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Stephanie Nelson will become our Family Life Director beginning June 7. She hails from a small town in south-central Nebraska, where she and her siblings worked the family farm together growing up. She completed her undergraduate degree in communications at Sterling College in Sterling, Kansas, then worked as a graphic designer and copywriter for most of her 20s. Two years ago, she followed God's call to education in the church and moved to St. Louis, Missouri, to attend Covenant Theological Seminary. She completed her master's in educational ministry this May.

Stephanie's previous ministry call was as the director of worship at Westmark Evangelical Free Church in Loomis, Nebraska. The past two years while in seminary, she has been teaching and leading a small group in St. Louis. Stephanie describes her philosophy of ministry as one of a journey. "I've learned the value of being in process with life — recognizing that I have not yet arrived in glory, but am in the process of being restored by Christ. There is joy and struggle in this restoration, and I have a passionate heart for walking with people in this process and hope they are willing to walk with me, too."

In her spare time, Stephanie loves books and writing, as well as working with her hands — refinishing antiques, scrapbooking and anything fun and creative in that same vein. "I am thrilled to join the staff at First Presbyterian in Casa Grande! I am so looking forward to getting to know all of you and desire to serve you as best I can as the Director of Family Life."