Deacons
Class of 2010
Rob Birmingham
Rob and his wife Marcy have been married 23 years, live in Groton, and have 2 sons. Rob is a Program Manager at iRobot Corporation, where he manages a military robot program that is fielding robots to Afghanistan and Iraq. He enjoys spending time with his family, reading about Revolutionary War history and walking his dog, Clifford, with Marcy.
Rob was raised in the Church, but didn’t have a personal relationship with Christ until adulthood. He started to become curious about faith while stationed on a US Navy ship in Japan; and began to realize that trusting God, in the face of adversity, brought him supernatural peace. One of the first Scripture verses he claimed was Matthew 6:34— “Therefore do not worry about tomorrow for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” God was faithful, and He put a couple of strong Christian men in Rob’s life. After two years of encouragement and mentoring from one of his shipmates, Rob became a Christian in 2000.
Rob has been attending Pepperell Christian Fellowship for 2 years and has served as a Sunday school and Children’s church teacher. He has also been involved in a small men’s group for the past year and half. He is thankful for this opportunity to serve PCF as a deacon because he has a heart for service; he grew up working in a family business, which was running a halfway home in Vermont. Rob is excited about the opportunity to serve his church and to watch as God continues to change and grow us as a congregation
Mike Burns
Mike and his wife Darlene have been married 21 years, live in Groton, and have 2 teenage sons. Mike is a Sales Engineer for Cross Telecommunications, and he has a Bachelors degree in Business Administration and a Masters degree in History. He enjoys home improvement projects, movies, and sports.
Mike became a Christian about 15 years ago when he realized that he was living according to his own moral code that had no foundation of truth, and that his rebellious ways left him feeling empty. He wanted to know his purpose in life and he joined a church that preached the good news of the Bible, where he learned that God loved him, sent Jesus to die for his sins, and that those who believe in Jesus and his sacrifice for our sins will have eternal life with God (John 3:16). Mike is at peace, knowing that the Lord will provide what he needs and he doesn’t have to worry about what he thinks he needs. Mike still struggles, as we all do, with sin, but as he repents of his sin, he trusts God to forgive him and Mike knows that he will spend eternity with his Father.
Mike has been attending PCF for 2 years, and on many Sunday mornings you will see him serving as an usher. Mike has enjoyed serving PCF as the leader of the Usher Ministry and finds that it spiritually enhances his observance of the Sabbath. He is thankful for this opportunity to serve as a deacon and feels that it will help focus the activities that he contributes to PCF and will add to his maturity in his walk with Christ
Jim Deignan
Jim and his wife Sheri have been married for almost 30 years and live in Pepperell. They have 3 daughters, 2 who are living on their own and one at home finishing college. Jim has worked as a mortgage loan officer for 28 years. He enjoys sailing, and he and Sheri like to spend their free time on the mid-coast of Maine. They also have enjoyed doing some traveling.
Jim became a Christian while in high school through the charismatic movement of the Catholic church. He felt love and peace in the company of believers, and gradually yielded more of his life to Christ. In some ways he feels like he has grown so much, and at other times sees himself return to some of his old weaknesses, only to repent and continue on.
Jim has been a part of PCF for over 15 years. He has always had a heart for service, and he believes that what he has is his only by God’s grace. This extends beyond possessions and includes his time as well. Jim tries to give away as much as he gets, but he always gets back more. Jim has served on the CareGivers ministry since it was formed 5 years ago, and as church Treasurer, he has been managing the budget and other financial affairs of PCF for 7 years. The Treasurer is a permanent member of the deacons, but Jim believes he would desire to serve as a deacon even if he were not Treasurer.
Megan Doehring
Megan and her husband John have been married 10 years, live in Pepperell, and have 2 children. She is also a step-mom to 3 adult children. Megan works part time with John in his consulting business, and she volunteers at the kids’ school. She enjoys spending time together with her family, and this summer traveled down the east coast to meet and gather the family together.
Megan grew up in a Christian home, attending church-3 times a week. She made professions of faith as a child, but lacked confidence about her salvation until she was a young teen. She rededicated her life and was baptized. At that time she understood what being a Christian really means according to Romans 10:9-10, “That if you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.” and knew that “the Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children”. (Romans 8:16).
