The First Presbyterian Church of Berkshire Valley
635 Berkshire Valley Road
Wharton, NJ 07885
Tel: 973-366-8440
Worship is on Sunday mornings at 9:30 am.
The Friendly Church on the Hill
All are welcome!
OUR PASTOR
Rev. Dr. Kenneth Ngwa is a Professor of Hebrew Bible at Drew Theological School in Madison New Jersey (USA). Rev. Ngwa was born and grew up in the country of Cameroon, where he was also ordained. He holds a Masters of Divinity (1995) from the Faculty of Protestant Theology in Cameroon, a Theological Masters (2000), and
a Ph.D. (2005) from Princeton Theological Seminary. Before joining Drew's faculty in 2007, he taught at Pacific Lutheran University in Tacoma, Washington, and at Wabash College in Crawfordsville, Indiana.
He served as the convener of the Center for Christianities in Global Contexts (CCGC) at Drew Theological School (2010-2013), led students on cross-cultural trips to Ghana and South Africa, and published several academic papers, blogs, and podcasts on the Bible, education, global health; etc. Ken holds multiple leadership positions across various organizations. He sits on the board of the Global Health Catalysts organization, founded and directs the Religion and Global Health Forum at Drew (www.drew.edu/rghf), and is the founder of the "Never Stop Breathing" organization (www.neverstopbreathing.org). NSB works at the intersection of racial, social, and health justice.
Ken lives in Montgomery, New Jersey, with his wife and their two sons.
Sharon Bates is our Clerk of Session and church secretary and keeps everyone well organized and up to date with all that we're to be doing and knowing. Particularly appreciated are her kind reminders. Sharon has been a member for many years and is the eyes and ears of our local and greater community. With her husband Robert, they raised their three children in the church. The welfare of BVPC has always been a high priority for Sharon who knows the church as a family and cares for it as such. She can usually be found doing something for anyone who needs her help.
Gerry Bates is a life long member of BVPC and is the property caretaker and cemetery superintendent. He can be found most days at the church for at least part of the day taking care of some need on our 19 acre groundss. All of which he takes care of nearly single handedly. We'd be lost without him! He is married to Lee.
Pamela Haryn is our church treasurer. With a long career in finance, she sees to it that the church finances are well cared for so that The First Presbyterian Church of Berkshire Valley's finances are an example of good financial stewardship.
Roz Lynch is our church organist and music director and does an amazing job at directing our thoughts toward God with her musical talent, and has for over a dozen years. Yet more than that, Roz is a big part of what holds BVPC together, she's constantly sharing not just the beauty of her music, but truly cares about the well being of our church family that we all are together. She's married to Brian who is also an amazing musician in his own right and is generous enough to share his talents with us sometimes too.
