Rev. Weatherly Burkhead Verhelst (Pastor Weatherly) was born in Duluth, MN and began her life’s travels early, with family moves to Ann Arbor,MI; Downers Grove, IL; Fairfax, VA; and back to Ann Arbor. She’s a good person to ask for advice if you ever have to pack a box! She graduated from Pioneer High School in Ann Arbor, and is a 1991 graduate of Albion College (Go Brits!) and Boston University School of Theology (1994). Pastor Weatherly served churches in Flint, Ovid, Saginaw, and Utica before coming to Troy First in 2015. She is married to Craig (an accountant by day and a heavy-metal listener and basketball player by night). They have two sons: Isaac, a recent graduate of Albion College, and Caelan, a senior at Berklee College of Music in Boston. Pastor Weatherly rejoined the higher education endeavors in the fall of 2017. She’s currently in the Master of Arts in Counseling (Clinical Mental Health) program at Oakland University, and hopes fervently that she will be graduating in May, 2021. When she’s not reading for a sermon or counseling class, she reads for fun, enjoys any kind of theater or dance performance, likes to dance, and has been known to binge-watch “Call the Midwife” and cry over lots of movies.
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The Rev. Dr. G. Charles Sonquist is simply called Chuck. Born in Iowa on a family farm, he graduated from Cornell College majoring in philosophy and sociology. For a year, he worked in retail and photography. Seminary years were in Dallas at SMU in Perkins School of Theology, A post seminary year was at the Evangelish Theological Facultat at the University of Bern, Switzerland. He earned his doctorate during the 90's at the Ecumenical Theological Seminary in Detroit. His project focused on the relationships between God, neighbor and the self. After three years as an associate pastor in Royal Oak First, Chuck served as pastor in charge of churches in Southfield, Troy and Livonia. Since retirement from full time in 2002 Chuck and his wife, Jane, have lived over the border of from Troy in Bloomfield Township. For the last four years, he has faithfully served in this position with his calls on shut in members. Bicycling and sailing have served as forms of therapy for Chuck. The bike keeps his ankle working and sailing has nourished his soul through racing and cruising.
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Lisa Head, joined the staff of Troy First UMC 15 years ago, when we opened our new addition and started welcoming the community into our facility. She faithfully continues to serve and does whatever is needed to help our church grow and improve.
In her former life, Lisa retired after 11 years at Chrysler Engineering, to stay home and raise her two children, Tom and Becky, with her husband, Ken. Lisa started out volunteering at our church in the early 1990's, and after serving on several committees and task forces, God called Lisa to serve in a staff position. When Lisa isn't managing the many ministries and usage at Troy First, and promoting our faith outreach to the surrounding communities, she enjoys her role as GaGa, spending time with her two grandsons, Luke (3 years) and Joseph (1 year), and their families. |
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Victoria joined our staff as DCS in June of 2019. She grew up in Troy First and has returned as an adult to serve in her position. She serves as the coordinator of all digital communications in addition to a multitude of administrative duties and assisting the staff in whatever is needed. In April 2020, she added Family Ministries Director to her title. In that role, she serves as the coordinator of all programs for kindergarten through college students. This includes Jr. Church, First Kids, UMYF, YAC (Young Adult & College), Mission Trips, Mission Possible, VBS, etc. Victoria graduated from Western Michigan in 2018 and worked in Minnesota for a year before moving back to the mitten state. She has a passion for serving others, specifically through mission trips, as she has been on 9 and is always looking for opportunities to go on more. Victoria loves her job because it allows her to connect with so many church members who have greatly impacted her life since she was a toddler, in addition to helping the church continue to grow and improve. Jesus and Kids are her two favorite things, so this role couldn't be more perfect for her. She absolutely loves what she gets to call "work" and do every day. When she isn't at church, she enjoys spending time with family & friends, playing & watching sports and worshiping Jesus!!
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Steve Kosinski has been Director of Music at Troy First since the fall of 2009, and has been a choir director, private voice teacher, music educator and professional actor/singer for over 45 years, and has conducted church choirs in virtually every denomination imaginable! Earning his Actor’s Equity Card in 1980, he has appeared in Broadway and National Touring Companies including “Sweeney Todd,” directed by Hal Prince, “”Woman of the Year,” with Barbara Eden, “Pirates of Penzance,” with Christopher Hewett and Scott Bakula, “Shenandoah,” with John Raitt and others. He has also appeared in numerous operas and performed recitals and concerts with major opera companies and symphonies, as well as countless voiceovers, commercials and television/film. He is also a proud member of SAG-AFTRA and ASCAP. He holds a Bachelor’s degree from Central Michigan University with double majors in Theatre and Music, as well as an M.M. in Opera/Music Theatre from Southern Illinois University. He has done additional studies in vocal pedagogy and vocal production at University of Illinois, Oberlin College, University of Minnesota and NYU. Steve has four grown children and one grandson, and is happily married to the love of his life, Lynn Fairbrother Kosinski. They live in Grosse Pointe MI.
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Casey joined our staff in the fall of 2019 and we are very excited to have him. Casey received his Bachelors in Piano Performance from Grand Valley State in 2012. While at Grand Valley Casey was a pianist for rehearsals for multiple choirs, theater productions, commencements, university events and much more. He then went on to University of Illinois where he was an Accompanying Teaching Assistant while he worked on his Masters in Vocal Coaching and Accompanying which he received in 2014. Casey served as a Pianist, Coach and Reprituer for the Chicago Opera Theatre and Chicago College of the performing Arts from 2015-2017, when he received his Artist Diploma in Opera Coaching. On top of this he has a multitude of professional experience including Assistant Music Director for the Chicago Redline, Music Director for Encore Theatre, Pianist for Disney, Encore!, Pianist, Coach and Repetition for Interlochen Center for Arts Theatre Productions and Freelance Coaching; some of which he is still doing today! Casey is currently a Pianist for the University of Michigan School of Music, Theatre and Dance in Ann Arbor.
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Sheryl has been the Handbell Director at Troy First since 1986. She was born in Ohio and earned Bachelor of Music Education from Bowling Green State University majoring in clarinet. After graduating, she married Craig, moved to Michigan and worked for Waterford Public Schools teaching music in seven elementary schools and all six secondary schools. She was also playing clarinet in the Pontiac Symphony. It was then that she joined Troy First for the first time and taught children’s music. Sheryl resigned to start a family and moved to Pennsylvania when Craig’s job took them there. It was in her time at Trinity United Methodist Church she became interested in another type of music-Handbells. She joined their choir 1 year later and became the director of the Handbell choir. Three years later, they moved again, to Dallas Texas and joined another Methodist Church where she enjoyed playing in their Handbell choirs. In 1986, the Dukes moved back to Troy and rejoined Troy First for the second time, whre she then become the director. She held an instrumental music position with Roeper Schools for before she had a change of heart to pursue a degree in Nursing. Sheryl earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing in 1994 and worked in oncology, geriatric rehab, case manager, and 14 years as a hospice nurse. Presently, her love of history and teaching moved her to become a docent at Meadowbrook Hall giving private tours. Craig and Sheryl have one son, Brian who is married to Kelly who have given them three wonderful grandchildren. She continues to direct the Handbell choirs to express God’s Word through music.
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Jennifer has been our Nursery & Toddler leaders since 2017. She grew up and our church and has remained a faithful member, now serving & raising her family here. Jennifer graduated from Oakland University in 2017 with a Bachelors in Human Resources, In June 2018, she married David and became a Shock. They have three young boys, Levi, Logan and Lincoln. In her free time, she enjoys camping with her family, crocheting and canning Jam, apple butter, pickles and much more!