Ministry Staff

Steve Davis, Senior Pastor

Steve Davis is passionate about sharing the loving message of Jesus.  He invites seekers to come into God's loving embrace and encourages believers in a deeper spiritual journey.  His messages provide helpful insight with practical application and warm humor. Steve has a Master of Divinity Degree from Fuller Theological Seminary and a Doctorate from San Francisco Theological Seminary.  He serves on Monmouth Presbytery's Committee on Ministry and has served as a delegate to General Assembly.  Steve has served as Senior Pastor in Southern California, Associate Pastor in Washington State, and Youth Pastor in the San Francisco Bay area.  In his free time Steve swims, bikes, and walks on the boardwalk with his wife, Cindy.  He and Cindy have four boys.
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Gayle Donnelly, Associate Pastor
of Congregational Care

We are now grieving the recent death of Pastor Gayle.  Excited about the Lord and sharing her faith, Gayle Donnelly loved her job. With a background in social work counseling the elderly in nursing home settings and in Hospice work helping people through the transition of their last days, Gayle exhibited the grace of God.  She loved leading Bible Study classes, visiting her church family, and assisting with worship. Best of all was her time spent with our children in RADhouse.We celebrated Pastor Gayle's life at a memorial service on Wednesday, April 23, 2008.  View the visual tribute to Pastor Gayle's life.
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David Cotton, Associate Pastor
of Education

David Cotton loves to teach the Bible, and we love to learn from him.  In addition to his Wednesday and Sunday classes, David also assists in worship and provides other pastoral support in the broader church.  In his "other ministry," he is Manager of the Pastoral Care Department at Jersey Shore University Medical Center.  He is Chairman of the Bioethics Consult Committee and serves on county and state ethics committees.  David brings to Manasquan his experience as Pastor, Interim, and Parish Associate.  He enjoys teaching the Bible on the beach in Ocean Grove during the summer.  David's wife, Margaret Joanne, a third grade teacher and professional photographer, grew up here and is a proud Manasquan High School graduate.  The Cottons live in Ocean Grove and enjoy spending time with their children and grandchildren.
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Chuck Gianakos, Minister to Youth

Chuck Gianakos is a sixteen-year veteran in youth and young adult ministry and Christian Education.  He also specializes in youth spirituality and emerging worship.  Chuck thanks God every moment of his life for the great gift of working with young people.  He uses a very  experiential approach to his teaching and leading worship.  He wants participants to be able to use all five of their senses while experiencing the good news of the gospel.  Chuck holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Behavioral Science and History from Drew University and certificates in Youth Theology from Princeton Theological Seminary.  Chuck also serves as Executive Director of PassionWorks, Inc., a holistic non-profit humanitarian need organization(www.passionworksusa.org).  He loves Jesus and teenagers and plans on spending the rest of his life working for and with both!  He and his wife, Vicky, have been married for 21 years.
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Marcello Velame, Music Director

Marcello Velame creatively uses music to enhance the worship experience. The Chancel Choir under Marcello's leadership presents a large and varied repertoire, sings regularly with orchestras and is on the guest list for MidAmerica productions at Carnegie Hall, where they have sung twice with the New England Symphony.  Marcello holds an undergraduate degree from Westminster Choir College in Princeton, NJ and he has studied at Julliard School of Music. He has appeared as guest conductor at the Royal Conservatory of Music in Toronto, Canada and he has sung under the direction of acclaimed conductors  Robert Shaw, Kurt Masur and Wolfgang Sawallisch. 
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Cathy Gaestel, Assistant Music Director

Cathy Gaestel is the director of music for the 8:00 a.m. service.  She also directs the Celebration Ringers  and the Cherub Choir.  She brings music to all the Sunday School classes and RADhouse.  The church provides a music school for the community with private lessons in piano, guitar, and voice.  Cathy is manager of the music school and is alsoone of the piano teachers.  In her spare time she loves gardening, hiking, kayaking, reading, writing music and spending time with her family.
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Andrew Tufts, Bell Choir Director

