Church Staff
Christine Chambers is First Congregational Church's Children's Ministry Director. She has an extensive background in Christian service, having been a Sunday School teacher, Church School Superintendent, and a fill-in preacher and worship leader. She earned her B.S. in Sociology from Emporia State University, and currently works as a Children's Case Manager for the Mental Health Center of East Central Kansas. She also has three years of ministerial training in the African Methodist Episcopal denomination.
Rick Carl is the Youth Director at First Congregational Church. He is married to Kay, and they have four children. Rick also teaches Social Studies at Emporia High School. His journey as a Christian began when he accepted Jesus Christ as his savior in 1976. From 1978 to 1984 he was on staff with the Fellowship of Christian Athletes. He came to Emporia in 1989 to teach at Emporia High School, where he helped start a school FCA chapter.
Sondra Burden is the Choir Director for First Congregational Church. She possesses a Bachelor of Arts of Music from Northeastern Oklahoma State University in Tahlequah, Oklahoma and a Masters in Music from Wichita State University in Wichita, Kansas. Ms. Burden was also a Graduate Assistant Music Instructor with Emporia State University for two years. Ms. Burden is also the Director of Sondra Burden School of Performing Arts.
Cheryl Doty is the Administrative Assistant at First Congregational Church. She has lived in Emporia for the last 29 years with her husband Don, who is a railroad conductor. Together they have two grown children: Sam, who is a graphic design artist in Kansas City; and Jenni, who has a Marketing degree from Emporia State and presently resides in Friscoe, Texas. In her spare time Cheryl enjoys reading, gardening, and being around her animals – which include dogs, cats and horses. She also sings in a local praise band called “Solid Rock” – and is on staff at First United Methodist Church with their music ministry.
John Madrigal is First Congregational Church’s Custodian. He is a lifelong Emporian, having grown up in town. In his spare time he likes to follow the Kansas City Royals and Chiefs, and the Kansas Jayhawks. He also enjoys playing pool and watching fast-pitch softball. When John was young he was an ornery kid, and earned the nickname of “Eddie Haskell”. But he has grown up to become an extremely reliable worker for our family of Christians. In his 4 ½ years with First Congregational Church he has never once called in sick.
Shane Galentine is the Pianist/Organist for all of the morning worship services at First Congregational Church. Shane grew up in Cheney, Kansas and started playing piano at the age of six. He went to college at the University of Kansas and earned a Master’s degree in History, but upon moving to Emporia several years ago he felt the need for a change in direction. He began to study music at Emporia State, and is now just 7 hours short of another Master’s degree in Music Performance. He began a private piano studio in town and currently has 24 students that he is training. He also recently earned a superior rating at the Mid-American Music Association Festival.