Our Team
Rick Blythe / Senior Pastor
I get to be the pastor here at St. Paul! My mission is to preach, teach, and share the love of Jesus with our faith family and throughout our community. My favorite part of ministry is hanging with the saints at St. Paul. We have amazingly passionate and compassionate people that love living missional lives. In my free time, I linger with my bride, Amy. We love to read, take long hikes and walks, and join in as many little adventures as we can. We have been known to travel to faraway lands, too. Amy is in IT at a bank as well as serving the Lord gladly at St. Paul. Our adult children, Jake and Ben (and his wife Jinny), are working and living out their dreams on the East Coast.
Ben Roberts / Associate Pastor
As Associate Pastor, I get to preach the Good News of Jesus, lead our Sunday 11:00 Praise Service, provide support and encouragement for our Minister of Life Groups, our Community Team and our Connections Team, and look for ways to reach the next generation. I also serve as a mentor to Vicar Chris Harding and teach youth confirmation. I love nothing more than to see someone “get it”, realizing how much Jesus loves them and what He does for, in and through them! Outside of my responsibilities at St. Paul, I like to read, write, exercise, explore, eat out, hike, bike, watch movies, shows, sports and spend time with my family. My beautiful wife, Melissa, is a kindergarten teacher at Anderson Elementary in Trenton. Our daughter, Grace, attends Valparaiso University in Indiana, and our son, Owen, attends Trenton HS.
Don Busse
Children & Family Life Minister
My primary focus at St. Paul is providing ministry to and with early childhood and elementary age children and their families. I also work to integrate the families of our preschool into the life of our congregation. What do I love best? Honestly, leading the children’s message in worship. I believe that’s the case because I love interaction with the kids. I love to be with and share Jesus with them at their level. When I’m not at work, my free time includes involvement in my kids (now grown) lives and lovin’ on my beautiful granddaughter, Louisa! I also enjoy bike riding at the Metro Parks. My wife Nancy and I will be celebrating 38 years of marriage this year. My son, Nicholas, is married to Christina and they are parents to Louisa & Charlotte. My daughter, Anna, lives in Detroit.
Kim Schutt
Minister of Worship & Events
As Worship and Arts Minister, my job is to design worship that glorifies God and lifts us all up together. St. Paul has been blessed with many talented musicians, and with them (and others from the whole community), we get to perform annual Christmas and Salute to Our Heroes Concerts. Overseeing the many other events here is something else I really enjoy. I have a lovely wife, Shelly, and three awesome adult children: Gregory, Kayla, and Olivia. Kayla has a dinosaur-loving daughter, Marley, who puts the music (and roar!) into all our lives. When not at St. Paul, you’ll find me on the golf course or traveling.
Ken + Lori Konarska
Youth Leaders
We are thrilled to serve as Youth Ministry Directors. We have raised our three children (Jonathan, Ryan and Katie) at St. Paul where we witnessed the power of St. Paul’s youth ministry through the preschool, Sunday school, confirmation, and VBS programs. We will be working with the junior and senior high youth to help them grow in their faith and fellowship. Ken is a retired teacher of 33 years and Lori is currently a 7th grade science teacher in Flat Rock Community Schools. We enjoy traveling, reading, walking our dog Carlos, and gardening. We also enjoy watching classic cinema and trying new restaurants. We are eager to serve the Lord by working and guiding the youth of St. Paul.
Greg Exner
Deacon, Minister of Life Groups
I work with the Life Groups Leadership Team to pray for, encourage, and train leaders, and organize bible studies. As a Deacon, I assist Pastor Rick in whatever roles he chooses. My favorite part of my jobs here is to see people break out of their comfort zone to do things for God’s Kingdom - with the help of the Holy Spirit - that they didn't think they could do. In my free time, I love to learn, try new things, figure things out, and be a Mr. Fixit when I can. I enjoy sports and fishing, interesting conversation and reading the comics. I am married to Janice, my inspiring and very smart wife of 53 years. We have a wonderful family with three terrific kids, their spouses and five wonderful grandkids. I have two brothers with families and Janice’s family that I love. Life is good. I am blessed.
Chris Harding
Vicar
I love the opportunity to serve here as a Vicar at St. Paul, one of the friendliest and warm churches I have ever attended. The SMP program I am in is preparing me for specific pastoral ministries in The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (LCMS). I receive academic training while in the setting where I will continue to serve following ordination. As a retired Federal Agent, I also get to organize the Safety Team here at SPLC. I have been married since 1997 to Jane Harding, the love of my life, whom I have been blessed to raise two beautiful children with. When life allows us the opportunity to relax, we enjoy boating on the Detroit River and enjoy dining in many of the Riverfront restaurants Downriver has to offer.
Jenny Henson
Business Manager
Having grown up at St. Paul, it is fun now being part of the team, helping the staff and team leads accomplish all the various ministries. I manage the business side of the church, which entails the accounting, budgeting, payroll, HR, insurance, and facility needs for both the church and the preschool. Bob and I have been married for 26 years and we have three beautiful adult children: Haley, Hannah, and Jarrett. My husband and I still get to watch our son play hockey, I love attending the theater with my daughters, and I enjoy reading and running (or slow jogging). My husband and I love to travel, and you can ask me about Disney any time you want.
