Board of Directors

I have been an active member of Evangelical United Church of Christ in Godfrey for 42 years. I have had leadership positions, and have participated in volunteer work which includes chairing our “Adopt a Spot” Landscaping program, being a member of our Hearts in Service ministry, and being coordinator of our Scrip program, which generates money for capital improvement. I also enjoy singing in the chancel choir and playing in the handbell choir.

I attended Southern University of Illinois at Edwardsville where I was conferred a Master’s of Science degree in Speech Language Pathology and a Certificate of Clinical Competency from the American Speech and Hearing Association. I also obtained certification in Educational Administration from SIUE.

I spent 14 years in the public schools as a speech therapist for 3-12 year olds in regular and special education classes. I most recently retired from my position as Director of Evangelical School For The Young Years, and Principal of Evangelical Elementary and Middle School after 12 years.

As one of the largest non-Catholic schools in our area, our enrollment for elementary and middle school has averaged around 300 students with approximately 90-100 in our preschool, with only 10% of the enrollment coming from our own church membership. We employ 34 teachers, 2 office staff and 2 custodians. As a ministry of Evangelical United Church of Christ, I was privileged to be a part of this ministry to the children and families of our community.

Now in my second year of retirement, I continue with the church volunteer work, and have joined the Alton Community Service League, and P.E.O. Oh yes, and I still substitute teach in preschool on occasion.

I have visited Kindercottage a few times now, and have met the hard working teachers, where Brenda and her staff make everyone feel welcome. Playing with the babies, and reading to the 3-5 year olds has certainly been a joy! The Center definitely has a family atmosphere, one that needs to be continually cultivated. I am interested in helping the Center move forward to meet the needs of children and their families in East St. Louis.

Retired after 50 years of nursing, the last 19 of which were spent as cardiology nurse practitioner at St Louis University. My 50 years took me to all kinds of nursing opportunities: medical/surgical, emergency, intensive care, electrophysiology, pediatrics, industrial nursing, childbirth instructor, practical nursing instructor with clinicals in acute care and nursing homes, home health nursing. I have been blessed to be a part of the life journey of so many of my patients and their families in both urban and rural areas in the Midwest and Gulf Coast.

Deaconess Hospital School of Nursing, formerly part of the United Church of Christ missions, gave me a sound nursing base. Living with the Deaconess sisters showed me how service to others is being God's hands and feet. Their ministry is still alive in the Deaconess Community Faith Nurse Ministry today. My BSN was obtained at McKendree College, MSN and Nurse Practitioner completion at St Louis University.

I have participated in mission trips with the United Church of Christ at the Oklahoma Cherokee Nation and Biloxi Back Bay Mission following Hurricane Katrina.

I am currently a member of St Paul's UCC in Lebanon, Illinois where Pastor Don Wagner leads his flock. St Paul's is committed to supporting UPK. Our church also supports the ecumenical Lebanon Matthew's Ministries, where I am currently in training as a client advocate.

My previous experience on Board of Directors includes Christian Home Care Services, two terms for UniPres KinderCottage, and two terms for Southern Illinois Health and Wellness Center in Washington Park. My interest in East St Louis was peaked when Brenda Crisp, UPK director, assisted me with community health assessment of services/resources for ESL children while obtaining my MSN. I also became very familiar with East St Louis while completing a year of home health nursing there in return for a grant from Illinois Public Health for college tuition.

My husband Tom and I just celebrated our 15th anniversary. We have 3 kids, Annie (13), Caroline (7), and Brady (5) and a dog Benny. I grew up in Edwardsville and attended EHS. My parents and grandparents are all EHS grads. I went to college at The University of Tulsa and law school at Drake University Law School.

Attorney and Partner at The Gori Law Firm in Edwardsville. I’ve been with the firm since 2009.

I am currently Vice President of the Board for CASA of Southwestern Illinois.

Member of First Presbyterian Church in Edwardsville for my entire life having grown up in that church. I am an Elder and have served on Session twice. I have chaired the Mission Outreach Ministries Committee and Nominating Committee and served on Youth Ministry Committee. I have also served on a special tasks forces for developing a playground and strategic planning.

My name is Phil Kershner. I have been pastor at MarineUCC since 2001, a

few months after graduating from Eden Seminary, I would never want to be

anywhere else. Prior to entering the Seminary I had been a high school math

teacher for 17 years.

I am married, My wife, Sandee, and I have two grown children. The oldest,

Ashlyn, is 28 and lives in Iowa City, Iowa. She Still works full time at a

gymnastics gym, but still hopes to turn her University of Chicago master's

degree in history into a teaching job someday. The youngest, Lauren, is 26

and lives in Minneapolis, Minnesota where she works as an OT. Both are

single.

My interests outside of work include reading, writing the occassional poem or

article ( I've had a few Published in religious journals ), hiking and, did I

mention, reading? I've also written one book. But mostly I like to read, or

maybe I already mention that.

The biggest influrence in my life, not countingthe obvious-family-has been

Peggy Way, whose time at Eden Luckily overlapped mine. Some of you may

remember her. I have also been influrenced by Brenda Crisp, who I have

known for 20 years,

I grew up in Wood River and attended EAWR High School. I graduated with a Master's Degree in Accounting from SIUE in 2013 and have been a licensed CPA in Illinois since 2014. I spent 5+ years at a local CPA firm serving clients ranging from sole proprietors to multi-million dollar corporations. Since 2018, I have worked at The Gori Law Firm in Edwardsville and am the Firm's Accounting Department Supervisor.

