Our Team
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Adam Bowers
Senior Pastor
Adam Bowers
Senior Pastor
Bio
In 2017, Adam Bowers became the third senior pastor of First Free Church. Previously, Adam led an international missions ministry and served as an executive pastor. Adam is married to Jenny and the two have served in full-time ministry together for over a decade. Adam is passionate about preaching the Word of God in authentic, practical, and relevant ways. He is also active in discipleship and leadership development, and he holds a Master’s of Divinity degree with a specialization in pastoral counseling.
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John Richardson
Executive Pastor of Discipleship
John Richardson
Executive Pastor of Discipleship
Bio
John Richardson, Executive Pastor of Discipleship, served as a pastor to churches in Illinois and Missouri for seventeen years before becoming a mediator and pastoral counselor at Live at Peace Ministries in St. Louis. While working at Live at Peace for five years, John also served as a pastor in Owensville, MO on a part-time basis. He started attending First Free in 2008 and joined the staff in 2011. He oversees Care, Outreach, Discipleship Communities, Men’s Ministry, and Women’s Ministry. John has a Master of Divinity from Covenant Theological Seminary and a B.A. from Fort Wayne Bible College. He is a Certified Christian Conciliator with the Institute of Christian Conciliation and serves on the board of directors for the Association of Missouri Mediators.
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Andrew Miller
Executive Pastor of Service Planning
Andrew Miller
Executive Pastor of Service Planning
Bio
Andrew grew up at First Free and joined the staff team as the Student Ministries Worship Pastor in 2014, was confirmed as the Pastor of Worship Ministries in 2022, and moved into his current role of Executive Pastor of Service Planning in 2024. Andrew graduated from Covenant Theological Seminary with a Masters in Divinity in 2013. Andrew loves working with our middle and high school students to help them grow as musicians, worship leaders, and ultimately, disciples of Jesus. Andrew is married to Amber and they have two children.
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Kyle Howard
Executive Pastor of Family Ministries
Kyle Howard
Executive Pastor of Family Ministries
Bio
Kyle began ministry in 2002 at Grace Christian Fellowship in Abingdon, VA, where he served as Youth Pastor for two years. During his time there, he also filled the pulpit as needed. In 2004, he moved to the St. Louis area, taking a position as Youth Pastor at Calvary Church’s Big Creek Campus in Foristell, MO. In his 17 years there, he also spent time overseeing Men’s Ministry, Groups, and serving as the Associate Teaching Pastor. Most recently, he has served as Discipleship Pastor for a multi-site campus of Grace Pointe Church in Naperville, IL from 2021-2023. Kyle and his wife, Michelle, have three children: Kade, Levi, and Elyn.
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Jeff Estes
Groups Pastor
Jeff Estes
Groups Pastor
Bio
Pastor Jeff has served in many different roles at First Free Church since 2002 including being an elder, a leader, mentor, and teacher for Heritage Builders, Young Adults, TLC, and TOPS and facilitating numerous First Free small groups.
He brings a passion for groups and serving the Lord. He is married to Kathy, and they have two children.
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Barret Moore
Junior High & Young Adults Pastor
Barret Moore
Junior High & Young Adults Pastor
Barret serves our Junior High students and our young adults, helping them own their faith and grow as believers during times of transition. Barret attended Missouri Baptist University while serving as Executive Assistant to Senior Pastor Adam Bowers. He provides guidance, encouragement, and biblical teaching as they navigate some of the most formative seasons of life. Feel free to reach out to him with any questions!
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Tex Rule
Senior High Pastor
Tex Rule
Senior High Pastor
Bio
Tex has over 16 years of student ministry experience. His student ministry philosophy is centered around building a culture that believes students aren’t just future leaders – they are each called by God to lead where they are today. As a leader, he strives to empower students to lead and own their faith. If you’d like to schedule a time to meet with Tex, click here!
