God has blessed my family with two wonderful congregations since 1991.  I served in Lewiston, Idaho prior to my 2005 arrival in GJ.  I grew up in Southern Cal and went to seminary in Princeton, NJ.  Of all the places I've lived, Colorado is beyond comparison - providing endless beauty and adventure.  Shelly and I met on summer staff at Forest Home (a Christian camp in the mountains of So Cal) and have been married since 1989.  Our four kids are married and we are enjoying the gift of grandchildren as well.  When our youngest son went off to college we became foster parents from 2018-2020. We currently provide respite care for foster families.  We love to hike, dabble in home improvement projects, read, play card & board games, and hang out with family and friends.  As a pastor, I love to come alongside people (wherever they are in their faith journey), provide a place for safe and honest conversations, and help them connect deeply with God, others, needed resources, and themselves.  I have learned much since 2015 (along with many in our church family) about what it means to practice a more emotionally healthy spirituality, and imagine that will continue for years to come.

My husband, John, and I were married in 1983. We began attending First Pres in 1997. In 2005, I accepted a part-time assignment as the Director of Children’s Ministry.  In the years following that initial assignment, my position and responsibilities have grown and I am now the Executive Director of Church-wide and Children’s Ministries. John and I raised two children at First Pres. We know the exhilaration and exhaustion of raising children.  We know that children need spiritual nurture both at home and in the midst of a loving church family. I love the time I spend with children, as they learn to love and follow Jesus.  I love the time I spend with their parents and families. Learning and growing in faith together is always an amazing adventure!

I grew up in Grand Junction, then moved away for about six years during college and after. I am married to my high school sweetheart and we have three children. My husband and I own and operate a couple of businesses in the community. We have been attending First Pres since 2008. I have always loved working with youth and youth ministry was an important part of my teens. I began volunteering with the youth at First Pres several years ago and then began working as the interim Director of Student Ministries in March 2021. I accepted the position in January 2022. You can find our family on sports fields and courts for soccer, basketball, and football.

I am a Grand Junction native.  I have led or been a part of a few different worship teams around the valley.  I enjoy writing music and being involved in theatre.  I have written many plays for children and wrote and directed A Christmas Carol: A Musical that was presented in December of 2019.  When not performing or directing, I spend time with my wife and two children.

We moved to the Grand Valley in 2006 and soon became part of the First Pres family. In 2010, I started working part-time on staff as the Financial Manager.

Hi! I’m Tom Verdieck, (a.k.a. Tommy) and I am the church custodian/groundskeeper. I was born and raised in Glenwood Springs, CO. before later moving to Grand Junction. I have been a member of 1^st Pres since 1978, back when the church was still located on 6^th and White. I met my wife, Sherry, at this church and we’ve been happily married for 52 years. We also have a son, daughter, 4 grandchildren and 4 great-grandchildren. Before working at the church, I served in the Navy for 7.5 years and worked in the maintenance department of School District 51 for 30 years until I ultimately retired. Within the church, I served as an elder twice. I have held my position as custodian/groundskeeper since 2016. 

I'm Emily Grady, I am the Mission and Outreach Assistant. I grew up a Pastor's kid at a Presbyterian church in Colorado Springs. For 9 years I served Active Duty in the U.S. Navy and still serve Reserves today. My husband of 5 years, Dylan, and I relocated to Grand Junction in January of 2026 from Virginia Beach. We immediately found a home here at First Presbyterian Church. The opportunity to work here was an answer from God to the question "How can I serve you?" My husband and I are so blessed and can't wait to see what God has in store for us.