Elizabeth Brookens-Sturman
Founding Pastor of Brambleton Presbyterian Church—My passion is leading a church that believes in Jesus Christ, offers grace, catalyzes change and seeks justice.
Elizabeth, her husband John and their two daughters live in Brambleton, VA. Elizabeth was ordained as a pastor in 1996. She has served churches in Berkeley, CA and Bethlehem, PA and has also filled a variety of other ministry roles here in the United States and overseas.
Jessamyn Turicchi
After college and throughout my 20s I drifted away from religion. It wasn’t until 2007 when I was pregnant with our daughter that I began to feel a desire to reconnect with God. I began “church shopping” and visited several churches in the area. When I walked through the doors of Brambleton Presbyterian Church (BPC) with my daughter Ava, just a few months old, I genuinely felt welcomed and that they cared we were there. I eased into regular attendance and it wasn’t until Ava was a little older and she started asking to go to Sunday School every single Sunday that I knew BPC was becoming our church family.
From there, it was all a very natural progression. I began engaging in Church activities by teaching Children’s Church and Sunday School, joining the Set-Up Team, and attending small groups and women’s retreats. There was never a sense of obligation but instead a desire to serve. It was from these acts of service that I connected with others in the church and developed genuine friendships.
As the Outreach Elder of BPC, I seek to organize family friendly events that serve the “Least of These” while serving to bring the community together. My hope is that each event is an opportunity to grow stronger in your faith and closer to God. Knowing that we are all in different places in our faith, BPC is a welcoming and inspiring place to reconnect with God!
Raphael Mbali
Elder
Born in Cameroon, I am the last of seven children. I moved to the US 23 years ago. Within those years, I got married to by wife Mabel and settled in Owings Mills, MD where we raised our family. In September 2015, my family relocated to Brambleton from Owings Mills, MD and spent the first 3 months looking for a church home, "a good bible based church".
Upon moving to Brambleton, VA, our No. 1 priority was to find a good bible based church and in our desire to have our home blessed, God lead us to Brambleton Presbyterian Church through Pastor Elizabeth Brookens-Sturman. After our first worship at BPC, we knew God had placed us into the hands of a wonderful and loving church family.
Over the years, I have witnessed Gods miraculous power and how infectious the light of Gods love is. I am a follower of Christ and I have faith in his promise to be by my side always. As I grow spiritual, it is my desire to inspire other followers of Christ through the Grow Groups ministry. in their spiritual growth.
Chris Liakos
Small Groups Elder
Pamm Fontana
Brambleton Presbyterian Church is excited to introduce Interim Director, Pamm Fontana. Pamm primarily focuses on our Family Ministries (K-5th grade) although don’t be surprised if you see her behind the pulpit preaching! Pamm has served the last several years at Annandale Calvary Church as the Pastor of Administration and Discipleship. Prior to this role, she was the Director of Children’s Worship at Fairfax Community Church and also volunteered as a teaching pastor. She is currently completing her Master’s degree at Fuller Theological Seminary and we are blessed to have this opportunity to work more closely with Pamm!
We love Pamm’s fresh perspectives and pursuit of creative ways to continue sharing God’s love while keeping our faith community connected.
Lewis Grof-Tisza
Youth Elder
My wife Edit and I first started coming to BPC over 10 years ago. My wife Edit, is part of the worship band, as music is her passion and I serve as the elder for the Media Team (yes I’m and IT geek, that’s my passion). I met my wife while I was an exchange student at a famous Christian High School in Hungary that used to be the capital for Hungary. While many of you know me as Lewis, my first name is really Lajos.
Our goal is to ensure church members have the opportunity to see and hear the message that is being relayed by both the Worship Band and Pastor Elizabeth through Media that is presented.
Rich Wardell
Youth Elder
I have lived in Brambleton with my wife Andrea, and children Mady (16) and Bradley (14) since 2009. We have been attending BPC for most of that time.
We have made lasting friendships, and are continually learning to be disciples of Christ. Most Sunday's you can find me setting up our worship space, sitting behind the computer running the media presentation, or with our youth group.
My hope is that BPC is a vibrant inspiring church that attracts and helps all people in our community.
Loretta White
Elder of the Hospitality/Outreach Team
Loretta, her husband and 3 children have lived in Brambleton since 2004. When she first moved here, her first goal was to find a church where she and her family could worship. In 2005, the church found her! When Pastor Elizabeth Brookens-Sturman moved onto her street and told Loretta that she was establishing a church in Brambleton, Loretta immediately signed on to help. Since then, she has been privileged to witness many of her neighbor’s and friend’s lives transformed after placing their faith in the risen Lord Jesus.
As Elder of the Hospitality/Outreach Team, Loretta loves to welcome members and guests into the church each Sunday. In addition, she likes to spread the message that God loves every person on Earth. One of her favorite bible verses is Micah 6:8: “What does the Lord require of you? To act justly, to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.”
Jim Waddell
Helps Elder
My wife and I both grow up in Northern Virginia and moved to Brambleton in 2003. Since moving to Brambleton, we have witnessed explosive growth in this area, been blessed in the growth of our family with two beautiful daughters and have experienced a wonderful growth in our faith with Brambleton Presbyterian Church (BPC).
Like many, we did not regularly attend Church services and over the first several years visited a variety of churches looking for the one that best fit us.
As time passed and our family grew, we felt more and more that the Lord was calling me to make a decision and commit ourselves and our family to a church where our faith could grow and our daughters could start the most important relationships in their lives, their relationship with God.
BPC was always where our family felt the most welcome and the most connected with God. We were always greeted by warm similes and a friendly church community. The worship band always set a grace filled atmosphere and the biblically rooted sermons always seemed to speak directly to our circumstances.
BPC has been a blessing to our family and I am incredibly honored to have been given the opportunity by God and this church community to serve as an Elder.
Pete Manternach
Sound Engineer
Virginia Orr
Small Groups Elder
Dave Pavlik
Worship Leader (Interim)
Music has always been a passion of mine. I’m blessed to have the opportunity to lead our Worship Team on Sunday mornings and share our love of God through moving songs, thought-provoking words and joyful noise.
Out goal is to provide a meaningful and unique connection between each person and God in a way that moves, inspires and energizes!