BURLINGTON CHURCH OF CHRIST
LOVING GOD & ONE ANOTHER IN BURLINGTON, VERMONT
Church Leadership
"For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all of the others. We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith; if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully."
- Romans 12:4-8
MIKE & KRISTEN BALZER
Church Leaders
Mike and Kristen Balzer have been leading the church here since July 2013. They spent the previous two years interning with our sister church in Portland, ME, where they got to be a part of seeing that small church planting double in size! After moving to Vermont they completed a 3-year distance learning program in Practical Ministry through the New England School of Missions. On top of their ministry experience, the Balzers have worked for our nonprofit arm, HOPE Worldwide, running summer youth volunteer programs called HOPE Youth Corps in Philadelphia and Baltimore. Mike and Kristen love Vermont and enjoy snowboarding, hiking, going to the movies, and spending time making memories with their two boys.
FAMILY GROUP LEADERS
Peter & Jeanette Leap
Southern Family Group
Peter and Jeanette have lived all over the US and overseas as well, and we are very grateful that they have landed in Vermont. They bring much wisdom from their travels as well as over 25 years of marriage, raising three kids, and being faithful disciples of Christ for decades. Peter is a marathon runner and Jeanette is an avid gardener.
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Our Southern Family group meets in Shelburne and has members from South Burlington, Shelburne, Charlotte, and Middlebury, as well as some campus students and young professionals from downtown.
Ralph & Susan Beerhorst
Central Family Group
The Beerhorsts are Chicago natives that recently moved to Vermont to be near family. They are seasoned Christian leaders and have been married for 30 years and have two kids and two grandkids. Ralph is a professional musician and Sue is a nurse at UVM Med, and they love having people over for food and games at their home in Shelburne.
The Central Family Group meets in South Burlington and has members from Burlington, South Burlington, Williston, and Colchester, as well as a number of young professionals from Winooski and downtown.
Rob & Shawndra Meader
Northern Family Group
Rob and Shawndra Meader moved here when the church was originally planted and have since become pillar members of our community. Rob works at Dealer.com and is the head of the Conservation Commission in Georgia, VT. Shawndra has worked extensively with the school system in Georgia as a bus driver, mentor, and library volunteer.
Our Northern Family Group meets in Essex Junction and has members from Georgia, Fairfax, Essex, Winooski, and Williston, as well as a handful of young professionals from downtown.
MINISTRY LEADERS
Campus Ministry Leaders
Jessie Pascal & David Leitzke
Teen & Preteen Workers
Zack Carvalho, Yovanny Duran, Kristen Balzer, Nicole Roscoe
Young Professionals Ministry
Kyle & Emmy Woodley