First Christian Church
Disciples of Christ
Samuel Sonnenberg
Sam is currently serving as Chair of the Elders. In the past he has served on the Stewardship, Property, and Worship committees, as well as the committee that handled the sale of our Iris Drive property. Sam has also served as Chair of the Board.
Sam has been in the insurance business for over 40 years, specializing in Crop Insurance. Civically he has served on the Chamber of Commerce Board as a director, on Logan County Economic Development, and Sterling Urban Renewal Authority for many years.
Julie Sonnenberg
Julie was born and raised in First Christian Church. Presently she serves as Chair of the Worship committee and as President of Christian Women’s Fellowship (CWF). Julie has also served on Education, Outreach, and Evangelism Committees in the past; and taught Sunday School for over 25 years. She loves the people in this congregation and her shepherd group!
She is a retired church secretary, and very involved in the community as a 30 year 4-H Leader, and active on first the NJC Alumni Board, then the NJC Foundation. Julie spent many years fundraising for the foundation. Now she is enjoying following her grandkids activities and loves to garden and ride horses!
Mark Pelton
Mark Pelton was born and raised in Cheyenne Wells, Colorado, the second of thirteen children. He and his wife, Linda, have three children. Their oldest son retired from the U.S. Navy and lives in San Diego, California. Their youngest son works for the U.S. State Department at an embassy overseas, and their daughter is a nursing instructor for NJC.
After retiring in 2017 following 23 years as a Technology Administrator for a school district, Mark and Linda moved to Sterling, where she is originally from. Sterling is also where their daughter and grandchildren live. Mark is a member of the First Christian Church, the Historical Society, and the Optimist Club of Fort Morgan, and has delivered meals for Meals on Wheels since 2018. He enjoys playing cards, traveling, and working in the yard.
Bill McReynolds
Bill was born in Oklahoma in 1950 and was raised in 'the DOC church, in which his father was a minister. He achieved the rank of Eagle Scout and went back to Oklahoma to attend college and seminary at Phillips University but did not finish. He and his wife and they had three children. They now have three grandchildren, as well. His career was in law enforcement in the US Army where he spent 22 years. He also completed his bachelor of Religion degree while in the Army.
After retiring from the army he served in the DOC church as a deacon, elder, board chair, Sunday school teacher for the developmentally disabled, youth leader and camp counselor. They moved from Kansas to Colorado in 2023 and have been members of FCC Sterling ever since. Bill is currently an elder in the church and has also served as a member of the search committee.
Bill has slowed down in Colorado but still enjoys shooting sports and the Tuesday morning Men's Bible study.
Sandy Van Dusen
Sandy transferred by membership to First Christian Church when she was asked to be a deacon in the early 90s. She has served various positions since that time. Sandy has served on the Board as secretary for a number of years and as treasurer
for 1 year. Sandy now serves as an elder and is a trustee.
Lynn Lovell
Lynn Lovell and his wife, Sue, have been members of the church for over thirty years. They raised their children in the church and have had many wonderful family experiences there. Sue has led the music, and Lynn has served as an elder for many years. Sue is retired and volunteers at the animal shelter. Lynn works for NRCS-USDA as an agricultural engineer.
Nena Russell
Nena Russell is an elder of the church, works with the youth of the church, active in Christian Women’s Fellowship, and leads a weekly Bible Study. She is married to Gene Russell who is currently the congregational President. Nena is a graduate of the University of Wyoming with a Bachelor’s in Education. She has taught school in various capacities including teacher of elementary and preschool aged children, and has been trained as a Reading Interventionist and Literacy Coach. Presently, Nena and Gene are enjoying their roles as parents to 4 married children and grandparents to 14 grandchildren! Nena and Gene have been members of the church for as long as they’ve lived in Sterling—31 years!
Gene Russell
Gene Russell is an elder and currently the congregational President. He also serves as one of three trustees of the church and heads up the Tuesday morning Men’s Fellowship. He is retired having worked 27 years as an agricultural/commercial loan officer and 14 years with the Department of Corrections. A graduate of the University of Wyoming, where he met his wife, Nena, they have lived in Casper, Gillette, Cheyenne, WY, Gering, NE before settling in Sterling, CO the past 30 years. They have been members of this church since arriving in Sterling. He is a 40+ year member of the Gideons International. He and Nena have four married children and 14 grandchildren.
