“THEREFOREGOANDMAKEDICIPLESOFALLNATIONS. BAPTIZINGTHEMINTHENAMEOFTHEFATHERANDOFTHESONANDOF THEHOLYSPIRIT. ANDTEACHINGTHEMTOOBEYEVERYTHINGIHAVECOMMANDEDYOU. ANDSURELYIAMWITHYOUALWAYS,TOTHEVERYENDOFTHEAGE.”
Matthew 28:19-20
October 2025
WELCOME NEWMEMBERS
In Jesus Christ, God calls people to faith and to membership in the Church, the body of Christ. The baptism (or reaffirmation of baptism) of those who enter the covenant of membership upon their own profession of faith in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior witnesses to the truth that God’s gift of grace calls forth a response of faithfulness. (Book of Order, G-1.0301)
Today we are welcoming these 24 new members and their families through:
Public profession of faith
Certificate of transfer
Reaffirmation of faith
They were formally received into membership by vote of our Session on September 21, 2025 during a called meeting.
We praise and thank God for choosing to add to the body of Christ gathered as Vienna Presbyterian Church!
Kristine Ahn is a public sector professional in Fairfax County, Virginia, originally from South Korea. She immigrated as a child and graduated from Georgetown University. Her career spans roles at BAE Systems and government service, alongside significant volunteer work with the Smithsonian Institution and elder care programs. Currently, she works part-time as a Language Access Coordinator and is pursuing a Multidisciplinary Language Global Master’s degree at Seoul National University, set to complete in early 2026. Kristine is actively involved in her faith community, previously serving in bilingual youth ministry and choir at the Korean Presbyterian Church, and now at VPC.
Wendy Chlan is very grateful to officially become a member of VPC. Wendy, her husband Kevin, and their three children were initially drawn to VPC by the lovely classical music played by talented musicians, and have stayed because of the welcoming community that radiates the love of Christ. Wendy has a background in psychology and has spent time working with refugees and other immigrants in recent years. She is hoping to put these skills to good use through the various ministries here at VPC. Some of her favorite Bible verses are within Psalm 139.
Sara Croom is joining Vienna Presbyterian Church by Reaffirmation of faith. Her decision is rooted in deep gratitude for God's grace, a strong sense of belonging within the church community, and the thoughtful, Christ-centered approach of VPC's children's ministry. Sara is a proud mama of 8-yearold twin boys, Jackson and Brayden, and is continually inspired by the promise of Jeremiah 29:11, her favorite verse: "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." She affirms that God's good grace always abounds.
Bill Harris was born in Asheville, North Carolina, and proudly served over 20 years in the U.S. Navy. The first in his family to graduate from college, he earned a bachelor’s degree in Philosophy from the University of North Carolina and later worked in counter-terrorism and technical writing for the Department of Defense. Family is central to Bill’s life. He raised his niece, Katherine, as his own daughter and now cherishes his granddaughter, Zadie.
Bill enjoys music, westerns (especially Clint Eastwood classics), history, reading, and building model cars and planes. Grateful to join the Vienna Presbyterian Church community, he looks forward to worship, fellowship, and growing in Christ together.
Jen McKee is so excited to be joining VPC. Jen has been looking for a place to grow her and her family's faith and felt VPC was the perfect place. Her parents have been members for several years and every time Jen joined her family, she always left with a sense of warmth and happiness. She is excited to get involved in the church community and would love to help in the nursery and special needs prom. Jen is a family nurse practitioner and has a special place in her heart caring for the geriatric population. Jen and her husband Jarrid welcomed their first son Camden in October of 2024.
Jarrid McKee is excited to be joining VPC. After attending services with his in-laws over the years, he found himself drawn to the church’s genuine warmth and sense of belonging. Now, he’s excited to deepen his own faith journey and get involved in church life. Jarrid looks forward to being involved with mission trips and local community service. He and his wife, Jen, recently welcomed their first child, Camden, in October 2024, and he’s grateful to be raising him in such a supportive, faith-filled environment. Romans 12:9-10 has always been a favorite Bible verse of Jarrid's.
