle and most things outdoors. Her passion is horseback riding.

Family:

Christine and Thor have been married 14 years and have a son, Derek, 11, plus 2 dogs, Kahana (13) and Freddie (2), an 11-year-old cat who goes by Santana, 2 horses, Ardy (29) and Midnite (14), a bunny called Mr. Rabbit, and a parakeet named  Nacho.

Contact:

cerikson@harborcovenant.org

Heather Maher

High School

Ministries Intern

Responsibilities:

Assist with all elements of the High School Ministry

Education:

B.A., Educational Ministry, Seattle Pacific University

Minors in Youth Ministry and Psychology

Hobbies:

Heather and her fiancé, Chris Maher, are busy planning a November wedding. She enjoys playing the guitar, eating ice cream, Disney, laughing and her dogs Boz and Belle. Her parents and brother (who is in college) live in Walnut Creek, CA.

Contact:

hmaher@harborcovenant.org

Sandra "Sammi" McCubbins

Director of

Pastoral Care

Responsibilities:

Counseling, visitation, caring for those suffering loss, and encouraging those facing life changes or difficult situations.

Education:

B.S., Elementary Education, University of Radford
M.Ed., Guidance & Counseling - University of Richmond
Clinical Pastoral Education, 2 Units

Leadership Training, Christos Institute
Listening Presence - Selah Center

Hobbies:

Sammi enjoys playing golf with husband, Bill, walking the harbor, parks and trails with friends, reading, and challenging classes that inspire growth in her spiritual walk and career.

Family:

Sammi met her husband in their hometown, Danville, VA when they were 14 years old and in the 7th grade.  They have lived in a number of places including Baltimore, Chicago, the Bay Area, Los Angeles and the beautiful Northwest, which she loves.  Bill and Sammi enjoy hosting exchange students from all over the world.

Contact:

smccubbins@harborcovenant.org

Blake Merwin

Associate Pastor For

Local Outreach

Responsibilities:

Blake helps create communities who incarnate Christ in our neighborhoods, workplaces, and the broader Gig Harbor community by embodying acts of compassion and mercy, and working towards justice.

Education:

B.A. Church Music/Youth Ministry, Point Loma Nazarene University

M.Div., Fuller Theological Seminary

Hobbies:

Blake has a passion for fly fishing

Contact:

bmerwin@harborcovenant.org

Mike Stelle

Associate Pastor For

Youth & Young Adults

Responsibilities

Oversee ministries to middle school students, high school students and young adults (18-29).

Education

B.A., History, Cal State University, Sacramento
Fuller Theological Seminary, completed studies
Ordination to Word and Sacrament in the Evangelical Covenant Church
North Park Theological Seminary

Hobbies

When Mike is not at HCC he can be found playing basketball at the YMCA, coaching the Blue Ox Basketball team, helping at the Northwest Furniture Bank, or on his weekly date with his wife.

Mike's passion is to "See the light come on behind an individual's eye" - that moment when a person, young or old, realizes that God loves them just the way they are and not how they should be ... that the call of God is more than a leap of faith; it is a life of faith.

Family

Mike has been at HCC since 1998. Prior to moving to the Pacific Northwest Mike, his wife Jen (they've been married 19 years) and daughters Kayla and Madison lived in Southern California where Mike served on the staff at Ventura's Community Presbyterian Church for 7 years.

Contact

mstelle@harborcovenant.org

MIchael White

Senior Pastor

Responsibilities

Overall ministry of the church, climate control, working with all leadership bodies, preaching.

Education

B.A., Religion: Pastoral Ministry, Southern California College

M.Div., Fuller Theological Seminary, concentration in Christian Formation

and Discipleship Studies

Ordination to Word and Sacrament in the Evangelical Covenant Church

North Park Theological Seminary.

Hobbies

I like traveling, taking long walks with my wife, doing anything with my kids, hanging out with friends, and reading the bible directly from the Greek

(I'm kidding). I am passionate about Jesus, deep relationships and Mexican food.

Family

I have been married to Megan since 1990.  We have two daughters, Rachel and Allie.  And one cocker mix, Libby.

Contaact

mwhite@harborcovenant.org