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We are grateful to the Lord for the dedicated group of men and women He has raised up to serve here at Cornerstone. Take a look at the brief biographical sketches below to get to know us just a little bit better! Those with underlined names can be reached through their Cornerstone email addresses.
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Our Leadership Team
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 Senior Pastor - Dr. Richard Alberta and his wife, Donna, came to Cornerstone in January of 1992 from Ward EPC in Livonia, where he served as Chairman of the Congregational Care Department. Pastor Alberta holds a BA from Rutgers University in New Jersey, a Masters of Divinity from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary in Massachusetts and earned his Doctor of Ministry degree from Eastern Baptist Seminary in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Richard and Donna have four sons and seven grandchildren. Pastor Alberta has a passion for preaching the Gospel and enjoys reading history and playing golf.
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 Pastor of Caring Ministries & Head of Cornerstone Christian School - Dr. Arthur Hunt came to us from an EPC pastorate in Missouri and brought his skills as both a pastor and head of staff to Cornerstone EPC and , now, Cornerstone Christian School -- serving as administrator, assisting in worship, teaching on a regular basis and serving as interim Head of School, as well. Dr. Hunt received a Bachelor of Theology degree from William Tyndale College, a Master of Divinity from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School and a Doctor of Ministry from Covenant Theological Seminary. He and his wife Linda have three adult children and seven grandchildren.
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 Pastor of Caring Ministries & Deacons - Rev. Brian Tweedie has been a part of our staff since 1996, coming to us from nine years as part of the pastoral staff at Ward EPC. Brian holds a BA in Psychology from the University of Michigan and received his Master of Divinity degree from Covenant Theological Seminary. He has a heart for those hurting and in need and brings that compassion to the leadership of our Caring and Deacon Ministries, as well as representing Cornerstone in the county-wide ministry Love INC (Love in the Name of Christ). Brian and his wife Debbie have four children.
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 Pastor of Caring Ministries & Adult Discipleship - Rev. Timothy Brown began his service at Cornerstone as a student intern from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School in Illinois. After graduating in May, 2001 with a Master of Divinity degree, he joined our staff as a pastor. Pastor Brown oversees Adult Discipleship, as well as Membership classes and the Welcome Ministry, helping newcomers to Cornerstone fit in and feel "at home". A resident of Brighton, Tim is married to Sarah and has six daughters and one son. Visit Pastor Tim's blog!
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Pastor of Caring Ministries & Missions - Rev. Scott Larson, grew up in Ann Arbor, MI and was active at Cornerstone EPC for several years before he left to go to seminary. He receuved both a Masters of Divinity and a Masters of Arts in Missions & Evangelism (church planting track) from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary near Boston. While in Massachusetts, Scott helped plant a new EPC church, Northpoint. In addition to his seminary degrees, Scott also holds an M.B.A. from the University of Illinois and an undergraduate degree from Princeton University. He and his wife Jenn have three children.
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 Minister to Seniors- Rev. Marv Valade has recently come to CEPC to assist with the Senior Adult Ministry. A graduate of Asbury College, Marv then received a Master of Arts degree from Western Michigan University. He spent a number of years in public school teaching and served as a professor at Asbury College before being called by the Lord into pastoral ministry. He has now been a pastor for some 30 years, 12 of which were in Brighton, Michigan. Marv and his wife, Shirley, have 2 married daughters and 5 grandchildren.
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 Pastoral Care Associate and Director of Women in Ministry - Donna Rae Alberta. Donna holds a BA in English Literature from Rutgers-The State University of New Jersey. She has had a wide range of experience in the marketplace and in ministry at both the denominational and local levels. Married to her high school sweetheart and Cornerstone’s Senior Pastor, Donna is the proud mother of four adult sons, has two wonderful daughters-in-love, and seven grandchildren. Her leisure activities include gardening, golfing, and enjoying her growing family.
