Staff
Randy Bergsma, Pastor
Twelve years ago Randy moved to Highland to become First Church’s Lead Pastor. Having grown up a military kid, twelve years is the longest Randy has lived anywhere! Randy’s family moved so much as a child that he attended 11 different schools. His academic career concluded with his earning a Master of Divinity degree from Calvin Theological Seminary in Grand Rapids, Michigan after he graduated from Trinity Christian College in Palos Heights, Illinois.
Before moving to Highland, Randy served as pastor of Immanuel Christian Reformed Church in Sheldon, Iowa.
Randy says his goal in life is simple: “To help people understand God’s love for them.”
In addition to his pastoral duties at First Church, Randy also serves as a Chaplain for the Highland Police Department.
Randy and his wife Sandi have four sons ranging in age from 14 to 21. In his spare time he can often be found tinkering with cars, playing tennis, or strumming his guitar. Perhaps his most enjoyable leisure activity is tooling around town on his motorcycle.
Kelli Hofstra,Director of Student Ministries
Kelli Hofstra began leading Student Ministries at First Church in the Fall of 2010. Kelli connects with Jr. and Sr. High students through teaching, prayer groups, one-on-one meetings, and over a cup of coffee at the UnderGrounds Coffee House, which is located in her basement. Kelli will also led fall and winter retreats for the students as well as summer mission trips to different locations all over the country.
Lori Hofstra, Office Administrator
Helping to keep our church office operating proficiently is our ebullient office administrator Lori Hofstra. Lori, a former teacher who holds a degree in English is responsible for overseeing communications at First Church, while regularly expanding the vocabulary of the pastoral staff. (Ebullient means “filled with excitement or enthusiasm.”)
Lori has a husband named Don, a daughter named Hallie, and a son named Bo. In her free time she enjoys reading, camping, cheering on her kids’ sports teams, and rooting for the Packers. Whoooo hooo
Lisa Schulz, Office Administrator
Lisa joined the First Church office staff in November, 2010 and enjoys learning something new every day. She loves to add a creative flare to any project.
Lisa is married to Paul, her husband of 21 years and together they have three teenage boys: Jonathan, 18, Kyle, 17, and Ryan, 15. There is plenty of testosterone in their home! In her free time, she enjoys walking her dog, Rex, reading, and just keeping up with the boys of the house!
Rhoda Vassar, Building Supervisor
Rhoda Vassar serves as the First Church Building Supervisor–one of those jobs where the only time people notice you is when something goes wrong!
Rhoda is responsible for making sure the building is kept at a perfect temperature, that tables and chairs are set up to everyone’s liking, that the coffee is not too weak or too strong, and that messy adults and sick children are cleaned up after. Amazingly, Rhoda accomplishes all of this and still manages to keep a smile on her face
Joellen Dykstra, Financial Secretary
As the official overseer of the church checkbook, Joellen works very closely with the deacons to insure that there is a proper accounting of all deposits and expenditures.
Joellen has no choice to but to watch a lot of sports–she is married to an avid White Sox fan and she and her husband have three boys (one in grade school, one in high school, and one in college).
When she is not writing church or tuition checks, Joellen is often playing the organ or piano.
