First Christian Church Staff
Pastoral & Music Staff
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Introducing Rev. Dr. Caryn Youst, Interim Pastor
Caryn Yoast grew up in the First Christian Church of Kent Washington. She is a graduate of Northwest Christian College in Oregon (now known by a name she can’t remember—she thinks it starts with the letter “B”) and the School of Theology at Claremont in southern California (now known as Claremont School of Theology). In 2006 she completed her Doctor of Ministry degree at Lexington Theological Seminary.
Ordained at her home church in 1986, Caryn has served churches in Oregon, California, Nevada, Texas and Georgia. She moved to Louisville in 1998 when her husband became the Associate Minister for Faith Development at Beargrass Christian Church. While in Louisville, Caryn pastored small, conflicted congregations.
She moved to Erie Colorado in 2018 after her husband retired from ministry. The move to Colorado was to be near family and to return to the west. After many years wandering the country Caryn figured out the west refused to be shaken out of her and it always lived deep within her inner landscape. The pacific northwest continues to define Caryn in ways that surprise even her. Since moving to the Central Rocky Mountain Region she has worked as an interim pastor in Wyoming and New Mexico.
Caryn and her husband have two lovely adult daughters who now live down the street from them with the family cats. Bart the wild and gentle (yes I can race down the hall, through the great room, up onto the couch and launch myself at the breakfast nook) cat is the latest member of the family. Cat hair once again covers everything.
Ordained at her home church in 1986, Caryn has served churches in Oregon, California, Nevada, Texas and Georgia. She moved to Louisville in 1998 when her husband became the Associate Minister for Faith Development at Beargrass Christian Church. While in Louisville, Caryn pastored small, conflicted congregations.
She moved to Erie Colorado in 2018 after her husband retired from ministry. The move to Colorado was to be near family and to return to the west. After many years wandering the country Caryn figured out the west refused to be shaken out of her and it always lived deep within her inner landscape. The pacific northwest continues to define Caryn in ways that surprise even her. Since moving to the Central Rocky Mountain Region she has worked as an interim pastor in Wyoming and New Mexico.
Caryn and her husband have two lovely adult daughters who now live down the street from them with the family cats. Bart the wild and gentle (yes I can race down the hall, through the great room, up onto the couch and launch myself at the breakfast nook) cat is the latest member of the family. Cat hair once again covers everything.
Jolyne Antista, Music Director. She brings a wealth of experience and wisdom to our music department and staff. She has led university, professional, high school, community chorales, and has also served as an instructor of music and has experience with church choirs!
Dr. Zahari Metchkov, our new organist here at FCC. We are excited to welcome Zahari!
"I am thrilled to join the staff of First Christian Church as organist and concert manager. I began work as an organist in Cleveland, Ohio and have served congregations in the past twenty-two years. I am looking forward to working with the musicians at FCC and have the opportunity to play the magnificent Létourneau Organ. I am currently Full Professor at Colorado State University Pueblo where I teach Applied Piano and Organ, Chamber Music, and Piano Pedagogy.
In my free time I enjoy working on my Bonsai trees, hiking with my dog Axel, and creating beautiful pottery. I am excited to start serving the FCC congregation and look forward to meeting all of you."
-Zahari Metchkov
"I am thrilled to join the staff of First Christian Church as organist and concert manager. I began work as an organist in Cleveland, Ohio and have served congregations in the past twenty-two years. I am looking forward to working with the musicians at FCC and have the opportunity to play the magnificent Létourneau Organ. I am currently Full Professor at Colorado State University Pueblo where I teach Applied Piano and Organ, Chamber Music, and Piano Pedagogy.
In my free time I enjoy working on my Bonsai trees, hiking with my dog Axel, and creating beautiful pottery. I am excited to start serving the FCC congregation and look forward to meeting all of you."
-Zahari Metchkov
Jeff Bilyeu will be joining our staff as the new Facilities Manager on January 1, 2022! I was born in Kansas City, lived all my childhood, until I went to college. My first year of college was spent at Johnson County Community College in Overland Park, Kansas. I quickly left KC and headed to Kansas State University where I obtained a B.S. in Milling Science and Bakery Management. After graduation and loaded with all that fresh bakery knowledge, I landed my first job at Safeway Bakery in Joplin, MO. It was a large cookie and cracker bakery suppling Safeway with their own private label cookies and crackers. I was the Quality Assurance Manager. Moving on, after 4 years of cookies and crackers, I wanted to broaden my bakery background and took a job with Wonder Bread/Hostess in Natick, Massachusetts. A good job when you can eat all the Twinkies and Ding Dongs you like. I, again, was in Quality Assurance assuring all products were made to specification. After 6 years of working in bakeries and night shifts, that was enough. I responded to a job opening for Sysco Corp in Houston TX for a Quality Assurance manager in charge of all Bakery suppliers. I got the job. I spent 10 years with Sysco traveling the country maintaining the supplier community for Sysco. After Sysco, I joined with two other partners to form a bakery distribution company suppling frozen food service bakery products to the food service customers around the US and Canada. 17 years of planes, hotels and rental cars was enough for me.
I met my lovely wife Cherie, of 34 years, at KSU. We got married after college and had our only child Heather thereafter. She has blessed us with two lovely granddaughters Avery and Ayana. We enjoy as much family time as we can garner. We enjoy camping, skiing, golfing, mountain biking and hiking.
I met my lovely wife Cherie, of 34 years, at KSU. We got married after college and had our only child Heather thereafter. She has blessed us with two lovely granddaughters Avery and Ayana. We enjoy as much family time as we can garner. We enjoy camping, skiing, golfing, mountain biking and hiking.
Program Staff
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Support Staff
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Patty Markwell - Ministry Assistant & Communications
Josh Vigil - Custodian
Holly Vigil - Sunday Host/Custodian
Ray Killian - Building Security Assistant
Jeff Bilyeu - Facilities Manager
Mandy Padgett - Ministry Accountant for Finance and Administration
Nichelle - Nursery
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