Staff

Rev. Kevin Sullivan, Pastor

Pastor Kevin was born and raised in the Pacific Northwest. After graduating from Lake Washington Senior High in Kirkland, Washington, he attended Western Washington University in Bellingham, where he received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Special Education. He took a job as a teacher in Ketchikan, Alaska, and worked in that school district for nearly 23 years, first as a Special Education teacher and later as an Art and Drama teacher in the Middle School.

Having been blessed with sincere Christian parents, Pastor Kevin was nurtured at a Presbyterian church, surrounded by numerous loving youth leaders, and given ample opportunities to explore his faith in Christ at church camps, retreats, and various youth gatherings. His passion for sharing God’s love with others stems from those early experiences. It was molded by his work as a staff member at a Buck Creek Presbyterian Camp near Mt. Rainier and years of serving as a volunteer leader with Young Life programs.

In Ketchikan, Alaska, he attended First Lutheran Church for nearly twenty years. It was there that his theology was challenged and subtly transformed as he found himself drawn to the message of God’s amazing and unconditional grace.

Pastor Kevin met his wife, Julie, while teaching in Alaska. In 2006 Kevin and Julie accepted an early retirement incentive and moved to Columbus, Ohio, where he attended Trinity Lutheran Seminary. During his course of study, Pastor Kevin served an internship at Zion Lutheran in Utica, NY. He graduated with a Master of Divinity degree in the spring of 2010 and was called to Faith Lutheran in December of that year.

Leslie Karsten, Administrative Assistant

A stay-at-home mom for eighteen years, I had the joy of homeschooling our two kids, who are now both in college. My husband and I love small-scale farming and gardening. We raise chickens for eggs (eighteen chickens). We also have one duck and three small dogs.

In the past, I wrote two devotional books. I know what a gift it is to work at Faith Lutheran Church. That my faith can be a central part of my work life is an incredible opportunity that many don’t receive. That faith bond and the mission of Jesus Christ are rooted in the staff here, and it helps keep us productive while also having fun.

Jess Luiz, Praise Band Vocalist

Jess Luiz, vocalist with Faith Lutheran’s Praise Band since 2015, took on the leadership role of Music and Worship Coordinator in 2022. She is a graduate of Northern Michigan University, with a bachelor’s degree in Theatre and Sociology.

In addition to her work at Faith, Jess is a theater teaching artist, performer, and costume designer for many local community and college programs. She enjoys getting to share her time at Faith with her husband and two daughters.

Gene Gibson, Custodian

Gene began work at Faith in 2010. He retired from Steelcase in 2009 after working there for 24 years. He grew up in Baldwin and now lives in Rockford with his wife, Pam. Gene and Pam have one son who also lives in Rockford. Gene enjoys car shows, where he proudly shows off his 1973 Mustang Mach 1.

Matt Paniwozik, Office Manager

Matt graduated from the Kent intermediate School District’s Empower U program in 2005. He began volunteering at Faith soon after. Among his duties, he is responsible for preparing the worship bulletins on Thursday morning each week for both the 8:30 am Traditional worship service and the 10 am Casual service, stuffing inserts as needed. He is a friendly and valuable asset to the Faith office staff. He also volunteers at Northfield Lanes on Plainfield Avenue on Monday and Friday. Matt is from Ludington and now lives in Grand Rapids.