Our Staff

Rev. Dr. Lou Ventura

Interim Pastor

Rev. Dr. Lou Ventura has been interim pastor/Head of Staff at Great Bridge Presbyterian Church in Chesapeake since July 2022. Prior to this, she was covenant pastor of Franklin Presbyterian Church (PCUSA) for nine years, after a secular career of over 25 years in the healthcare industry. She received her Master of Divinity at Regent University in Virginia Beach, VA, and her Doctor of Ministry at Pittsburgh Theological Seminary.

She has served on the presbytery’s Commission on Ministry as vice moderator of the Mediation and Reconciliation Subcommittee, and as presbytery moderator and moderator of the presbytery Council. Lou was trained as a Lifeforming Leadership Coach in 2007 and in 2015 received training in mediation and conflict management. Lou has also been trained in interpretation of the Church Assessment Tool (CAT) through HOLY COW! She has completed coach training with Coach Approach Skills Training (CAST) and is working to complete the requirements for the ICF Associate Certified Coach (ACC) credential. In February 2025, Lou will rejoin the presbytery’s Commission on Ministry, and is also a trustee at the presbytery.

Lou has also received Boundary Training for Those in Ministry and in Lives of Service from LeaderWise as well as training in Healthy Congregations, Conflict Transformation Skills for Churches, and Leadership and Anxiety in the Church, from the Lombard Mennonite Peace Center.

Lou has a passion for encouraging and supporting individuals who are experiencing new life challenges or transitions, times when it is difficult to remember that, with God and within ourselves, we often have more than enough of everything we need.

In her free time, Lou loves to read, work on family genealogy, and watch “The Big Bang Theory” reruns. She has been married to Ron, a retired IT manager at Anthem, for 31 years, and they share Ron’s children from his first marriage, Tammy and RJ, and their five grandchildren Brianna, 28, Lexi, 24, Chloe, 20, Caleb, 5, and Naomi, 2. Lou and Ron have lived in the Holland area of Suffolk since 1996. You can reach Lou at moc.liamtoh@arutnevver.

Beth Martin

Church Secretary

Beth was called to fill in at the St. Andrew office in 2017, with the words “we need someone who can speak Presbyterian.” Having grown up in this Presbytery and with both parents having served in the Presbytery office, Beth does speak Presbyterian!

Her training and background was in Christian education, having served three churches in an educational capacity. She has also done library work in public and special libraries, and she spent a few years working for the Presbytery, mainly in the office at Makemie Woods.

In addition to library and church work, she’s been a bookkeeper, desk clerk, and has worked in several capacities in her parents’ music store. She even worked as a professional puppeteer one year. She has two grown sons and a house full of projects, craft supplies, and puppets.

Al Reese

Director of Music

Originally from Pottsville, PA, Al Reese became the Music Director of St. Andrew in August 2021. He previously served churches in Suffolk and Portsmouth, VA and Monroe, NY. Al holds degrees from Indiana University of Pennsylvania, Concordia University of Wisconsin, and Norfolk State University and attained Level 3 Certification from the Handbell Musicians of America. Al is a retired Army bandsman, finishing his career at the USMA Band at West Point, NY. In addition to his service to St. Andrew Presbyterian, Al is an instructor in the Music Division of Norfolk State University and the Musical Director for the Virginia Handbell Consort. He resides in Carrollton with his wife, Lois, who is the Music Director for Hilton Presbyterian Church, and their 2 rescue dogs, Prancer and Vixen. Al enjoys including the entire congregation in raising their musical voice to God!

Angela Hillis-Baurle

Youth Director

Ms. Angie is a third generation and charter member of St. Andrew. She has served as our youth director since 2015. She earned her BS degree in Psychology from Old Dominion University in 1990. Angie is married to Rob Baurle, who works as an aerospace engineer for NASA/Langley Research Center. They have a blended family with four grown children: Kristen, Tyler, Lauren, and Jordan and a teenage daughter, Sarah. Angie enjoys reading and dancing in her spare time. “I enjoy walking side by side with our youth and young adults to learn how to be more like Jesus, and how we can use our spiritual gifts and talents to serve Him and others.”

Betty Hare

Church Custodian

Betty has worn many hats at St. Andrew, including teacher of three year olds in our weekday Preschool, nursery childcare provider, and church custodian. She is a native of New Jersey, a mom to three adult children, one beloved granddaughter, and ten pets of assorted species.

Amanda Greco

Director of St. Andrew Preschool

Amanda began working with St. Andrew’s Preschool in January 2021. She has a BA in Human Performance Management from Immaculata University in Malvern, PA and a Master’s degree in Early Childhood Leadership from the University of Dayton in Dayton, OH. She has been working in the field of early childhood since 2000 and has found it her calling to educate, serve, and support children and their families. Her husband was also called to serve others by joining the Air Force. Amanda, her husband, and their two young children moved to Poquoson in July 2020. Amanda says, “I feel honored to lead the staff at St. Andrew Preschool. They are among the most passionate and dedicated educators I’ve had the pleasure to work with.”

Mary Romanczyk

Childcare Provider

Mary is a lifetime member of St. Andrew and has had a number of jobs at the church over the years. She has been our childcare provider since 2023. Mary enjoys working with both the children and the adult volunteers in the nursery. She has two school-aged children of her own.

Sunday Worship

Join us at 10:00 a.m.

Address

1885 Bridge Road
Suffolk, VA 23433
Get Directions

Phone & Email

(757) 238-3550
su.serpwerdnats@werdnats

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