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 Director of Personnel & Policy - Mr. Andrew Warner has been part of the Cornerstone family since 1998 and has served on Session and been part of the Budget & Finance Committee for a number of years. In 2010, Andy was appointed to the position of Director of Personnel & Policy. Andy serves in this position as a volunteer and brings a wealth of experience from the corporate world, having worked for over 30 years as a Finance Executive at Ford Motor Company. With his managerial skills, Andy assists Pastor Alberta and Carla Chapman in many management areas of Cornerstone. Andy and Mary have two adult sons and 5 grandchildren. |
 Director of Operations - Mrs. Carla Chapman has served on our staff since 1997. Carla brings a wealth of experience and people skills from her past in municipal government, having served as Brighton Township Clerk for over seven years. With her excellent administrative skills, she assists Pastor Alberta in all management areas of the church. Carla's husband, Mark, has served as Elder in the area of Budget and Finance and the Chapman family has been a part of Cornerstone for more than a decade. Carla and Mark have two adult sons and 4 grandchildren. |
 Director of Music & Worship - Dr. Rose Stevens grew up in Iowa and completed her undergraduate work there; then went on to earn her Masters and Doctorate in Organ Performance at the University of Michigan. She joined Cornerstone's staff in 2004 and counts it a privilege to work with the pastoral staff and various choirs and instrumentalists to lift Cornerstone's congregation in heartfelt, joyful praise and worship each week. She and her husband Ken have 3 children. |
Director of Children's Ministries -
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 Director of Student Ministries - Mrs. Sally Jo Friday, served as a volunteer in Children's and Youth ministry at Cornerstone for 15 years before joining our staff officially in fall of 2005. She has a heart for reaching students in their late elementary, middle and high school years with the life-transforming truths of the gospel, and helping them cope with the challenges of life as teenagers. In addition to leading the Highway 56 (fifth & sixth grade) ministry, she provides leadership oversight to our entire Student Ministries program. She and her husband Paul love to teach and bring the Word of God alive to young students and challenge them to begin to grow in their daily relationship with God. They have a daughter and a son.
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Director of Middle School Ministries (7-up) - Mr. Tom Weaver joined our staff in 2011, after serving as a Student Ministry volunteer for 8 years. Tom has worked in the auto industry and has also owned his own business. As a volunteer, Tom came to realize his passion and calling for teens and young adults and decided to sell his business and work with young people full time. Tom is married to Laura and has two sons.
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 Director of Technical Ministries - Mr. Steve Menlen joined our staff in 2006, coming to us from Bang & Olufsen of America, where he was a system designer. Steve started volunteering in sound and audio at his church as a teenager and has been involved in church technology ever since. He has worked in the audio/video field for over 15 years. He has also been part of two church plants where he enjoyed helping build a church from the ground up. He and his wife Krista, whom he met at Cornerstone where she is the Elementary Coordinator in Children's Ministries, live in Howell. |
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Mrs. Linda Craddock is our Front Desk Receptionist and also serves as the Church Calendar coordinator, keeping our numerous church events and room requests in order. Linda's gentle spirit, warmth and genuine love for people are real assets, as she is the "face & voice" of Cornerstone to those who call or visit the front desk.
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Mr. Todd Davis has the distinction of being our first Facilities Maintenance team member, having come on staff in 1993. In helping to care for our constantly expanding facilities and the large number of events occurring here, Todd continues to do a conscientious job.
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Mrs. Anne Gilmore joined the Cornerstone team in 2001. Anne currently serves as Webmaster, works with Communication, and oversees the Welcome Ministry. Anne and her husband Jim have three adult sons.
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Mrs. Pam Hill is our "dedicated" Accountant, commuting daily from Ypsilanti, MI. Formerly living in Ohio and California, Pam has worked as an accountant with non-profit agencies for more than 15 years. She has three adult sons.
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Mrs. Patty Johnson serves as assistant in the Worship and Music Ministry. Patty has a life-long love of music, studying it in college and playing the clarinet with both Cornerstone's orchestra and the Livingston County Concert Band. Before joining the church staff, Patty served the church as a Deacon and also taught Sunday School. She and her husband Steve have a son and a daughter.
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Mrs. Connie Knauss served as a volunteer in a variety of areas at CEPC and Cornerstone Christian School for a number of years and she joined our staff in 2010. Connie serves as our Children's Ministries Assistant to Bonny Linder, working to support the children's teachers and leaders as they facilitate the many classes and activities we have here at Cornerstone. She and her husband, John, came to Cornerstone from Ward EPC 11 years ago. They have 2 teen-aged sons.