I attend the Evangelical United Church of Christ in Godfrey. I am currently serving on the Transition Team at Evangelical as we work to prepare our church to call a new pastor following the retirement of our pastor of 20+ years.

I am a member of the Board of Directors for the Lewis & Clark Society of America, which supports the Lewis & Clark State Historic Site in Hartford. I am also the bookkeeper for the museum's volunteer-run gift shop.

I live in East Alton with my dog Zoe and enjoy following Cardinals' baseball, golfing, and spending time with friends and family.

I look forward to helping Kindercottage in any way I can.

Mr. Ernest D. White, III was born in Centreville, IL to Ernest and Pernella White. He grew up in the city of East Saint Louis, IL and was an active participant in youth ministries at the Centreville Church of Christ. After graduation from East Saint Louis Sr. High in 1993, he attended Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville studying Music Ed. While in college, he worked with the Unity Theatre Ensemble and performed in a number of musicals and stage plays such as Sparkle, Motown Review, I Got the Music in Me, and Black Nativity. During college he also participated in community service programs with Big Brothers and Sisters, Annie Malone, Food Bank, Bible and blanket drives, and East Saint Louis city clean up initiatives with the Centreville Church of Christ and Iota Phi Theta Frat. Inc.

Ernest, worked for Gateway Homes Inc. for 3 ½ years providing service for adults with disabilities prior to relocating to Indianapolis, IN. While in Indianapolis he attended the Mideast Church of Christ where he served as Minister of Music and Kingsley Terrace Church of Christ were he began to focus more on leadership and youth and family counseling training. He also returned to college while working in residential treatment with at-risk youth. During that time he earned a B.S. in Business Administration-Project Management in April of 2012.

In 2014, he returned to the state of Illinois. He worked for the GEO Group in-prison treatment as the Human Resource Coordinator for 4 and ½ years. He returned to his home church and reconnected with childhood friends working together to keep each other encouraged as well as partnering with leadership to keep the church ministries active with the community. Ernest is currently employed with a non-profit that provides mental health and educational services for individuals with ASD and developmental disabilities as the Human Resource Officer. In his free time he enjoys reading, composing music for his A cappella ensemble JOURNE, writing poetry and community service projects for the community.

I earned my B.A. degree from S.I.U. Edwardsville and received my Master of divinity degree from Eden Seminary. After retiring, I went to Kaskaskia College and received my Associate’s Degree. I have been in Illinois South Conference for over 50 years, serving in the Hecker and Freeburg churches. I had dual charge at New Baden and Summerfield churches from 1971-1978 and served in Carlyle from 1979-1989. I was Administrative chaplain at Centralia Correctional Facility for 20 years and have spent many years serving as supply pastor for the conference. While working in the conference, I have been part of several ministries. I served as treasurer for Metropolitan Ministries of East St. Louis and Project Hope. I have been on the property committee, and committees to help build a new hospital in Red Bud and a committee to search for doctors in New Baden. I also served on the Channel 9 advisory board for development of the Letter People. I helped to secure the ground to be used for a vocational education program in the Freeburg area. While in New Baden, I revitalized the New Baden Ministerial Alliance for joint Thanksgiving worship and financial assistance. I also joined the Lions Club while in New Baden. My wife and I were part of Marriage Encounter, both training pastors to become leaders and providing weekends to couples. I also taught speech education for Kaskasia College for many years.

As a pastor and teacher, I provide guidance, share the gospel, and serve the people of Good Shepherd of Faith United Church of Christ and the surrounding community of East St. Louis.

Professionally, I was a secondary education teacher and administrator for St. Louis Public Schools for twenty-three years. However, I received my call to ministry in 2002. Since then, I have worked as a counselor and teacher in the church.

I was saved and filled with the Holy Ghost at Lovejoy Temple C.O.G.I.C. in April 1974. That same year, I was baptized at Bostic Temple C.O.G.I.C. St. Louis, MO. Elder William Turner was my pastor as I served the Lord faithfully under his leadership from 1974-1998. I was called to become a minister under the leadership of Elder Christopher Edwards at Good Shepherd of Faith United Church of Christ. I was ordained as the pastor in 2007.

In 2011, I was invited to attend leadership training with the Gamaliel Network. As a result, my church joined the United Congregations of Metro-East (UCM). It is a community organizing group. My community work changed from just serving people to empowering people for their own transformation.

My passion is ensuring every opportunity for economic justice is offered to the people in East St. Louis, Illinois.

I grew up on a farm in Northern Illinois and spent most of my adult life working in sales and marketing for various agricultural companies, including Monsanto and Purina.

I accepted God’s call to authorized ministry in 2009 when I attended Eden Theological Seminary from 2009-2012. I served Illinois South Conference churches in Hookdale (St Peter) and Belleville (Trinity), and I am currently serving at St Peter United Church of Christ in Red Bud, Illinois.

During my time in Belleville, I worked with many churches and organizations to serve the poor and homeless in the Metro-East area. In my current position, I am blessed to serve a “mission-minded” congregation, always looking for new ways to serve the community, including a “Blessing Box’ to provide free food to all, a clothing pantry that coordinates our efforts with local school districts to offer clothing and other necessities to those in need, and an annual coat drive and giveaway.

I am blessed to have met the love of my life, who recently, with her two daughters, immigrated here from the Philippines. We were married two years ago. With these additions in my life, I have six children, nine grandchildren and two great-grandchildren, who make me very proud every day.

In my spare time (whenever that may be), I enjoy fishing, music, and reading. I look forward to serving Kindercottage in any way I am called.