Andrew Tufts joined our church as a confirmand in 1994 and is now the Director of the Jubilee Bell Choir.  He is married to Jessica and is the new father of a baby daughter.  Andy has recently left construction work and is finishing a Master's Degree in Teaching Mathematics at Monmouth University.  He has his own business, Day & Night Landscaping, and he is also an adviser for Access All Areas (Senior High Fellowship).
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Caroline Weinerman, Nursery Coordinator

Caroline Weinerman joined our staff in September, 2008 to head the church nursery, caring for infants and toddlers while their parents attend worship services and Christian Education classes.  Carrie lives in Spring Lake and attends Brookdale Community College as a full-time student, majoring in Education.  She is devoted to children, which is quite apparent by the way our little ones respond to her.
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Eileen Rubright, Administrative Secretary

Eileen Rubright has been our Administrative Secretary for the past ten years.  After spending many years in the corporate business world in New York City, she accepted the position she now holds and is happy she made the change.  She is a right hand to the Senior Pastor and the pastoral team and is a great source of support to our Deacons and Elders.  She loves her work, the church and the people in it and is always cheerful and ready and willing to accommodate our members whenever they need her assistance.   Eileen lives in Point Pleasant and enjoys antiques history and  current events.
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Sharon Binder, Assistant Secretary

Sharon Binder became the Assistant Administrative Secretary two years ago, and recently has become the Assistant Treasurer as well.  Sharon is also a member of the church, and her two children attend our Sunday School.  Sharon is trained as a home economics teacher, has also worked in banking, and is an avid gardener.  Her friendly nature and warm smile lights up the office.
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Todd Vreeland, Facility Manager

Todd Vreeland says, "First impressions are important" and he has done much to make first-timers and visitors to our church come away with a very good first impression through his care of our buildings and grounds.  Todd is our valued Facilities Manager who keeps our church buildings neat, clean and safe for everyone who uses them.  He always wears a smile and is quick to lend a hand whenever and wherever needed.  
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Tim Belding, Custodian

Tim Belding highly values his job at our church where he has been employed for eight years.  He is an accomplished artist working in oils with a concentration on light houses, gardens and buildings.  He enjoys collecting LPs, 45s, historic picture post cards, and comic books.
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Debbie MacEachren, Special Projects Coordinator

Debbie MacEachren is a member of our church and helps with technical projects, graphic presentations, and is the coordinator of our website.  She also has her own business, Shore to Please Pet Sitting.  Debbie is married, and she and her husband, John, are the parents of five-year-old twin boys.
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Robert Burkitt, Building Project Manager

Bob Burkitt has been a member of our church for 45 years, serving many capacities as an elder, deacon and also for many years as a member of the worship and property commissions.  He and his wife, Nancy, have two adult children who were raised in our church.  Bob has recently retired from a career in construction and has accepted a most important assignment as Construction Manager for our By Faith We Build venture.  Bob states that he feels both honored and privileged to serve our congregation. 
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Jack Eisnaugle, Treasurer

Jack Eisnaugle, Treasurer
Jack Eisnaugle has been a member of First Presbyterian Church since 1998, He was elected an elder in 2001 serving as a member of the Finance Commission and as President of the Corporation in 2003-2004.   In December 2006, he was elected Church Treasurer and since May 2007, he also serves as Treasurer for the By Faith, We Build Campaign.
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Linda Eisnaugle, Clerk of Session

Linda Eisnaugle, Clerk of Session
Linda Eisnaugle and her husband, Jack, moved from North Jersey to Wall in December, 1997 and joined the church in June, 1998.  Linda has served on the Mission Commission, the Communications Subcommittee, and the Board of Deacons, serving as its moderator her third year.  She also served on Session, as an elder for the Evangelism Commission.  She was elected Clerk of Session in September, 2007.
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Nancy Burkitt, Financial Secretary

Nancy Burkitt, Financial Secretary
Nancy Burkitt joined the church over 40 years ago when she and her husband, Bob, were married here.  Nancy has served as a deacon, an elder, and twice as moderator of Presbyterian Women.  She has served for over ten years as financial secretary with the responsibility of maintaining financial records and sending out contribution statements.  Nancy says, “It has been a joy to be part of our church family by working on special projects and mission trips over the years.”  
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