Meet the Team

Chris has served as Senior Pastor of First Pres since 2012. Chris is a graduate of Baylor University, holds a Master of Divinity from Princeton Theological Seminary, and a Doctor of Ministry degree through Fuller Seminary. Chris loves guiding the congregation to live into its call to participate in the mission of God in the world. “More Than Sunday means we discover what it means for us to live as followers of Jesus Christ in every aspect of our lives. God’s love for us and for the world has implications for our relationships, our families, our calendars, our community, our work lives, and on and on and on,” says Chris. Prior to joining the team at First Presbyterian Church of Glen Ellyn, Chris served as Associate Pastor of Adult Discipleship at Sammamish Presbyterian Church in Sammamish, WA. Chris lives in Glen Ellyn with his wife, Erin, and two sons, Carter and Ryan.

Jonathan serves at First Pres by leading the pastoral care ministries of the church, shepherding the Deacon ministry, and serving as a regular participant and preacher in Sunday morning worship. He has an undergraduate degree from Wheaton College, attended Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary and graduated with an MDiv from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School. Jonathan is inspired by the number of unsung people in this church body who quietly, effectively, and faithfully serve behind the scenes: loving their “neighbor”, serving meals, caring for the children of others, visiting homebound elderly. He loves seeing people flourish in the gifts God has given them, using those gifts to serve and engage with others. Prior to joining the First Pres team in 2014, Jonathan has been an Associate Pastor and Executive Director of the LaSalle Senior Center, both at LaSalle Street Church in Chicago and most recently was the Executive Director of Emmaus Ministries, a long-time mission partner of First Presbyterian Church. He and his wife Beverly live in Chicago and have two adult daughters, Elizabeth and Abigail.

Jen Bradbury serves as the Sr. Director of Family Ministry at First Presbyterian Church of Glen Ellyn. She holds a Masters of Arts in Youth Ministry Leadership from Huntington University and a Bachelors of Science in Electrical Engineering from the University of Illinois. Jen loves discipling young people and their grownups so that they can follow Jesus in their everyday lives and in the process, transform their communities. She also has a heart for equipping leaders to serve. Prior to serving at First Pres, Jen worked as the Content Director at Fuller Youth Institute, where she still serves as a Content and Research Associate. With more than twenty years of experience in youth and family ministry, she’s also the author of several books, including Faith Beyond Youth Group, The Jesus Gap, Called: A Novel About Youth Ministry Transition, and What Do I Believe About What I Believe? Jen and her husband, Doug, live in Glen Ellyn where they can regularly be found adventuring with their two young daughters.

Emma Ware graduated from Wheaton College in May of 2024 with a Bachelor of Music in Composition and a Theater Minor. She began her First Pres journey in the summer of 2023 as a worship intern, getting opportunities to touch almost all of the worship ministries First Pres has to offer. Since then, being involved in modern worship and bell choir has been her main contribution to the community—until now! Having sung in choirs all throughout her schooling years, the most formative being her time with the Wheaton College Concert Choir, Emma finds great joy in gathering with friends who love to sing and offering their gifts of music to the Lord. She is endlessly interested in simple storytelling and believes that choir is an amazing vehicle to encourage one another with our stories.

Emily Puntuzs has been at First Pres since 2014. She directs handbells at the Classic service. Emily loves making music to glorify God each week with an amazing group of dedicated people. She is inspired by the love and support the members show for each other. She also currently teaches viola and violin at Wheaton College Community School of the Arts, where she also serves as Suzuki Strings Coordinator and directed the handbell program for nearly 20 years. She subs occasionally with Chicago Bronze and enjoys performing with her string quartet. Emily lives in Wheaton with her husband, Tony, and two daughters, Eliza and Caroline.

With over 30 years of experience as a musician and drummer, Jerry Goodwin brings a wealth of knowledge and passion for worship music to First Pres. His journey in music leadership has taken him through several prominent churches, where he has had the opportunity to lead worship bands and inspire others in their musical journeys.

Jerry's love for worship is evident in his commitment to fostering a community of musicians. He enjoys leading worship musicians alongside talented individuals, while also dedicating his efforts to training new musicians on how to contribute meaningfully to worship services. He started his path at First Pres as a substitute drummer in August 2021, quickly becoming a beloved member of the team. Just weeks later, he was welcomed as a regular drummer, and by November 2024, he proudly stepped into the role of Music Director for the modern worship service.

