The Reverend Dr. David Eikenberry
became just the 17th pastor in the church's long history when he accepted our call in 1992. He came to us from the First Presbyterian Church of Greenfield, Indiana where he served for five years. He brought imaginative ideas and leadership which has continued to this day. The hallmark of Pastor Eikenberry's service to our congregation has been leading a time of tremendous spiritual growth, as our body of believers has drawn closer together and to our Lord.

While attending Purdue University, he was also on staff at Covenant Presbyterian Church, and for two years he was responsible for that church's college ministry. After graduating from Purdue with a degree in chemical engineering, Pastor Eikenberry attended Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary, where he received his Master of Divinity degree. While attending seminary, he served as a student minister at the Springdale Presbyterian Church in Somerset, Kentucky.

Pastor recognized early on in his ministry the importance of Bible study within the lives of our members. He presently leads a Wednesday evening study and a men's group the first Saturday morning of each month and has encouraged the formation of several other groups.

Shortly after arriving in Waukegan, pastor collaborated with Dr. Beth Naegele in establishing the First Presbyterian Philharmonic. They managed to blend experienced, skilled musicians with others of lesser abilities and craft them into a cohesive, enthusiastic group.

Another priority for Pastor Dave is outreach in the community. That includes involvement with community groups. He shares his considerable trumpet skills by playing with the Waukegan Symphony and in the Waukegan Band.

Pastor is in the final stages of completing the Doctor of Ministry Degree at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School. His thesis deals with the benefits of intergenerational ministry and its interworkings in a congregation.

Pastor Eikenberry's greatest ministerial challenge came in 2011 when our denomination was on the verge of approving a measure that was clearly contrary to God's Word. With one Presbytery after another approving this radical change to the Book of Order, Pastor proactively brainstormed with his elders to craft a response and plan of action for our church. It was the right thing to do biblically and the only way to ensure the survival of our 150-plus year old church. After many small group meetings were organized and led by the elders to keep our members informed as to the details of the situation, an historic vote of 91-10 was taken to leave the Presbytery of Chicago and PCUSA for membership in the Evangelical Presbyterian Church. He nurtured the officers and congregants alike throughout the negotiation and dismissal process. This journey culminated on September 15, 2013 with the church's reception and installation into the EPC.

Dave and his wife Kathleen have three children and reside in the manse.


Dr. Beth Naegele
is the Director of Music and the Organist at First Presbyterian. She took her first music lessons on a pump organ in the Congo, Africa, where her parents were missionaries. Following graduation from the American High School of Kinshasa, Congo, she began classical organ study, first at Moody Bible Institute with Lillian Robinson and then with Corliss Arnold at Michigan State University. In June of 1989, she completed doctoral studies in organ performance at Northwestern University, where she studied under Wolfgang Rübsam. Dr. Naegele, who has been a member of the Moody faculty since 1976, is Professor and Chair of Organ Instruction and Ethnomusicology. She travels with the Moody Chorale on their biennial summer tours to points around the world.

Beth joined our staff in 1990. Shortly after Pastor Eikenberry was hired, the two of them collaborated on establishing the First Presbyterian Philharmonic Orchestra. They were successful in crafting a nice blend of students who were actively playing an instrument along with adults who's instruments had been dormant for years. With one bell choir already in place, she spurred other adults and youth to form new choirs geared to their skill levels. In addition to playing the organ for our worship, she also directs our Impromptu Bell Choir and sometimes directs the Philharmonic.

Beth foresaw the need to share functions of our music efforts at First Presbyterian and created a music intern program. Most of our interns have been students in the music program at Moody. At the present time we have two interns.

Beth and her husband Mike have two grown children.

 


Carole is the pleasant voice you hear when you call First Presbyterian and the friendly face you see, among others, when you stop by the church office on a weekday morning. The multitude of tasks she performs include publishing the weekly church bulletin and monthly newsletter, bulletin preparation for special services, organization and compilation of the Annual Report, ordering supplies, and generally keeping the office functioning smoothly.

Carole and her husband Ken have two sons.