FIRST CHURCH LEADERSHIP
First Church is blessed to have a leadership team who are truly dedicated to Christ and accomplishing His will, which we believe is the purpose of Butler First Church: Love God, Love People, Make Followers of Jesus.
David Janz
Senior Pastor
Hey friends! I am David Janz, Senior Pastor of First Church. I am blessed beyond measure to work and journey with this amazing group of staff and leaders. I am responsible for the "WHY" at the core of everything we do as a church. That includes casting vision, preaching, and giving general leadership and oversight to all of our life together. My wife Betsy and I have two grown children and two beautiful grandchildren. Our dachshund Cali and Mosey the cat allow us to share space with them in a house on Elizabeth Drive here in Butler. I love fishing and gardening and wilderness - places where God reveals His presence in deep ways.
Tom Holman
Pastor
Hi there! My name is Tom Holman and I have had the privilege of serving First Church as a pastor on Honorable Location (just ask me and I will be glad to explain what that means) since the early eighties. In this role I simply serve the church by following God’s call to assist wherever I can, whenever I can. For this season of my ministry I primarily act as the worship coordinator for the downtown services by ensuring that all the bases are covered for a meaningful and moving worship experience. Christine, my wife of forty years, and I have lived in Butler since the early to mid-seventies, have two adult children and one grandson. Together, we “live to serve” in whatever way we are called. We look forward to serving you.
Ann Gatty
Executive Director
Hello everyone. My name is Dr. Ann Gatty. I have been worshipping at First Church since 2003. As leadership and business development specialists, I worked with my late husband, Dr. Eugene Gatty, to help both for-profit and nonprofit businesses grow and thrive. Now I have joined the First Church staff as Executive Director. It is my honor to assist in its management and healthy growth into the future. Gene and I met during our teaching tenure in higher academics. We were married for 21 years. Our two sons and two daughters are grown, married, and providing 5 grandsons—no granddaughter yet! I also share my home with Blondie, a Great Dane therapy dog, and her constant companion, Bella, a Bassett Hound.
Monica Perry
Business Administrator
Greetings! My name is Monica Perry. I just started my 13th year working at First Church. Although my main job is as the Business Administrator, I wear many hats here. My husband, Shan, and I have been married for 36 years. We have two grown children, 2 dogs, and a cat that is 19 years old. My family is always on the go doing house projects, having fun, or just spending time with family. My favorite quote by George Bernard Shaw is “I am of the opinion that my life belongs to the whole community, and as long as I live, it is my privilege to do for it whatever I can. I rejoice in life for its own sake. Life is no brief candle to me; it is a sort of splendid torch.”
Brenda Monfre
Admin. Asst./Financial Secretary
Hi everyone! My name is Brenda Monfre, and I have worked for First Church for 7 years. Throughout the years my positions here have changed, but being the Administrative Assistant to Pastor David is my main focus at this time. My husband, Tony, and I have been married for 36 years. We have two children and a 4 year-old granddaughter whom I get to spend the day with every Monday. We have two pugs and a grand doggy pug so we have a grumble that we enjoy. Tony and I enjoy walking outdoors, going to parks and seeing all the beauty that God has created.
Tom Harrison
Director of Pastor Care
Hello and blessings, friends. Call me Tom. I’ve served First Church for eight years, first as a congregation member, and the past two years as a pastoral assistant. As director of pastoral ministry, I get to be the shepherd I’ve always longed to be — I get to feed, lead and defend the flock, bind their hurts and calm their fears. I have the privilege of working with many caring and dedicated volunteers, coordinating and tracking their interactions with those who are in hospital or nursing homes, and the homebound. Most importantly, I get to help keep the flock covered in prayer.
My wife of 16 years, Cherie, and I have lived in Butler since April 2013. I am a student at Pittsburgh Theological Seminary. We’re the parents of four grown children and their spouses, six grandchildren, one great grandson, and a menagerie of cats. I love cooking, baking bread in particular, and I play a convincingly jolly, tubby Santa Claus.
Braden Corliss
Rt. 8 Campus Director
Hi everyone! My name is Braden Corliss, Director of Discipleship at First Church (circa July 2020). As a member of the First Church team. it is my earnest desire to see people transformed by the power of the Holy Spirit into the likeness of our king, Jesus. I grew up in Greenwood, IN – a suburb to the south of Indianapolis. I attended Indiana Wesleyan University from 2012-2016 where I received my BA in Philosophy & Theology, and BA Biblical Literature. I married my brilliant wife, Avery, in August of 2016 then moved to Wilmore, KY to attend Seminary. After graduating from Asbury Theological Seminary with my Master of Divinity in 2019, my wife and I – along with our 35lb pup, Nala – spent just shy of 5 months hiking the 2,200-mile Appalachian Trail from Mt. Katahdin, Maine to Springer Mountain, Georgia. When we aren’t working you might catch us playing tennis in the local parks, hiking with our dog, grabbing a cup of coffee, or rock climbing at a local crag.