Tex and his wife, Kelsey, have one daughter. Tex’s first and favorite ministry is his family, and he believes that the greatest legacy he can build is modeling to his family daily what being an apprentice of Jesus looks like.
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Byron Hildenbrand
Executive Dir. of Operations
Byron Hildenbrand
Executive Dir. of Operations
Byron has a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration and a Masters in Public Administration. Byron also has experience in farming, serving people in outpatient psychiatric facilities, serving homeless and at-risk youth, as well as serving on a nonprofit board of directors. Byron’s wife, Alyssa, worked in ministry for several years, leading the children’s ministry at a large church in Fresno, California, where she started a special needs ministry serving people with disabilities.
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Maverick Saine
Pastoral Resident
Maverick Saine
Pastoral Resident
Maverick serves as a pastoral resident in our discipleship and student ministries while he earns his Master’s of Divinity from Covenant Theological Seminary. Maverick loves spending time with his wife and daughter, their dog, Goose, and rooting for the Dallas Cowboys.
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Kathy Atwater
Connections Coordinator
Kathy Atwater
Connections Coordinator
Kathy oversees our Connections Ministry – Welcome Desks, Greeters, Coffee Crew, Section Hosts, and Visitor Follow-Up volunteers. Her team works hard to ensure a warm, welcoming environment.
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Sejdo Alimanovic
Custodian
Sejdo Alimanovic
Custodian
Sejdo assists with the care and cleaning of our buildings and room setup for all events.
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Stephanie Huber
Global Outreach Coordinator
Stephanie Huber
Global Outreach Coordinator
Stephanie is our Global Outreach Coordinator. She helps coordinate communication and support between our congregation and missionaries worldwide.
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Melissa Barnes
Regional Outreach Coordinator
Melissa Barnes
Regional Outreach Coordinator
Melissa helps our congregation live on mission by coordinating our local outreach efforts.
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Martin Becktol
Director of Communications and Technical Ministry
Martin Becktol
Director of Communications and Technical Ministry
Martin oversees church communications, branding, and digital strategy, along with IT, audio, video, and lighting ministries that support worship and events. He is passionate about using creativity and technology to connect people to the gospel and the mission of the church.
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Victoria Becktol
Nursery and Preschool Coordinator
Victoria Becktol
Nursery and Preschool Coordinator
Victoria ministers to the teeniest members of our church family by overseeing our nursery and preschool programs.
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Alec Biggs
Associate Director of Worship Ministries
Alec Biggs
Associate Director of Worship Ministries
Alec serves on the Worship Leadership Team and leads worship on Sunday mornings.
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Joe Chambers
Facilities Director
Joe Chambers
Facilities Director
Joe oversees the maintenance and development of our facilities. He is heavily involved in making sure that our campus is comfortable and ready for ministry.
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Casey Stoff
Childcare Coordinator
Casey Stoff
Childcare Coordinator
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Alex King
Technical Ministries Associate
Alex King
Technical Ministries Associate
Alex King brings a unique mix of worship ministry experience and blue collar work ethic to the tech team. He serves primarily in audio and helps support service planning each week, while also making sure the worship and speaking teams have everything they need to serve well.
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Megan King
Kid Connection Events Coordinator
Megan King
Kid Connection Events Coordinator
Megan plans and leads engaging, well-organized events that help kids build friendships, feel welcomed, and grow in their relationship with Jesus. Through creativity, care, and collaboration, they create safe and memorable experiences that connect families to the heart of our church.
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Shayna Leary
Early Elementary Coordinator
Shayna Leary
Early Elementary Coordinator
Shayna serves as our Early Elementary Coordinator with a heart for helping kids experience God’s love in ways that are engaging, safe, and age-appropriate. She partners closely with families and volunteers to create fun, meaningful environments where children can grow in their faith. Shayna’s joy, organization, and care help set the tone for a strong foundation in our Kid Connection ministry.
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Sarah Duggan
KC Friends Coordinator
Sarah Duggan
KC Friends Coordinator
Sarah coordinates our KC Friends program, which helps children with special needs participate on Sunday mornings, and also serves on our Childcare team.
