MEET THE STAFF

The staff and leadership here at First EPC is comprised of men and women who love, care, and pray for every single person in the church. If you have any questions for any of our staff, feel free to reach out and email them or call our church office to speak with them. You can contact the church office at media@firstepc.com or by calling the church office at 765.457.8201.

JOYCE HARRIS

Lead Pastor

Originally joining First EPC as Associate Pastor in 2006, Pastor Joyce took on the role of lead pastor in March 2020. Talk about God’s timing! When she’s not serving First EPC, Pastor Joyce enjoys bowling, cheering for her Ohio State Buckeyes, and spending time with her loving husband Brian and their cat Beau. Read More

CHAD NORTHCUTT

Director of Worship and Music

Chad joined the First EPC team in 2023 and has had the incredible privilege of leading worship and music ministries for over 14 years. When he's not making music, you can find Chad watching science fiction and documentaries.

ELLEN ENGELHARDT

Team Leader of Children and Family Ministries

Dedicated to children’s education, Ellen strives to bring God’s word to the forefront of your family life. While she has been the team leader of children and family ministries since 2020, Ellen has been an avid volunteer with the team since childhood! She’s also a houseplant enthusiast and a proud Purdue Boilermaker.

JOE TOREN

Team Leader of College and Youth Ministries

With a background in youth mentorship spanning more than 25 years, Joe lives a commitment to walking alongside young people as they navigate identity, purpose, and belonging. He has spent the past 10 years working for the Coalition for Christian Outreach (CCO) in partnership with First EPC. He serves on the campuses of Indiana University Kokomo and Ivy Tech Kokomo. Joe has a Masters in Clinical Psychology and Certificate in Mediation and Negotiation from Abilene Christian University!

HEATHER BONDS

Director of Little School

Heather’s journey with Little School began as a parent—she loved the preschool program so much when her daughters attended that she simply never wanted to leave! These days, you can find Heather assisting teachers in classrooms, leading chapel time, getting to know families, or hanging out in the Little School office with the preschool pets- 2 axolotls. Outside of school, Heather loves time spent with her daughters and husband, reading, kayaking, and has a fun goal of visiting all 50

states.

JAMES GEIGER

Business Manager

Since joining the First EPC staff in 2018, James has become our jack of all trades! When not at his desk handling the financials, you can find him working on various building projects throughout the church. Fun fact: he’s in Men Of Note, the barbershop chorus that meets on Monday nights at First EPC!

ANNA ENGELHARDT

Ministry Assistant/Media Coordinator

If you call the church, you’ll probably reach Anna! Having attended First EPC all her life, Anna joined the team in 2023 and is devoted to assisting church members and ministries in any way she can. With a love of all things creative, Anna is also the graphic design guru of First EPC. When not at her desk, you can find her playing with her cats, in the middle of a craft project, or volunteering with Children’s Ministries.

STEVE AND ANITA DUNGAN

Custodians

After retiring from their professional careers, Steve and Anita chose to serve First EPC, keeping our facilities clean and beautiful! You may also find them serving around the church in their roles for the Kokomo Great Banquet. Outside of work, Steve and Anita enjoy traveling, spending time at the lake, trying new restaurants, and loving on their dog, Joie!

SHIRLEE BOWERS

Pastoral Care Assistant

Shirlee is a dedicated member of our church family, bringing a wealth of experience and compassion to her position as our pastoral care assistant. As a former nurse, she has a deep understanding of care and support and has seamlessly embraced this role. Shirlee's nurturing spirit and commitment to serving others shine through in every interaction!

KAYDEN PAX

Youth Intern

One of our CCO students, Kayden joined the First EPC team in 2024 and has been a wonderful fit! Kayden joined the CCO in 2023 and jumped right into making CCO feel like home for many others. He serves as one of the officers at IUK, carrying out ministry on campus. Along with weekly youth group, he also helps with VBS, mission trips, and so much more!

SYLVIA SEOK

Organist/Accompanist

Sylvia has been a lifelong Christian and has served as our accompanist since 2019. She has worked with numerous musicians around the Boston and New York areas. She has extensive experience teaching lessons and playing as a collaborative pianist for instrumentalists and vocalists. In her spare time, Sylvia loves to clean, go to the gym, and play golf (even though her score never improves!).