Leadership 
Church Staff
We are excited to welcome Shaun Spencer as the new pastor at FPCSS.
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.
Hannah Bradford officially joined the staff at FPC in 2022 after many years of faithful service as a worship volunteer. She enjoys the opportunity to use her gifts to create beautiful spaces for the congregation to experience God in worship. After growing up in Oklahoma, Hannah attended JBU and graduated with a major in Children and Family Ministries (minor in Worship Arts) and a Masters degree in Higher Education Leadership. Her full-time job is the Executive Director of Admissions at JBU. Her husband, Andrew, also went to JBU and is a structural engineer. Hannah and Andrew started coming to First Pres as newlyweds looking for a church home. They found the liturgy and reformed theology refreshing and quickly found a community here. They have been married 15 years and have 3 kids: Hattie (6), Elias (2), and Healey (1 month). Hannah loves reading a good bestseller (bonus points if it’s on the beach), walking the creek trails with her family, entertaining friends in her home, and trying new restaurants in the area.
Jennifer Heathcote joined the staff at FPC in November 2020. She is an Arkansas native and graduate from John Brown University with a degree in Children and Family Ministry (minor in Music). After graduating, Jennifer served on the children’s ministry staff at Central UMC in Fayetteville, AR, then at Christ Community Church in Leawood, Kansas. After moving to Siloam, Jennifer worked as the Coordinator of Alumni & Parent Relations at JBU for 5 years before taking a leave from the workplace to stay home with her children.
Jennifer enjoys reading and baking, watching her children at their various sports and activities, and cheering for the Chiefs and the Razorbacks. She serves as the Chair of the Siloam Springs School District Parent Teacher Organization, sits on the Siloam Springs Parks Advisory Board, and is a founding member of the Literary and Anthological Society of Siloam.
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.
Jordan Howard joined the staff at FPC in 2022, although he has been attending since his college days at JBU. He and his wife Kelsey have been married almost 14 years and have two daughters: Lizzy (6) and Josephine (1). Although he and Kelsey moved overseas for a season, they always considered First Pres their church home. Jordan has a Bachelor’s in Outdoor Leadership Ministry from JBU. As Facilities Supervisor, Jordan loves getting to be a part of preserving the history of the church and its building, particularly the stained glass. For fun, Jordan enjoys reading, watching old movies, gardening, picnicking in the park and walking and biking everywhere.
Steven Hamilton joined the staff at FPC in 2023.
Steve is originally from Nebraska, but found Siloam Springs when he studied Music Education at John Brown University. After earning a Masters in Choral Conducting at the University of British Columbia, he and his family moved back to Northwest Arkansas and joined First Presbyterian Church in 2020. Steve has conducted the choir at FPC since 2023, and is so thankful for all the great people in the choir. He especially enjoys putting together special music ensembles and helping out with the children’s choir, which is led by his wife, Gabby.
Steve and Gabby have two children, Kaylee and Cassie, and one dog, Maizie. Together they love to visit parks, take walks in their neighborhood, and hold family dance parties. In the summer they can be found near any body of water, and on cold days they can be found inside reading great books or watching Bluey.
Elders
Heather Thurman – Worship Committee (Chair)
Matt Reddin – Outreach Committee (Chair)
Leah Ellcey- Fellowship Committee (Chair); Clerk of Session
Wendy Togami – Administration Committee
Sarah Erdman – Stewardship Committee (Chair); Session Moderator
Sandy Van Thiel – Christian Education Committee
Jim Caba – Stewardship Committee (Chair)
Contact the church office to reach any of the elders.