First Christian Church Staff
Pastoral & Music Staff
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Reverend Dr. Jonathan B. Hall has served as FCC's Senior Pastor since November 2017. He was born and raised in Huntsville, Alabama and served as the Senior Pastor of First Christian Church in Ventura, CA for over seven years. Dr. Hall holds a BA in Religion and Sociology/Anthropology from Transylvania University, a Masters of Divinity from Eden Theological Seminary, and a Doctorate of Ministry in Spiritual Formation from Claremont School of Theology, as well as a Certificate of Ecumenical Studies from Bossey Ecumenical Institute in Geneva, Switzerland. For his doctoral project, he wrestled with his own story and the difference between privilege, blessing, and luck. You can find his sermons on the Sermon Page, and read more of his thoughts on his blog, Organic Spirituality. In his free time, Jonathan likes to go to the water park with his family, mountain bike, hike, train for triathlons and adventure races, travel, play pickleball or racquetball, and read historical books with lots of footnotes. He races to raise money for our ministry partner, the Tennyson Center for Children. Jonathan recently wrote a book entitled Dear Son. The aim of the book is to help parents write letters to their kids as a way of being more intentional about their calling as a parent. Jonathan writes from the perspective of being a dad of two boys. The topics of the book range from helping to break the glass ceiling, overcoming toxic masculinity, seeing color in a world that prefers black and white, the purpose of money, following Jesus, and much more. You can find the book or order it at any book store or you can buy one directly from Jonathan. He and his boys will be happy to sign one for you!
Jonathan and his wife, Annie, have two boys, and a kitten named Bo Whiskers. Jonathan serves on a variety of local nonprofit boards and helped to create an interfaith ministerial group in the Springs. Within the larger church, he serves as the chair of the Transformation Committee for our church region, with the Excellence in Ministry Program, and many other organizations. His favorite Bible verse is Micah 6:8.
Jonathan and his wife, Annie, have two boys, and a kitten named Bo Whiskers. Jonathan serves on a variety of local nonprofit boards and helped to create an interfaith ministerial group in the Springs. Within the larger church, he serves as the chair of the Transformation Committee for our church region, with the Excellence in Ministry Program, and many other organizations. His favorite Bible verse is Micah 6:8.
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! She joins our staff on Tuesday, January 18, and her first Sunday leading worship will be on January 23.
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
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