OUR STAFF
OUR PASTOR
Pastor Kendall Everett grew up in Haledon, NJ. Kendall met his wife, Amy at William Paterson University in the InterVarsity Christian Fellowship while pursuing his undergraduate degree in Sociology. He went on to receive his Master of Divinity from Calvin Theological Seminary in Grand Rapids, MI. Following seminary, Kendall spent two years partnering with InterVarsity as a Christian Reformed campus pastor back at WPU. Kendall loves spending time with his wife and their two daughters and son, canoeing, fishing, and playing various sports. Kendall began serving our church in September of 2019.
OUR WORSHIP COORDINATOR
Karisa Talen was raised in the Sussex Christian Reformed Church community and was actively involved in their youth programs and choir. She then attended Dordt College where she met her husband, Emil, and pursued a degree in education while singing in several collegiate choirs, playing in a community band, and serving in various ways throughout the college community. The Talens taught in Southern California before relocating back to Northern New Jersey in the summer of 2016.
Apart from a love for worshiping God with music, Karisa enjoys being a mother to her three young sons, gardening, hiking, and spending time with family both near and far.
Email: karisa@sussexcrc.org
OUR ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT
Rachael Klein has been the administrative assistant since late 2015. She attended Sussex County Community College and graduated from Fairleigh Dickinson University in Teaneck, NJ with a B.A. in Arts Management.
Email: rachael@sussexcrc.org
OUR TEAMS
COUNCIL
Sussex CRC is led by a group of seven elders and six deacons, who are selected by the congregation to serve three-year terms. The current chair of council is Rich Sytsema and the current chair of deacons is Mark Kuperus.
VISION TEAMS
Sussex CRC has ministry or vision teams that help carry out the mission of our church. These teams include Discipleship, Hospitality, Next Gen., Operations, Outreach, and Worship.
DISCIPLESHIP
The Discipleship Team focuses on adult ministries which help individuals continually mature and develop in their faith and walk with Christ.
HOSPITALITY
The focus of the Hospitality Team is to create pathways for people to become more connected with their faith family which will help people grow in deeper faith and relationship with Christ.
NEXT GEN
The focus of Next Gen (short for Next Generation) is on children and youth. This includes children's programs and ministries such as Nursery, Sunday School, and more.
OPERATIONS
Operations supports the success of other ministries by helping to align directors - clearing a path and providing tools to achieve goals so they can focus their talents on the important work they do.
OUTREACH
The Outreach Team seeks to develop opportunities to make meaningful connections of friendship and service with our neighbors near and far. We also seek to encourage and equip all members of our congregation to share their faith with friends and neighbors.
WORSHIP
The Worship Ministry Team strives to nurture vibrant personal relationships between both seeking and mature believers and their Christ through heartfelt prayer and meaningful worship. We also seek to inspire and instill passions and practices that lead our congregation into a life of deep worship that begins Sunday morning and extends throughout the entire week of work and worship.