Dr. Dirk M. Lesnett - Pastor

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Dirk and his wife, Van, have been married over 20 years and are busy parenting their four children. Outside of the Church he is involved with the scouts, schools and sports and is learning more about ballet because of his daughter. Dirk came to serve Elfinwild Church as pastor in 2004. He has a degree in Business Administration from Grove City College, a Masters of Divinity from Gordon-Conwell Seminary in Massachuetts, and his Doctorate of Ministry degree from Columbia Theological Seminary. He enjoys reading, anything that involves a ball, all styles of music and theater and loves to laugh. He has a passion for men to know God and can always be seen holding a baby if there is one around. 

Rev. Jason Rea - Associate Pastor

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Jason and his wife Kara stay busy raising their three children.  Originally from Ohio, Jason earned a B.A. in Student Ministries and a B.S. in Counseling from GenevaCollege in Beaver Falls, PA.  He then spent over ten years in youth ministry serving two Presbyterian congregations in Ohio as well as serving alongside Kara as core teaching parents in a group home for girls.  Prior to arriving at Elfinwild the Rea’s spent three years in Princeton, NJ where Jason received his Master of Divinity from Princeton Theological Seminary.  Jason enjoys listening to music and dancing with his children, playing sports of all types (including ones he has never played), and watching the Ohio State Buckeyes and Cincinnati Bengals when he can.  He finds deep joy in spending time with middle and high school students and helping them grow as disciples of Jesus Christ. 

A significant “Life Verse” for Jason is:  2 Corinthians 5:13-19  ¹³ For if we are beside ourselves, it is for God; if we are in our right mind, it is for you.  ¹⁴ For the love of Christ urges us on, because we are convinced that one has died for all; therefore all have died.  ¹⁵ And he died for all, so that those who live might live no longer for themselves, but for him who died and was raised for them.  ¹⁶ From now on, therefore, we regard no one from a human point of view; even though we once knew Christ from a human point of view, we know him no longer in that way.  ¹⁷ So if anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation: everything old has passed away; see, everything has become new!  ¹⁸ All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation;  ¹⁹ that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting the message of reconciliation to us.

Bethany Harbaugh - Director of Children's Ministries

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Bethany Harbaugh was raised in Buffalo, NY, but considers herself to be a true “Pittsburgher”.  After graduating from Grove City College, she went on to get her Master’s of Divinity at Pittsburgh Theological Seminary, and is now excited to be part of the ministry team at Elfinwild Church.  Bethany has always been involved in children’s ministries.  She met her husband, Matt, in college while volunteering at an after school children’s program at their church.  Bethany’s husband is a Family Medicine Resident at St. Margaret’s hospital.  With a background in music, Bethany can often be found playing her flute or singing.  She also enjoys crafts of all kinds and spending time outdoors.

Ginny Dawson and her husband, Don have raised two grown children, Andrew and Rachel, in their 39 years of marriage.  Ginny earned her Bachelor's degree in Music Education from Westminster College and a Master's Equivalency from Duquesne University.  Currently she teaches in the Hampton Township School District.

Her passion for music ministry was fueled at Elfinwild after her confirmation, when she led VBS music and then was given opportunities to play the organ.  For seventeen years, she was Director of Music at Hampton Presbyterian Church where she directed choirs of all ages, conducted handbell teams, developed vocal and instrumental ensembles, and initiated and played with worship teams. 

She enjoys fellowship with friends, reading good books, biking and spending time with her three grandchildren - Luke, Adeline and Simeon.

Carolyn Hervey - Preschool Director

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Carolyn has been Director of the Elfinwild Preschool for over 23 years. She received her BS from Indiana University, Pa. and her Masters in Education from California State University, Long Beach. Carolyn and her husband, Doug, have two grown children and four grandchildren. She enjoys spending time with her family (especially her grandchildren) and reading biographies.

Deborah Piel - Preschool Co-Director

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Debbie has taught at Elfinwild Preschool for 21 years. She received her B.A. in Education from Transylvania University and attended the Gesell Institute (Kindergarten Placement).  Prior to Elfinwild, she was a substitute teacher in the Shaler District and taught second grade.  Debbie has been married for 39 years to Bill Piel and they have 2 children, Tasha & Josh and one grandchild.   Her hobbies include cooking, reading and gardening. 

Kristin Coco - Preschool Co-Director

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Kristin has taught at Elfinwild Preschool for 10 years.  Before this, she was the Director of WOW Ministries and Director of Communication for Elfinwild Church, a professional floral designer, she wrote the curriculum and teachers' guides for the North Hills News Record's Newspapers in Education Program, and did substitute teaching in 6 different school districts in the North Hills area.  She received a BS from Westminster College in Biology, a Secondary Teaching Certification, a Masters in Education from Indiana University of PA in Elementary Education and her Elementary Teaching Certification. Since then she has taken many courses  in child development and professional development.  She is married to her husband, Steve and they have 2 children, Allison & Andrew.  Her hobbies include writing, reading & gardening.

Eileen Hughes - Preschool Co-Director

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Eileen has been on the Board of Directors for Elfinwild Preschool for 10 years and has taught at the preschool for 7 years.  Before teaching at Elfinwild, she taught children with diverse challenges and transitioned older students from school to work.  She has a Bachelor of Science in Psychology and Business from Penn State University and attended the Gesell Institute (Kindergarten Placement).   Eileen and her husband, Robert, have three children, Emily, Scott and Zachary.  She enjoys gardening, cooking, reading and playing softball.

Lora King - Office Secretary

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 Lora received her Associate In Arts degree in Business from Adrian College, Adrian, MI.  In 1984 she began work as a part-time staff person in the office at Elfinwild for 5 years.  In 1989 she returned to working full time in Pittsburgh as a Project Secretary/Administrative Assistant for an engineering firm for 10 years until her retirement in 1999.  At that time she began volunteering 10 hours a week in the church office until April 2008 when she became church secretary.