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Program
Jeff Faux Director of Sacred Arts
As a church musician, Jeff Faux (pronounced “Fox”) recognizes how God can use music to enrich the worship experience and speak to one’s heart — and considers it a privilege to be called to such a ministry. Jeff grew up in Lockport, NY and graduated from Westminster Choir College with a Bachelor of Music in Church Music and Music Education. With decades of experience leading church, school and community choral groups, Jeff was called as our Director of Sacred Arts beginning January 2007. His responsibilities for leadership and oversight of our entire sacred arts program include direction of the Chancel Choir and Angelus Bell Choir; in addition, he serves as Assistant Director of the Fort Myers Symphonic Mastersingers. Jeff and his wife Joan have two sons, Christian and David.
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Peter Lewis Associate Director of Sacred Arts
Even before he completed his Bachelor of Music at the Eastman School of Music, Peter Lewis had been gaining experience in music ministry. And when he finally escaped the bleak winters of Rochester, NY to move to Bonita in 1999, he had also gained some understanding of public relations and concert management. Since joining our church’s music staff in August 2001, he has had the opportunity to utilize all his gifts: not only as the church’s primary organist and pianist, but also as director of the First Academy of Music (our community music school). Peter has helped in the development of a contemporary praise service, and enjoys expanding the congregation’s experience of worship, liturgy and the sacred arts.
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Mimi Holly First Thrift Shop Director
With extensive experience in retail management, Mimi Holly joined the church staff in 2005 to oversee all aspects of the daily operations of the thrift shop — a relatively new but nonetheless significant ministry of First Church. In addition to handling donations to the shop, Mimi must coordinate the large volunteer work force that is required to keep First Thrift open six days a week. Mimi and her husband Roger (who works at Youth Haven in Naples) came to Florida from Fort Wayne, Indiana in 1999. They have one daughter.
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Dan Oedy Director of Family Ministries
Overseeing our ministry to children, youth and their parents is Dan Oedy. Dan earned a Bachelor’s degree in Religion from St. Andrew’s College in North Carolina and is currently working towards a Master of Divinity through Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary. Dan served churches in North Carolina and Tennessee prior to joining the staff of First Church in 2003. Dan has also developed a successful campus ministry to students at the nearby Florida Gulf Coast University. He and his wife Sarah have two children, Graham and Hannah Reece. His hobbies are basketball, golf and rooting for our "local" teams: the Tampa Bay Devil Rays and Orlando Magic.
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Amanda Zaengle Associate Director of Family Ministries
Fortunately for us, Amanda has always wanted to live in a warmer and sunnier climate! A graduate of Roberts Wesleyan College (Rochester, New York) with a degree in Psychology and English, Amanda completed one year of post-graduate work at Syracuse University before getting married and moving south in 2007. She has previously coordinated children’s programming in both church and camp settings, and has an array of experiences in event planning for all ages — all of which served as excellent preparation for her current service here, where her primary responsibilities lie in the areas of children’s Sunday school, Family Fun activities, weeknight programming, and assisting with our youth ministry. Amanda’s talents and creative energy are a real blessing to First Church — as are her husband Philip’s skills as a web developer/designer (you’re looking at some of his work)!
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Tom Bunt Youth Ministry Assistant
Tom could best be described as our "Jack of all Trades." He has a real passion for
youth ministry and many years of experience working with the local Young Life program, so he's a natural for his part-time role as our Youth Ministry Assistant. His other area of responsibility at the church is as Assistant Facilities Manager to Doug Jones — helping out wherever necessary with maintenance issues, set-ups and special projects. Tom grew up in Bonita Springs and is married to Jen. They have four children: sons Colton, Logan and Jacob, and daughter Taylor.
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Stephanie Stec Parish Nurse
Stephanie and her husband Fran moved to Florida from Philadelphia in 2002. She has over 40 years of experience as a registered nurse and health care executive, with degrees in nursing, health care administration and health care finance. As Parish Nurse, she not only visits those in our congregation who are hospitalized or homebound, offering comfort, expertise and counsel, she also provides relevant educational opportunities for the congregation-at-large. Stephanie adopted one of the church kittens, JoGi, in 2005.
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Ruth Ann Bruce Biblical Counselor
A "perpetual student," Ruth Ann Bruce has earned degrees from Eastern Bible Institute (Valley Forge, Penn.), Central Bible College (Springfield, Missouri) and Master's College (Santa Clarita, Calif.). With a Bachelor's degree in Bible and a Master's in Biblical Counseling, Ruth Ann is well-equipped for her role as counselor, a calling she approaches with humility, compassion, and godly wisdom. She and her husband Ken are originally from Maryland, but have lived in the Naples area since 1970. They were part of the core group that organized Naples Christian Academy, where Ruth Ann taught for 14 years. The Bruces, who have been married since 1960, have two daughters: Ann, an environmental scientist with the EPA, and Becky, an operating room nurse in pediatrics. Ruth Ann enjoys reading, travel, Baroque music and — to keep her mind even sharper — Sudoku puzzles.
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