New Members

Elizabeth Altergott

PLACES LIVED: Grew up in Schaumburg

FAMILY: Single mom to Maverick (involved in STARS) and Mackenzie (involved in Kids’ Harbor).

PASTTIMES: Volunteers with DuPage County PADS and serves on local boards. Volunteers at her daughter’s school.

Ryan & Jacki Berg

PLACES LIVED: Ryan grew up in Wheaton and has attended College Church all his life. Jackie grew up in Indiana with her parents and younger brother before attending Wheaton College.

FAMILY: Ryan and Jacki are newlyweds! Ryan is the middle son of Mark and Cheryce Berg and a grandson of Stann and Gloria Leff.

9 TO 5: Ryan works in the bond industry in Chicago. He also was a custodian at College Church, swim instructor, dogsitter, lawn mower and shoe shiner. Jacki is a recent graduate of Wheaton College and joined the staff of College Church as a ministry associate in missions as well as KMs.

PASTTIMES: They enjoy walks, ice skating, being out on the water, and travel. Besides spending time together, Jacki’s favorite place is Charlevoix, Michigan, doing any kind of outdoor activity on or near the water.

CHURCH INVOLVEMENT: HYACKs, College Group.

Janet Blomberg

PLACES LIVED: Grew up in the Chicago area and attended Wheaton College. Has lived in Saudi Arabia, Taiwan and Hong Kong.

9 TO 5: Cares for her mother, who is now widowed. She also provides weekly respite care for a STARS family, helps provide care and support for College Church missionaries.

PASTTIMES: Enjoys word games, music and travel, and is a lifelong Cubs fan.

CHURCH INVOLVEMENT: STARS and missions.

Shaun and Beate Carlson

PLACES LIVED: Shaun grew up in Illinois. Beate grew up in Germany.

FAMILY: Shaun and Beate met while he was in Germany visiting a friend. They married and have lived in the States for most of their married life. They have four young girls. Beate’s parents and two siblings still live in Germany.

9 TO 5: Shaun is the VP/BGM of a hygienic equipment manufacturing business, which has been instrumental in supplying equipment used in the manufacturing of COVID-19 vaccines. Beate is a homemaker, and previously worked as an accountant.

PASTTIMES: Shaun enjoys playing sports, teaching at church in Kids’ Harbor and coaching their kids’ sports. Beate likes to be active outside and enjoys baking and photography.

CHURCH INVOLVEMENT: Kids’ Harbor, Women’s Bible Study

Kevin Cox

FAMILY: Kevin is currently involved at First Baptist Church of Atibaia in Sao Paulo, Brazil, where he serves as a College Church mid-term missionary. He is part of our Missionary Preparation Program and is an associate member with College Church. He grew up in Brazil and traveled to the U.S. when his parents would come here on furlough. He attended Liberty University in Virginia.

FAMILY: Kevin is a son of College Church missionaries Steve and Mirian Cox, who serve with Word of Life in Brazil.

9 TO 5: Kevin works as a camp coordinator and maintenance coordinator.

PASTTIMES: Enjoys playing board games, reading, sports and projects.

Hannah Flanigan

PLACES LIVED: Grew up in southern Maine with two younger sisters and her parents.

FAMILY: Hannah is the granddaughter of Ken and Better Flanigan, the greatgreat niece of the late Ruth Muzzy and the great niece of both Sue Teiwes and Kerry and Carol Pfund.

9 TO 5: Hannah just graduated from Wheaton College. She is currently teaching private violin lessons and growing a small studio here in Wheaton.

PASTTIMES: Enjoys good conversations, spending time with others, running, being outdoors and spending time with family.

CHURCH INVOLVEMENT: Plays violin in services, College Group and HYACKs.

Phil & Maggie Girgis

PLACES LIVED: Phil was born in Cairo, Egypt, and his family moved to the States when he was seven years old. Phil and Maggie live in Western Springs.

FAMILY: They have five young adult children and are in the process of adopting 12-year-old twins.

9 TO 5: Phil is a dentist in LaGrange, and Maggie is busy with kids and grandbabies.

PASTTIMES: Phil enjoys traveling, boating and following the Chicago Cubs. Maggie stays busy but always enjoys quite time with a good book.

CHURCH INVOLVEMENT: Small group and hospitality where needed.

Lenny & Amy Johncola

PLACES LIVED: Amy grew up in the Chicago area.

FAMILY: They traveled to Russia to adopt their daughter, Anya, when she was two and a half years old.

9 TO 5: Lenny is a fire alarm technician. Amy has been a physical therapist in public schools for 29 years.

PASTTIMES: Amy enjoys reading, traveling, gardening, taking walks and good conversations.

CHURCH INVOLVEMENT: Women’s Bible Study, STARS.

Fred Miller

PLACES LIVED: Fred grew up in Royal Oak, Michigan.

FAMILY: Fred lost his lovely wife, Carol, earlier this year after 65 years of marriage.

9 TO 5: Fred had a career in journalism. For more than 25 years, Fred and his wife taught Christian seminars in prisons throughout Illinois and taught Bible studies on Sunday nights in the DuPage County Jail. Fred wrote, edited and published a Christian newsletter that was mailed to about 900 prison inmates.

CHURCH INVOLVEMENT: Men’s ministries.