Suzie Asa
Director of Children's Ministry
Hello First Church!
It is a pleasure to be here in Butler, Pennsylvania, serving alongside you as the Director of Children’s Ministry. You will find me at both the Rt. 8 and Downtown campuses leading and developing kid’s events and small groups to help young folks become life-long followers of Jesus.
Originally, I am from the suburbs of Pittsburgh, but have spent the majority of the last 35 years in Florida. My dad’s family is from Washington County. As kids, my three older brothers and I vacationed on the Allegheny river and explored the Allegheny National Forest with my father. He loved the natural world and gave us a great appreciation and respect for the natural beauty and resources of SW Pennsylvania. I feel as if I have come home.
Hiking, swimming, kayaking, paddle boarding, Zumba and getting muddy in the sun are my favorite past times. My grown children, Cameron (29) and Courtney (27), are successfully adulting. They, as well as many siblings, nieces and nephews are a delight to me and a personal mission field.
Please contact me as a resource, if I can help you in any way to lead the children in your life.
Cindy Ford
Director of Communications
Hello! I am Cindy Ford and have been on the staff of First Church for the past 15 years. In those years, my responsibilities have been items such as the bulletin, website, enews and other graphic design needs. My degree is in graphic design. All three of my babies, two girls and a boy, are grown and have left the nest. Two of them are local, and the youngest is in South Carolina. Home is in Parker, a stones throw from the Allegheny River. We love being outdoors and fill what spare time we have with biking and kayaking. Travel, photography and baking are also passions that are dear to my heart.
Dale Croft
Director of Music, Downtown Campus
For over fifty years I’ve been blessed to have had the opportunity of using my musical gifts in one form or another in churches around Butler County, and equally blessed to have been here at First Church for almost eight years. I was a piano performance major in the Conservatory of Music at Oberlin, and also hold a Bachelor’s degree in Economics from Oberlin College. Before joining the staff of First Church, I was employed in the financial services field for just over 20 years.
Von McCommons
God's Country Worship Leader and Care Coordinator
Howdy! I am Von McCommons, and I have been a staff member of Butler First Church for the past 8 years as Worship leader/Coordinator for our God’s Country service. Little did my wife Lynda and I know, after many years in the music industry, traveling all over the country, writing and recording songs, opening concerts for headliners and seeking to gain fame and fortune, that God had a much different and greater plan for our lives. Besides our family of 3 grown children and 7 grandchildren, we have no greater joy or blessing than leading people into true and honest worship of our Lord Jesus with the most amazing, talented and faithful group of musicians that we could have imagined, We are blessed!
Sophie Lockhart
Crossfire Worship Leader/First Church Social Media Director
Hi everyone! My name is Sophie Lockhart. I joined the First Church staff after graduating from Lee University with a Bachelor of Music in Music and Worship degree in May 2018. Currently, I hold the positions of Crossfire Worship Leader, First Church Social Media Director, and Worship Leader for our Fusion Student Ministry. Hailing from Dayton, Ohio (go Bucks!), my home is now an apartment just down the street from Crossfire, and my “son” is a fluffy, spunky, weirdly photogenic black cat named Stereo. Every morning before I leave for work I look him directly in the eyes and say, “I do this for you, you know.” (He doesn’t get it, but it’s the thought that counts.) Some of my other passions include songwriting, recording and releasing music, playing saxophone, and gigging in local restaurants and coffee shops. Additionally, I enjoy spending time with my friends and family, watching movies, and going to concerts.
Alex Evanoff
Director of Community Ministries
Hey everyone, I am Alex Evanoff, Director of Community Ministries and Youth Leader for our church. My wife Sara and I are extremely blessed with our two kids, Luca and Mila. Having always lived in Western PA, we enjoy living in this area and being a part of this community. I consider myself a lifelong wrestler, competing and coaching in the sport for over 20 years and currently help coach the varsity team at Butler High School. Some of my favorite things to do include making memories with my family, working out in different ways, playing disc golf, and spending time in the outdoors - especially at Moraine State Park. I firmly believe that we have all been created by God for a great purpose and that our faith is a never-ending journey. Enjoy the ride!