Leadership
Church Staff
Originally from Hartford, Connecticut, Jonathan Buisch is a graduate of Redeemer Seminary (MDiv.) and Roberts Wesleyan College (B.S. Religion & Philosophy). Prior to joining staff at FPCSS in 2018, he spent four years serving as a hospital chaplain in South Bend, Indiana—home to the University of Notre Dame, where his wife, Pauline, completed her PhD.
Jonathan and Pauline have three children (Phoebe, Gabriel, and Daisy) and are excited to experience the beautiful city of Siloam Springs. You might find Jonathan running around the city, reading a good book with his wife, or chasing his kids around their backyard.
Dri Bayer joined the staff of First Presbyterian Church in April 2020. A Kansas native, she transplanted permanently to Northwest Arkansas after graduation from John Brown University (B.S. Youth Ministry) and has loved calling Siloam Springs home ever since. She has previously served as a Youth Director and a Young Adult Pastor.
Dri has a passion for seeing children, youth, and young adults live out a vibrant faith rooted in the historical church. She and her husband, Ansen, have three children: Avie, Arwyn, and Aksel. (They have a thing for unique “A” names.) In her free time, Dri enjoys crafting, creating, and DIY projects. You’ll probably find her covered in paint or scheming up a resourceful way to re-use something.
Jen Edwards joined the staff at FPC in 2010. She is a graduate of John Brown University (B.S. Music Ministries) and Denver Seminary (M.A. in Leadership with a Worship Concentration). She is a small-town Nebraska girl who loves people, words, theology, and music. She is passionate about the fusion of historic church practices with modern sounds and new music. She is a songwriter, a worship leader, a big picture thinker, and a storehouse of ideas.
If you’re looking for her, she’s likely sitting on her front porch overthinking something with a good beverage. She is “Brad’s wife” and “Reece and Mason’s mom,” and she wears those titles with pride. Her family enjoys cooking together, making random music videos, and playing soccer and baseball in the front yard.
Sharon Norberg has been on staff at FPC since 1994. Although born in Oklahoma, she lived most of her life in Siloam Springs, after graduating from John Brown University with a Bachelors in Music Education. She taught for 45 years, covering Pre-K through adult education, with 37 of those in the public school system, and 2 years internationally in Medellin, Colombia. She has been a pianist in various congregations, and the FPC organist. Sharon is married to John, and has 3 sons, 2 daughters-in-law, and 8 grandchildren. In her free time, she enjoys sewing and knitting for nonprofits. Most of all, Sharon loves using her musical gifting on the piano or the organ to help make the most beautiful music to honor God.
Brad Edwards re-joined the staff at FPC in 2021. He is a graduate of John Brown University (B.S. Youth Ministry) and Denver Seminary (M.Div. with a Leadership Concentration). He is a Colorado native which makes him a long-suffering Denver Broncos and Colorado Rockies fan. He loves to read, listen to music and do just about anything in the great outdoors.
Brad loves watching and supporting his wife and sons as they pursue their passions. When he is not watching his sons perform on stage, or an athletic field you can find him either coaching a travel baseball team or sitting on his back patio around the firepit.
Elders
Jonathan Buisch – Worship Committee (Chair); Pastor
James Cooke – Communication Committee (Chair)
Brandy Cowell – Fellowship Committee (Chair); Clerk of the Session
Park Dinger – Christian Education Committee
Chuck Hyde – Outreach Committee (Chair); Treasurer
Frank Pittman – Stewardship Committee
Julia Stratman – Fellowship Committee
Wendy Togami – Stewardship Committee (Chair)
Contact the church office to reach any of the elders.