Catherine Morton is delighted to be joining VPC for the Reaffirmation of faith. She comes from a transient background. Her family recently returned to the U.S. after serving in Chiang Mai, Thailand. Her husband is Catholic, and she is happy to find her church home. She teaches biology at Bishop O’Connell Catholic High School. Her favorite Bible verse is from Ruth: “Where you go, I will go. Your people shall be my people.” She looks forward to making VPC “her people.”
Lydia Warshaw is excited to join the VPC community. When first visiting VPC in 2008, she was impressed by the community involvement, togetherness, and traditional music. After moving away from the Vienna area in 2010 for high school and college, Lydia kept thinking about VPC which led her to attend the virtual traditional worship services. Lydia has now chosen to be a member of VPC because of the spiritual environment, friendly people, and thoughtful application of modern technology and trends. By being involved in VPC, Lydia hopes to assist with missionary work, music ministry, and maybe technology support. Lydia grew up in the Vienna area and considers Vienna her home. In terms of career field, Lydia is a systems engineer with a focus on data driven systems. In her spare time, Lydia enjoys playing golf and playing with her Cavalier King Charles Spaniel. Her favorite character from Scripture, would have to be Moses because of his leadership.
David Peno is delighted to be rejoining VPC by Reaffirmation of faith. David was a previous member of VPC as a young adult and participated in mission projects in the mid-1980s. He is looking to learn more about God’s plan for us through Bible reading and study. David hopes to use his passion for youth outreach and skills with photography to assist the church in its mission. His favorite Bible verse is Isaiah 41:10.
Jonathan Peruski is looking forward to joining VPC. He is excited by VPC's emphasis on child and youth ministry and the vibrancy of Sunday worship. He appreciates the focus on local ministry programs especially Belong! and wants to be active in volunteering. Johnathon and his wife, Bonnie, have lived in the DMV for over a decade, both working in technology, and recently welcomed a son into their family. Johnathon's favorite Bible verse is Matthew 5:110 for its exhortation of virtue in lieu of chastisement.
Bonnie Peruski is excited to be joining VPC by Reaffirmation of faith. Bonnie is inspired by the active and vibrant sense of community at VPC, as well as their emphasis on children's ministry. She values being part of a church where people are truly engaged, not just in worship, but in each other's lives and in serving the broader community. She is joining VPC along with her husband, John, and they recently welcomed their son, Connor, into the world. Bonnie is looking forward to connecting with other moms and learning more about volunteer opportunities at VPC. Bonnie's favorite Bible verse is Matthew 6:25.
Meghan Reeves is thankful to be officially joining the VPC family. While volunteering as one of the women's Bible study teachers and helping to coordinate the MomCo group at the church, Meghan has developed meaningful connections with the women of VPC and looks forward to continued growth and fellowship for herself and her family. Meghan will be attending with her husband John and their four children, who are between 6-16 years of age. They are happy to call Vienna their home after 7 years in San Diego and 15 years living overseas. Meghan has been meditating on 1John 4:15-19, seeking to love others well because He first loved us.
Chelsea Redeker is joining VPC to be part of a Christ centered community. Chelsea has been going to service at VPC for three years and has been very impressed with the amount of youth events and programs offered at VPC. Chelsea grew up going to Sunday school and is looking forward to watching her 5-year-old son, Connor, and her 4-year-old daughter, Emma, grow up with the VPC community. Chelsea has been married to her husband John for 10 years and has been inspired by her husband’s devotion to Christ, and wants to become more educated on the Bible.
John (J.R.) Redeker is joining VPC by Reaffirmation of faith. John has attended VPC service for three years and feels that he has found the perfect community of believers to continue growing his faith. He is excited to support VPC through his love for cooking and gardening. John and his wife, Chelsea, have been married for 10 years and have two young children who are active in the VPC youth group. Matthew 7:7-8 has always brought John comfort and strength.
Cherise Pilger is gratefully joining VPC by Reaffirmation of faith after attending for over 13 years. Cherise, a mom to three ranging in age from 6 to 13, is particularly grateful for the children and youth ministries as well as family-friendly church fellowship opportunities. Juggling parenting and a busy career, Cherise is looking forward to connecting with other women in a small group. Cherise and her husband of 20 years, Chris, are excited for the opportunity to deepen their faith together. Through all of life's ups and downs, Cherise always comes back to Psalm 139.