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Ms. Mary Kruger joined the staff as the Assistant to Pastor Richard Alberta in the summer of 2012, after serving as a volunteer in the church office for three years. She retired in 2011 from the University of Michigan, after 32 years in administrative management roles. Mary is a widow with two adult children and two grandchildren.
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Mrs. Dawn Krumm is our Bookkeeper, working in Accounts Payable. Dawn has returned to the Accounting Department after taking six years off as a stay-at-home mom. With a strong background in accounting and bookkeeping, she brings her organized mind to the stewardship and care of Cornerstone's finances. Dawn and her husband, Matt, have 3 young sons.
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Mrs. Karen Leaf, Assistant to Pastor Brian Tweedie, has served on staff for many years, using her administrative skills in a variety of positions. As Pastor Tweedie's assistant and Caring Ministries facilitator for our entire ministry team, Karen serves those in need throughout our congregation. She and her husband Ted have two young adult sons.
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Mrs. Kim Patawaran is our Early Childhood Coordinator, working in concert with Director Bonny Linder. Kim's warmth and enthusiasm are a blessing to the staff and the young ones she helps nurture through her behind-the-scenes efforts and Sunday morning service. She and her husband, Ernan, have four children.
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Mrs. Barb Peltz, Elementary Coordinator, works with Director Bonny Linder and oversees the classes for Kindergarten-4th grades on Sunday mornings. Barb has served in various roles in the children's department since she and her husband joined the church in 1997. She has served as a Kids Church coach, written curriculum for Vacation Bible School as well as taught our middle schoolers. Barb, and her husband Matt, have two teenage children.
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Mrs. Bonnie Prince came to us in 2004 as a Receptionist and Administrative Support. Bonnie and her husband Mark have worshiped at Cornerstone since it's earliest days at Maltby Middle School. The Princes have four adult children.
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Mrs. Kathy Piatek serves as Assistant to Pastor Tim Brown and support for Women's Ministry. A warm and caring woman with a natural friendliness, Kathy also coordinates works with Pastor Tim and the class leaders in Adult Discipleship. She has one adult daughter.
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Mrs. Christina Russell joined our staff in 2010 and is Administrative Assistant to Missions, working with Pastor Scott Larson. She and her husband, Elder Rob Russell, have a heart for missions and are actively involved in our mission work in Haiti. They have served at Cornerstone in various areas since they came here in 1994. They have one son and two daughters.
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Mrs. Kim Traud, as Assistant to Student Ministries, helps the youth leadership team keep their many lessons, events, small groups and activities in order and running smoothly. Kim has faithfully served at the church as both a volunteer and as staff for many years, having worked in Children's Ministries and Communications. Married to Kevin, Kim has two sons.
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Mrs. Judy Van Hecke serves as our Wedding Coordinator, helping the bride and groom coordinate all aspects (flowers, photography, special music, attendants, and ceremony rehearsal) as they prepare for their wedding day. Judy and her husband George have worshiped and served in many ways here at the church for years, most recently on the leadership team of Crossroads Adult Bible Community and working at the Welcome Center on Sunday mornings.
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Mrs. Vickie Vihinen brings a special woman's touch to her position as Facilities Maintenance team member. An ardent prayer warrior and mother of five children (two now home safe with the Lord), Vickie blesses us all with her words of encouragement and faith. She also works with our Caring Ministries team coordinating funeral luncheons. She and her husband Jim have three adult children and one grandson.
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Mrs. Sue Walker is the Administrative Assistant of Missionary Care Groups assisting the Missions Committee in interacting with our supported missionaries. She and her husband, Elder Jim Walker, have worshiped and served at Cornerstone since 1986. They have two adult daughters.
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Ms. Stephanie Washburn joined our staff as an Administrative Assistant and Receptionist in 2012 and has since become our Membership Coordinator, as well. She is a student at Baker College and the mother of a young son. Stephanie has a passion for working for the advancement of God's Kingdom and considers it an insurmountable blessing to be working here at Cornerstone.
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Mrs. Amy Williams assists with Worship & Music and Technical Ministries. Before joining Cornerstone’s staff she volunteered in the Music department for over 5 years, offering vocal assistance and heading up a worship team. She and her husband Kevin have four children and three grandchildren.
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