| Ryan Nilsen is Lead Pastor at Praise. His job is to oversee our disciple-making ministries, lead, feed, and encourage our ministry leaders, and oversee effective, intentional fulfillment of our mission. He grew up in Hartland, Connecticut. He has a B.A. in history and English from UConn and a Masters of Divinity from Lutheran Brethren Seminary, Fergus Falls, Minnesota, and is an ordained pastor in the Church of the Lutheran Brethren. He has served churches in Minnesota and Iowa. Ryan also serves as a member of the Council of Directors of the Church of the Lutheran Brethren of America (CLBA). Ryan and his wife Kjirsti have five children and live in Torrington. |
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Praise Staff
Favorite Person of the Bible: Paul
Favorite Bible Verse: 1 Timothy 1:15
Favorite Book: A Walk in the Woods
Favorite Hobby: Sailing
| Audrey Havens is the Office Administrator and Bookkeeper at Praise Christian Fellowship. She grew up in Springfield, Massachusetts and has been living in Connecticut since 1981. Audrey has a Bachelor of Science degree in Elementary Education from American International College and a Sign Language Interpreting Certificate from Northwestern Connecticut Community College. She also works part-time at NCCC as a C-print captionist for Deaf and hard of hearing students. Audrey enjoys walking, swimming, reading, and cooking. She and her husband, Phil, have lived in New Hartford since 1991. |
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Favorite Person of the Bible: Ruth
Favorite Bible Verse: Philippians 4:8
Favorite Book: To Kill a Mockingbird
Favorite Hobby: Cooking
| Phil Havens is the Welcome and Care Coordinator at Praise. His job is to oversee the welcoming and assimilation of new visitors and attenders into our church family. By maintaining a welcoming environment, facilitating and connecting new visitors and attenders to our ministries, as well as recruiting and encouraging our welcome team members, he helps Praise to advance our mission of making disciples who grow in Christ and make him known. Phil serves as an elder on the Church Council, volunteers on the Trustee Board and Finance Committee, and maintains the church's website. He loves the outdoors and is on the staff of God's Great Outdoors as a website developer. He has a B.S. in Computer Science from Quinnipiac College (now Quinnipiac University). Phil and his wife Audrey have lived in New Hartford, Connecticut since 1991. |
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Favorite Person of the Bible: David
Favorite Bible Verse: Philippians 4:8
Favorite Hobby: Archery and bow hunting
| Kevin Skaret is the Lifeline Youth Ministries Pastor at Praise. His job is the oversight of ministry to students in the 6th -12th grades, including developing and training a leadership team to carry out this mission. He grew up in East Hartland, Connecticut. Kevin is currently enrolled in classes at Faith Evangelical Seminary in Tacoma, Washington with the eventual goal of attending Lutheran Brethren Seminary in Fergus Falls, Minnesota. He has attended Praise since 1988 and has served in various ministry capacities, especially with the youth. Kevin is a Licensed Lay Pastor with the Church of the Lutheran Brethren of America (CLBA). He and his wife Beth have three children and live in Winsted. |
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Favorite Person of the Bible: Jeremiah
Favorite Bible Verse: 2 Timothy 2:15
Favorite Book: The Bible, How Should We Then Live?
Favorite Hobby: Research, PC gaming
| Erin Parkhouse is the Children's Ministry Director at Praise. She grew up in Randolph, New Jersey and has been living in Connecticut since 2002. Erin has a B.S. in Elementary Education and a minor in Teaching English as a Second Language from Messiah College. She also has a Master's Equivalency in Elementary Education from the University of New England. Erin and her husband Matt have two boys and have lived in Torrington for over 9 years. |
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Favorite Person of the Bible: Noah
Favorite Bible Verse: Philippians 4:13
Favorite Book: "A Confident Heart" by Renee Swope
Favorite Hobby: Exercising
| Jim Slavin is our Custodian. He grew up in Hamden and Manchester, Connecticut. After graduating from Manchester High School, he received a diploma from Morse Business School. Jim worked at the Hartford Insurance Group as a supervisor in the Accounting Department for over seven years and at New Departure (GM) for over fifteen years. He also worked as a custodian and lead custodian for the New Hartford School system for the last 25 years and retired in May, 2010. Jim and his wife Jan have two wonderful daughters and have been blessed with eight grandchildren and one great grandchild. He has enjoyed being part of a Christian group, Tres Dias, for over 26 years. Jim enjoys being with his family, loves boating, and just recently started to bike ride. Jim also enjoys reading the Bible and praying. |
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Favorite Bible Verse: Psalm 34:4
Favorite Hobby: Boating