Outside of music, Jerry is a devoted husband and father of three, cherishing the moments spent with his family. He's also a realtor by profession for over 17 years. He is excited to continue his journey at First Pres, cultivating a vibrant worship experience that honors God and enriches the community.

Lisa Plassman is our Director of Westminster Preschool. With a passion for early childhood development and a heart for ministry, Lisa is committed to providing a nurturing and enriching Christian learning environment for children in our community.
Lisa brings over 20+ years of experience in early childhood education, holding a B.A. in Early Childhood Ministry from Lincoln Christian College. Her expertise includes curriculum development, fostering positive parent-teacher relationships, and supporting the individual growth of each child.
Inspired by a deep faith, Lisa believes in creating a space where children learn, thrive academically, and discover God’s love.
In her spare time, Lisa enjoys reading a good book, spending time with friends, volunteering in church, and going on any adventure with her husband Nick and two kids, Elijah and Alena.
Lisa is excited to welcome you to Westminster Preschool and looks forward to working with you to create a positive and meaningful learning experience for your child.

Stephanie Freemyer serves as the Director of Children’s Ministry at First Presbyterian Church of Glen Ellyn, where she leads First Pres Kids—a Christ-centered ministry that invites children into worship, wonder, and belonging. With a deep belief in the playful nature of God, Stephanie designs spaces where kids are free to explore faith through creativity, relationships, and joy. She is a passionate advocate for including children of all backgrounds and abilities, ensuring that every child knows they are seen, loved, and valued in the body of Christ. In addition to church leadership, Stephanie has written over $3 million in awarded grants focused on the health, development, and flourishing of children. Whether writing curriculum, training volunteers, or playing alongside kids, Stephanie enjoys merging fun with spiritual depth.

Mike Henry serves First Pres as the director of Student Ministry. In that role he get the privilege of playing dodgeball with middle schoolers, eating DQ with high schoolers, and laughing with the best adult volunteers in the church! His all-time favorite thing is coming alongside students as they understand who God made them to be. “When students get a glimpse of the great things that God wants to do through them, they become an unstoppable force for the Kingdom!” Before coming to Glen Ellyn, Mike served in Student Ministry in Texas, Iowa and California. He has been married to Kristen for 19+ years and they have one spunky, feisty daughter named Joanna. When he’s not spending time with students, he’s either outdoors on a walk, seeing a movie, or playing a board game!

Shana serves as The Director of Community Formation at First Presbyterian Church of Glen Ellyn. She holds her Masters in Counseling from Concordia University, Masters of English and Education from Drake University, and a Bachelors of English from The University of Iowa. Shana believes in the power of Christian friendship and community. When we come together and share our stories, we can see God at work in each of our lives. Shana is passionate about helping people find connection. She loves seeing relationships grow beyond the social level, to form a community, where people can go through life together.
Prior to joining the staff at FPGE, Shana worked and English teacher and counselor in Naperville, IL. Shana and her husband Lance, live in Wheaton with their three children, Ben, Susannah, and Violet – they have been members of FPGE since 2011.

Nancy Cavanaugh coordinates the Equipped Adult Education Ministry. As a former teacher and school librarian, she has a passion for life-long learning. In the Equipped Ministry, the focus of learning is all about gaining a deeper understanding of God and His Word to grow closer to Christ in our relationship with Him. Whether the class is about theology, scripture, missions, or soul care, Nancy enjoys encouraging people at First Pres to come to the Parlor to listen and learn. One of her favorite parts of this position is meeting and talking with the amazing speakers and teachers who lead the Equipped classes. Nancy lives in Oak Brook with her daughter, Chaylee, and their adorable, very spoiled, Cockapoo, Ginger. Nancy enjoys reading, walking, and becoming totally engrossed in series like All Creatures Great and Small, Medici, and Call the Midwives. Her favorite food is pizza, and her mornings always begin with coffee – hazelnut flavored is preferred.

Jen joined the church in 2004 with her husband Jeff. She shares the responsibilities of the Front Desk, with Tricia Cavan, on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. Jen has served twice as a Deacon, valuing the relationships she has fostered and gained through service. She has enjoyed helping with the VBS and Spark children’s programs for over 10 years. Throughout the years, Jen has appreciated attending and growing deeper in her faith through Faith Builders and participation in Women’s Small Groups. Jen holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Clothing, Textiles & Fashion from Murry State University (KY). She lives in Glen Ellyn with her husband and two children: Nic & Lindsay. Their Doodle dog, Ginger, rounds out the family and keeps them on the move desiring daily long walks & runs!