Staff

Ryan Nilsen is Lead Pastor at Praise.  His job is to oversee our disciple-making ministries, lead, feed, and encourage our ministry leaders, and oversee effective, intentional fulfillment of our mission.  He grew up in Hartland, Connecticut.  He has a B.A. in history and English from UConn and a Masters of Divinity from Lutheran Brethren Seminary, Fergus Falls, Minnesota, and is an ordained pastor in the Church of the Lutheran Brethren.  He has served churches in Minnesota and Iowa.  Ryan also serves as Regional Chair of the Eastern Region of our denomination, the Church of the Lutheran Brethren of America (CLBA).  Ryan and his wife Kjirsti have four children and live in Torrington.

Favorite Person from the Bible: Joab

Favorite Verse: 1 Timothy 1:15

Favorite Book: A Walk in the Woods

Favorite Hobby: Sailing

 

 

 

 

 

Doug & Gayle Konitski are the Custodians at Praise Christian Fellowship. They share in the responsibilities of cleaning and maintaining our church building.  Both are natives of the Northwest corner of Connecticut.  Gayle and Doug are newly married and currently living in Thomaston with their 3 children.  Gayle has an Associate Degree in Fine Arts from the Northwestern Connecticut Community College and attended UMass of Amherst.  Doug owns his own swimming pool service company - He’s "The Pool Guy"!  The Konitskis attend Praise and as a family, they help with the Angel Food Ministry.  They are also active in Tres Dias and Aventura.  They love spending time with their family as well as traveling along the local back roads, site seeing, and hunting for antiques.  They also enjoy camping with the kids, working in the vegetable garden and music.

Favorite Persons from the Bible: Hannah / Joshua

Favorite Verses: Colossians 3:12-17 / Matthew 7:7-8

Favorite Books: Waking the Dead by John Eldredge / Spiritual Healing by Dr. Stewart Grayson

Favorite Hobbies: Gardening, music and antique cars & toys

 

 

Audrey Havens is the Office Administrator and Bookkeeper at Praise Christian Fellowship. She grew up in Springfield, Massachusetts and has been living in Connecticut since 1981. Audrey has a Bachelor of Science degree in Elementary Education from American International College and a Sign Language Interpreting Certificate from Northwestern Connecticut Community College. She also works part-time at NCCC as a C-print captionist for deaf and hard of hearing students. Audrey enjoys walking, swimming, reading, and cooking. She and her husband, Phil, have lived in New Hartford since 1991.

 

Favorite Person from Bible: Ruth

Favorite Verse: Micah 6:8

Favorite Book: To Kill a Mockingbird

Favorite Hobby - Cooking

 

Audrey Havens

Office Administrator & Bookkeeper

 

 

Mike Eldred is the Welcome and Care Coordinator at Praise.  His job is to oversee the welcoming and assimilation of new visitors and attenders into our church family.  By maintaining a welcoming environment, facilitating and connecting new visitors and attenders to our ministries, as well as recruiting and encouraging our welcome team members, he helps Praise to advance our mission of making disciples who grow in Christ and make him known.  Having grown up in Springfield, Missouri, Mike moved to Connecticut in 2004 and became a member at Praise in 2005.  He has a B.A. in Human Services Agency Management and Recreation Administration from Missouri Valley College in Marshall, Missouri.  He has served in various volunteer roles for churches in Missouri and Connecticut.  Mike along with his wife Jaimee currently serve in youth ministry roles at Praise and Bakerville Church.  Mike and Jaimee live in East Hartland, Connecticut.

 

Favorite Person(s) from the Bible: Joseph & Daniel

(Ruth is a favorite book in the Bible)

Favorite Verse: Jeremiah 29:11

Favorite Book(s): Lord of the Rings trilogy, The Hobbit, The Chronicles of Narnia

Favorite Hobbies: Rock/ice climbing, snowboarding, scuba diving, hiking/camping, kayaking