Courtney Evans / Office Manager
I’ve always had a heart for helping people, so I feel blessed to be working at St. Paul as Office Manager. I joined our staff in the summer of 2023, and can be found scheduling events, updating the calendar, preparing for weekend services, and many other tasks around the office. I’m from the west side of the state; born in Kalamazoo and raised in Portage. I attended Concordia University Ann Arbor and graduated in 2020 with my bachelor’s in hospitality and event management. I moved downriver summer of 2021 and have been at St. Paul since! Music is a passion of mine, so it is wonderful being involved with our Praise Team and Concert Choir here as well. In my free time I enjoy being outside, listening to music, catching a movie, or driving to see my family.
Maria Merolla
Director of St. Paul Preschool
I’m delighted to be part of this nurturing, faith-filled environment. With a deep commitment to early childhood education and a passion for fostering both academic and spiritual growth, I strive to create a warm and welcoming space for every child and family. Together with our dedicated teaching team, I am excited to partner with parents in guiding and supporting the early educational journey of each child. At home, I’m blessed with a wonderful family. My husband, Nick, and I are the proud parents of two amazing kids, Tim and Jenna. We also have a lovable dog named Rocco and a mischievous cat named Sonny. When I’m not at school, I love spending time at our cottage, fishing, crafting, and family game nights.
Gloria Rehse / Office Specialist
You can’t imagine the excitement I felt when I was asked to join the team at St. Paul. When I’m here, I support the staff with administrative tasks and activities for our many ministries that are doing the Lord’s work. Mark and I have been married since 1997, and when we’re not working, we love spending time together doing just about anything! My other interests include leisurely bike rides and walks, cooking, baking and reading. My participation at St. Paul includes the Lasting Impressions Team, Café, Community Team, and assisting with funeral lunches and kitchen events. I also served several terms on Church Council.
Becki Yops
Communications Designer
I grew up in a large family with creative parents who brought us up in the Christian faith. I am grateful that I can use my creativity to design the visuals you see around St. Paul – sermon graphics, logo identity pieces, website, app, advertising, special event graphics and, whatever else is needed. I prayed for a job that would further God’s kingdom and you know what? — He answers prayers! My husband, Mike and I were married in 1994. We have 3 sons: Chase & Luke, our fine young men, and a Golden named Moose. We love them very much. I love being out in nature, hiking, kayaking, camping, & any other way I can take in the woods and waters of Michigan. I also enjoy serving on staff at our local Bible Study Fellowship (BSF) Women’s Day class.
Mark Loudenslager / Custodian
When I'm not rooting on the mighty Spartans (Go Green! Go White!), I love to work with everyone at St. Paul to keep the building running smoothly. I have the honor of being on the staff here the longest. In fact, I’ve been here since those Spartans won their first Rose Bowl in 1987. I also enjoy a good round of golf, and have been known to challenge (often) Pastor Rick’s admiration of the Wisconsin Badgers. I have a sister here in Trenton and one in Ohio.
Cherie Warner
Music & Worship Assistant
I’ve always loved music, so my job at St. Paul - to work with worship team to help create worship services and to assist with choir and Concert Series administration - is a great fit for me! You can often find me knitting (many projects at once), and I love to read, cook, and garden. My husband Bruce and I have two grown sons, Neal and Brett, and we live with two cats (Sherlock and Spike) and a pup named Sadie, aka, Lady Sarah of Greenview. And I’m always up for a good round of trivia, where I have been known to pull an answer or two out of my hat!
Lynda Wiltse
Nursery Coordinator
I have the best job in church – taking care of the babies and younger children in our nursery! I coordinate all of our nursery volunteers and make sure our nursery is a warm, loving, safe place for little people. My husband, Tom, is retired & loving life. Spending time with our family (our four daughters and two sons-in-law) is a very important part of our lives. Working at the Trenton library is my full-time job, but when I have some free time, I enjoy reading, taking walks, biking, and swimming.
Susan Clements
Director of Technology
The best part of my job at St. Paul is using technology to enhance worship and other special events. I do everything from overseeing the sound, computers, and lights to creating special videos. Since I have a full-time job in addition to my work at St. Paul, I don’t have a lot of free time! But I love to watch my kids play sports: Tyler plays football and is a competitive gymnast, and Kelsey plays softball and basketball. I love to watch college football and basketball, read, and do some woodworking and painting. I’ve been married to Ryan for 12 years, and in addition to our kids, we have a cat named Spartacus and a German Shepherd named Lilo.
Erica Craig
Office Specialist
I am so thankful for this opportunity to be a part of this amazing team at St. Paul! I grew up in the downriver area and graduated from Grand Valley State University in 2013. My husband Bert and I got married in 2014. We have three children including Levi, Jaycee and Payton. We also have a very mischievous Irishdoodle named Maggie! I have been involved with MomCo here at St. Paul (previously MOPS) since 2021. While I am not running the kids around to their various activities, I enjoy crafting, baking, gardening, golfing and taking trips with my family.