Chris Pilger is joining VPC by Reaffirmation of faith after attending for over 13 years. Chris has three children with ages ranging from 6 to 13, is particularly grateful for the children and youth ministries as well as family-friendly church fellowship opportunities. While juggling family, work, and travel, Chris has periodically attended the Men’s Group and is looking forward to making a more regular appearance. Chris and his wife of 19 years, Cherise, are excited for the opportunity to get more involved in the church and get their children more involved in the youth ministry.
Brenda Riffee is joining VPC by Reaffirmation of faith, and is excited to become an active member. She was attracted to VPC by the church's outreach in the community, the uplifting teaching of the pastors, and the joyful praise of the music ministry. Brenda is delighted to have already found a role as a mentor mom in the MomCo ministry, since she found support through MOPS in Illinois decades ago, and later led a group in Texas. Married to Steve, she was blessed to raise three children while volunteering in community organizations and churches over the years, and is now enjoying being a grandparent. One of her favorite verses is Ecclesiastes 3:1.
Steve Riffee joins VPC by Reaffirmation of faith, hoping to care for others he is blessed to get to know. Steve is a follower of Christ since childhood. Over the years he led Christian fellowships, Bible studies, taught Sunday School and discipled others. His passion has been to mentor Christians to walk with faith in the marketplace while caring for their loved ones. A retired executive of public companies, he mentored hundreds of people including graduate students. Steve coached 35 youth sports teams, many here in Vienna. A key verse to him is Romans 8:28. Steve and Brenda have been married 43 years, have three adult children, two daughters-in-law and three precious grandchildren.
Sarah Conkright is excited to be joining VPC as a Reaffirmation of faith. She was drawn to the church by its strong emphasis on community, service, and youth. She, along with her husband Matt and their two children, have enjoyed meeting church members and pastors and learning about the many programs, groups, and opportunities offered at VPC. Sarah is an attorney by trade and looks forward to exploring the ways she can contribute to VPC and its mission. The vibrant and active youth ministry also helped affirm that VPC was the right fit for her family. Joshua 1:9 has always been a favorite verse.
Matthew (Matt) Riffee is happy to be joining VPC by Reaffirmation of faith. Matt and his family were drawn to VPC by its commitment and connection to Vienna and its community, the generosity and hospitality of the congregation, and the importance VPC and its pastors place on children and raising the next generation in Christ. Matt and his wife Sarah, who is also joining VPC, have two young children, Caroline (7) and David (4).His family loves coming to VPC every Sunday, the contemporary worship, and all of its events. Matt works as an attorney in DC and looks forward to participating in VPC groups and helping VPC continue to make an impact in Vienna and Northern Virginia by volunteering with special events and community outreach. Matt’s favorite Bible verses are Jeremiah 29:11-13 and Proverbs 3:5-6.
Hillary VonAhsen, along with her husband Jay and their two children, Amelia (12) and Henry (8), recently moved to Vienna in 2023 and are eager to become part of our community. Hillary is thrilled to join VPC and is looking forward to deepening her faith, community connections, and family values within our church family. She enjoys spending time outdoors and cherishing moments with her family. Her heart is truly called to be closer to her faith in Jesus. She is eager to support our children's ministry and is enthusiastic about engaging with the next generation of youth. A favorite Bible verse is Philippians 4:6.
Jay VonAhsen is happy to be joining VPC to enhance his spiritual journey in life and serve the Lord. After a recent relocation from North Texas to Vienna, VA, Jay and his family are excited to have found VPC as a place to worship, to meet new friends, and to serve the community. Jay and his wife, Hillary (15 years of marriage), are excited to witness the continued activation of faith in their children, Amelia (12) and Henry (8). As a Civil Engineer that focuses on transportation safety and efficiency, Jay is always looking for something to fix or improve. Whether it be a leaky fixture or a congested intersection. Jay’s favorite Bible verses are Proverbs 3:5-6 and Psalm 94:18-19 due to their reminder of humility and trust in the Lord that brings happiness in times of need.
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