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Rasema Dzafic
Custodian
Rasema Dzafic
Custodian
Rasema assists with the care and cleaning of our buildings and room setup for all events.
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Jason Fahey
Worship Leadership Team
Jason Fahey
Worship Leadership Team
Jason serves on the Worship Leadership Team and leads worship on Sunday mornings.
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Stephen Kruse
Worship Leadership Team
Stephen Kruse
Worship Leadership Team
Stephen serves on the Worship Leadership Team and leads worship on Sunday mornings.
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Scott Nelson
A/V Technician
Scott Nelson
A/V Technician
Scott helps us keep our lighting and sound looking and sounding great!
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Abby Rivera
Discipleship Executive Assistant
Abby Rivera
Discipleship Executive Assistant
Abby serves in the Discipleship Ministry by supporting and encouraging Adult Groups, Small Groups, Care Groups, and Sunday Morning Groups, as well as the Men’s and Women’s Ministries. She is passionate about helping people grow in their faith and find meaningful community. Abby especially enjoys meeting new people and helping them get connected and feel at home.
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Silas Rivera
Student Worship Coordinator
Silas Rivera
Student Worship Coordinator
Silas directs our student worship ministry. He’s passionate about discipleship and helping students grow in their gifting.
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Zoya Saine
Administrative Assistant
Zoya Saine
Administrative Assistant
Zoya is part of our Administrative Support Team.
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Erik Shirreffs
Safety & Security Director
Erik Shirreffs
Safety & Security Director
Erik works with our Operations team to ensure the safety and security of our building and the lovely people inside.
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Teri Stiles
Front Desk Administrative Assistant
Teri Stiles
Front Desk Administrative Assistant
Teri provides a warm welcome to visitors and callers, supports all departments in ordering supplies, and assists the Accounting Manager. The receptionists are also the first contact for those seeking benevolence help.
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Kelly Thomas
Fusion Coordinator
Kelly Thomas
Fusion Coordinator
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Austen Wageman
Communications & Technical Ministries Associate
Austen Wageman
Communications & Technical Ministries Associate
Austen supports church communications by managing social media, email and website communication, while creating graphics and dynamic video content across our campus. Austen also works on the tech team to support live AVL, helping ensure everything runs smoothly both in the room and online.
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Kate Wageman
KC Welcome Team Coordinator
Kate Wageman
KC Welcome Team Coordinator
Kate coordinates our KC Welcome Team, which welcomes families and helps them get checked in on Sunday mornings. She also serves on our Childcare team.
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Tina Wolfe
Bookkeeper
Tina Wolfe
Bookkeeper
Tina is responsible for all aspects of accounting including accounts payable, accounts receivable, general ledger, and monthly preparation of the financial statements.
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Heather Wright
Administrative Support Director
Heather Wright
Administrative Support Director
Heather facilitates HR and office functions, as well as managing the church calendar and facility use. She also serves as executive assistant to Kevin Krosley.
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Elders
The Elders are elected leaders who serve and shepherd the church. Contact them at elders@efree.org.
Adam Bowers
Senior Pastor
Adam Bowers
Senior Pastor
Bio
In 2017, Adam Bowers became the third senior pastor of First Free Church. Previously, Adam led an international missions ministry and served as an executive pastor. Adam is married to Jenny and the two have served in full-time ministry together for over a decade. Adam is passionate about preaching the Word of God in authentic, practical, and relevant ways. He is also active in discipleship and leadership development, and he holds a Master’s of Divinity degree with a specialization in pastoral counseling.
Contact
David Berndt
Elder
David Berndt
Elder
Portrait and bio coming soon.
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JD Long
Elder
Elder
Portrait and bio coming soon.