Megan has been attending PCF for 7 years, and has enjoyed her service with the meals and social gatherings ministries. Megan is thankful for the opportunity to serve PCF as a deacon, where she believes that she can open and stretch herself further to God’s desires for using her.
Jim Gibson
Jim and his wife Laurie have been married 31 years and live in Hollis, NH. They have 2 daughters, one at home and one recently married. Jim has been a machinist since 1980 and works for Northrop Grumman Aerospace’s small business unit Xinetics as a mold maker/ programmer of computer controlled machine tools, producing molds for the casting of adaptive optics in land and space based telescopes. Jim likes to spend time with his friends. Sailing, hunting and pistol shooting are all things that he does in his free time.
Jim came to know Christ at the age of 13. He was brought up in a Christian background and found himself desiring the security that comes from a personal relationship with Jesus.
Jim has been attending PCF since it first started. He was a member of the Cleaning ministry for many years, and is now serving as the Assistant Treasurer and as an offering counter. As Assistant Treasurer, Jim is a member of the Deaconate as long as he continues to serve in that position. He has found it rewarding to serve others and feels grateful that God has chosen him to fill this role at PCF.
Beverly Naleway
Beverly lives in Brookline, NH, in an apartment attached to her daughter and son-in-law’s home. She has 2 daughters and a son, all married, and 7 grandchildren, with another due this month. When not busy with children and grandchildren, Beverly works as bookkeeper, sews, travels to many craft fairs selling her creations, and reads voraciously (the Classics, mysteries, history, and anything on England).
Beverly accepted Christ as her Savior about 25 years ago. Prior to that she considered herself a Christian, having grown up in the Roman Catholic church, but after some rough times, she realized something was missing and she began searching for more. In Beverly’s words, “After many shipwrecks, landings on the wrong islands and drifting aimlessly, God caught up with me. I thank Him every day for His faultless compass and unfailing love.”
Beverly has been attending PCF for about 14 years, and has served in the women’s ministry as a teacher, a speaker, and helping with the budget. She has also been a part of the Special events ministry and currently helps to count the offering. Beverly had doubts about her ability to serve as a deacon, but after much prayer, she sensed that God overcame her hesitancy, and she thanks God for his graciousness in confirming in her the desired direction he would have her take for her life at this time. “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” is Beverly’s encouragement.
Gayle O’Connell
Gayle and her husband Sean have been married 11 years, live in Lunenburg, and have 1 daughter. Gayle is a licensed nurse, working part-time at the Apple Valley Nursing Home and also for an oral surgeon. In her spare time, she enjoys sports, and making cards and chocolates.
Gayle became a Christian 18 years ago, while dating Sean and attending the church that he and his mom attended. As she started to get to know the teen girls, she saw that they were different from other girls, that they had something she didn’t have, and she wanted it. It was Jesus Christ. Later that week she spoke with Isabelle, Sean’s mom, and told her that she wanted God in her life, and Isabelle prayed with Gayle.
Gayle started attending PCF 6 years ago, recommitting her life to Christ, and she hasn’t looked back since. Since she was baptized last year she has felt God calling her to step out in many ways.
After praying about accepting the position of deacon and speaking to Sean about it, Gayle feels that God has given her the heart and means to help others. She has always loved doing things for others, and she can’t think of a better reason to help others than to glorify God’s name. Gayle sees serving as a deacon a serious commitment, but knows that Jesus will help her every step of the way.
Kathy Piantaggini
Kathy and her husband Dan have been married 37 years and live in Pepperell, along with Kathy’s mother. They have 2 married daughters, and 3 grandchildren. Kathy works as a home health and hospice aide. She enjoys camping on the land she and Dan own in Otisfield, Maine, walking the rail trail, sending cards of encouragement, and interacting with her dog and 3 cats.
Kathy grew up Methodist, but drifted away in her early adult years. After sending her daughter to VBS at a local Baptist church, Kathy started attending church again. All of her life she thought that she was a Christian, but through going to that church, wanting to join, and talking with the pastor, she committed her life to Christ in 1980.
Kathy has been attending PCF since it started in 1988, serving as its first clerk. She has been active in the church in many ways over the years, and is currently heading the PCF Card ministry. Kathy is greateful for this opportuniy to serve as a deacon so that she will be able to better serve people at PCF. She believes that it gives her the avenue to get to know people and to help meet their needs. It also enables her to reach out in other areas that would help the church grow.