Brenda has been the Lead Pastor of Faith Wesleyan Church for the past 11 years. She did her classes through Houghton College and Flame and was ordained in 2003. She has obtained her Bachelor’s Degree in Biblical Studies from Indiana Wesleyan University in 2015. Brenda also serves as the Executive Assistant to the District Superintendent of the Wesleyan Church Northeast District. She has been the Director of Excel Church Fitness Conference for the past 15 years.
Brenda has been happily married to her husband Scott for the past 44 years. They have 3 daughters Cassandra, Brittany and Candace, and son in law, Luis (Brittany) and 7 grandchildren Giavonna, Josiah, Adrianna, Maverick, Sophia, Credence and Genesis. They enjoy family time, spending time with friends and making memories. They are excited about what God has in store for their lives as they seek to reach and teach people for the Lord.
Her life verse is Isaiah 6:8NIV, “Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?” And I said, “Here am I. Send me!”
With her personal mission statement “To help people to help themselves through God’s Word”, Sharon holds a bachelor’s degree in biblical studies through Indiana Wesley University which supported her in answering her call from God to become a Pastor. On November 12, 2018, she received her formal letter confirming she has met all requirements for licensing as a Pastor. On June 9, 2022, Pastor Sharon was Ordained and is now officially Reverend Sharon L. Furbur. Her passion for guiding, loving, and supporting youth and young adults has been a part of Sharon’s life and became formalized with her connection to Care Net Lehigh Valley where she was a volunteer counselor for many years and then asked to design, develop and launch an Abstinence program which is still in our Lehigh Valley public schools today. Sharon has worked in the Corporate world for 20 plus years in senior leadership roles under both Human Resources and Operations departments. Currently she is the Senior Vice President of Training & Organizational Development at First Commonwealth Federal Credit Union. She is currently pursuing her master’s in organizational leadership and anticipates graduating in May 2024. God is wherever she is…. So, whether working as a leader in Corporate or a Pastor, Sharon strives to keep shining the light of Jesus in her words and actions. She believes strongly that we have one life. We do not have a personal and a professional life, we have one life. God is in it all.
Sharon and her husband Peter have been members of Faith Wesleyan Church for nine years and they believe this is where God wants them to be. Peter and Sharon have been married for 20 years and they have two amazing children (Colton and Sarah) who are both 32 years of age. Both live in PA. Though all their lives are filled with busy schedules, they very much enjoy and take advantage of the “connection times” provided whether face to face, phone, or text to enjoy, celebrate, support and be a part of each other’s lives. In addition, Pete and Sharon enjoy their fun time with their four-legged child (1 cat named Prince) and their two St. Bernards Otis and Maggie as well as spending quality time with their Grandson’s Joseph and Jameson and with other family, friends a cruising in their 1999 Camaro Z28 SS.
Melody gave her life to Christ at a young age and continued to grow in her walk with the Lord. Mel has an Associate’s Degree from United Wesleyan College, a BA in Psychology from Messiah College and a Master’s Degree in Social Work from Marywood University and is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker. She completed the remainder of her ministerial courses through the Wesleyan Department of Education where she attended FLAME classes and was ordained in 2007.
Mel ministers to the spiritual and emotional needs of residents, families and staff at Fellowship Community in Whitehall, PA. She has been involved in various ministries in the Lehigh Valley area as well as the Washington, DC/Maryland area. Mel is a member of Zion Choral. Scripture verses that guide her life are Proverbs 3:5-6, Proverbs 4:23 and Hebrews 12: 1-3.
Laurie is a graduate of Allentown Business School where she earned her certificate in Medical Assisting. She completed her ordination requirements through Kingswood University in Canada and was ordained in June of 2023. She and Marty have served Trinity Wesleyan Church faithfully for more than 30 years in various roles. Laurie is currently serving as Spiritual Formation Pastor at Faith Wesleyan Church where some of her responsibilities will include managing new believer classes and mentoring newly saved individuals as well as Recovery Church Lehigh Valley in various roles.
She is currently employed by Lehigh Valley Health Network as a scheduling coordinator for the very busy Lehigh Valley Orthopedic Institute and has worked in health care for more than 36 years.
Marty and Laurie have been married for more than 40 years and raised three boys and are blessed with nine grandchildren. Laurie enjoys spending time with her grands and vacationing. In her spare time, she enjoys crafting, especially knitting and painting pottery and she enjoys quiet time with a good book.
Her life verse is Philippians 1:6 “Being confident of this that he who began a good work in you will see it through to its completion in the day of Christ Jesus.”
Pastor Michelle’s personal ministry objective is to serve as an ordained pastor, providing Christ-like leadership, preaching, counseling, and discipleship for all God’s people. Every church has a unique opportunity to make an impact in their community by partnering with families for the purpose of bringing them into a life-changing relationship with Jesus Christ.
Michelle grew up in the Methodist church where as a family (mom, dad, brother, sister) we served in various ministries. Michelle accepted Christ at the age of 12 and continues to grow in her walk with the Lord.
Michelle studied at Wesley Seminary, IWU from which she earned a Master of Arts in Ministerial Leadership with a concentration in Children’s Ministry in 2014. She completed her ordination classes through Kingswood University and was ordained in June 2019.
Michelle also holds a Bachelor of Science in Secondary Education and a Masters of Education in Elementary Education from Kutztown University. She has been a mathematics teacher at Northampton Area High School since 2002. She continued in her education and earned a Masters in Educational Leadership through Delaware Valley University in 2023.
Michelle and her husband Jason have been married since 2006 and became members of Faith Wesleyan Church in 2022. Having no kids of their own, they have a dedication to children through the various ministries they are involved in and as their jobs as educators. They both continue to seek God’s will in their lives and eagerly look forward to where God will lead them in their ministry. Michelle has been active in our District Kids Camp since 2014, serving in security and also as counselor, teacher, and writing devotions for other counselors. She has also taught adult and kid sessions at our District Excel Conference since 2014. Michelle also grew up attending Bowman Park Camp since 1982 and continues to serve there on the board as well as a camp director.
Her life verse is “However, I consider my life worth nothing to me; my only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me – the task of testifying to the good news of God’s grace.” Acts 20:24