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Rich Keffer
Chairman
Rich Keffer
Chairman
I was raised in a Bible-believing, church-attending (every time the doors were open), religious family, but I did not adopt my parents’ faith as my own until college. While attending Greenville University, I was confronted with my lack of a personal belief and relationship with God, and I accepted the grace of God shown through the death of Jesus on the cross, repenting of my sins and accepting Jesus as my personal savior.
Accepting Jesus personally began my journey of faith and growth that continues today. It would be nice if that journey were a straight path of drawing nearer to God, but my personal experience is that this journey takes many twists and turns. It has included times of deep Bible study and prayer. Times of growth through church attendance (yes, still almost every time the doors are open) and participation in various groups and ministries. Times of having my faith rocked. Times of walking closely with God. And, yes, times that the apostle John describes as being distracted by the things of this world (I John 2:16). For the last forty years, my journey has been closely tied to First Free Church in St. Louis, where I have had the opportunity to grow and serve God in many, many different roles. Today, I serve primarily in Kid Connection, MOPS, and Global Outreach.
By the grace of God, I will continue growing ever closer to him.
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Bill Peskorse
Bill Peskorse
How did you first start to follow Jesus?
I was raised in a church attending family but as an adolescent walked away. My journey back started with an invitation from some friends to attend church with them. This began a 9 year journey that, through the power of the Holy Spirit, culminated in my humble recognition of Jesus as my savior and my only hope. I finally recognized that I could not solve my sin problem on my own. This could only be accomplished through Jesus’s death and resurrection. What a gift!
What do you love about First Free Church?
First Free has provided many opportunities to mature us as believers through solid biblical teaching, enriching relationships with other believers, God honoring worship, and service opportunities.
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Brian Lehmann
Elder
Brian Lehmann
Elder
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Michael Proctor
Vice Chairman
Michael Proctor
Vice Chairman
How did you first start to follow Jesus?
I was raised in a church environment where I had a desire to know God personally, but had no understanding of how to enter into such a relationship. In college I pursued a profession as an economist, and at the age of 28 as a young economics professor at Purdue University, I felt I was missing meaning in my life. At that time God brought a man into my path that showed me what it meant to have a personal relationship with God, and I prayed to receive Jesus Christ. I began my life-long journey in Bible study where I learned how to study the Word of God, seeing that the application of that Word to my life was not a restraint on how to live, but that it was growing in Christ-likeness.
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David Ren
David Ren
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Todd Yeager
Todd Yeager
How did you first start to follow Jesus?
I always had a reverence for the Bible and for trying to not do bad things to upset God. When I was 14 yrs old, Pastor Harold Hendrick came to my house and explained to the adults about 1Corinthinians 15:3-4 that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures, that he was buried, and that he was raised on the third day”. He asked if anyone would like to follow Jesus to pray with him and although he didn’t know I was listening around the corner, I prayed to follow Jesus. This set me on the journey of a lifetime, where I stopped focusing on not upsetting God and started learning how to follow Jesus and please God.
What do you love about First Free Church?
I love that a body of imperfect believers can fellowship, serve, and receive spiritual food while disagreeing on things that may divide other churches. We have such quality and committed people here to minister in all the amazing areas around the church. Also, the teaching from the pulpit has been rock solid over the last 30+ years!
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Joseph Zhang
Joseph Zhang
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Deacons
The biblical precedent for deacons comes from Acts 6, where the disciples sought godly men to assist in the daily operation of ministry.
At First Free, deacons are men and women who serve and provide oversight in various ministries as directed by the Elder Board and Senior Pastor. Some of their duties include administrative oversight over the church finances, benevolence, and other congregational and community ministries.
Deacons can be contacted at deacons@efree.org.
CURRENT DEACONS:
Chair – Alan Heisel
Vice Chair – Steve Thompson
Secretary – Gayle Darby
Benevolence – Don Carpenter (chair), Gayle Darby, Sharon Luo, Jon Rathjen
Finance – Barbara Bosch (chair), Alan Heisel, Josh Walz
Facilities – Brad Langeneckert (chair), Steve Thompson, Steve Eck
