Dr. Hurk
ens ("Pastor Steve") has been the lead pastor of East Rockaway Nazarene for the past 20 years. Pastor Steve holds a Ph.D. in Christian Counseling. He has a vision for the community, and a burning desire to influence Christ followers to impact their world by reaching out to those who don't have a personal relationship with Christ. He encourages all followers of Christ to connect people with Christ. Pastor Steve firmly believes in the importance of prayer to undergird everything the church does. He believes that Christ followers can live victorious lives through being empowered by the Holy Spirit, hence, overcoming whatever situations they may face in their lives.
Pastor Steve is originally from South Africa, where he was already a Pastor before coming to the United States. He says "God called me to care for those He puts in my path. My vision for our church is that Christ followers will share love and show concern for one another, as well as the unsaved of the world".
He has been in full time ministry for 29 years. Pastor Steve declares that by placing our faith and trust in God, we can overcome any obstacle in our lives. He also believes that we do not meet by chance, but that people come into our lives for A REASON, in order for us to be Christlike to them and share His love with them.
In the words of our Pastor, "I would love for you to visit our great church, anytime, and if there is anything within my ability that I can be of assistance to you, my door is always open."
You can contact Pastor Steve at (516) 599-3116 or eastrocknaz@aol.com.
Sharon Hürkens has been married to Dr Hürkens for 30 years and has also been his partner in ministry for the past 30 years. Officially Sharon has been on staff as an Assistant Pastor for the past 5 years. Sharon is an ordained Elder in the Church of the Nazarene. Her call on her life is to minister to women who realize that their past experiences in life, whether from abuse, addiction, rejection, and other difficult situations which hinder their walk with God and they are unable to move past the blockage or strongholds in their life to walk in the fulfilled plan which God has for them.
Sharon holds her Bachelor in Science degree in Nutritional Counseling. She is a certified Professional Life Coach with the American Association of Christian Counselors. Her past experiences include being certified as a Personal Trainer and Lifestyle Weight Management Consultant. Sharon is also an accomplished pianist and piano teacher and plays in the worship team. Sharon is also a writer and a member of the Christian Writer's Guild and is in the process of writing her first book and curriculum which she currently uses when ministering with women.
Sharon’s favorite Scripture is John 10:10. “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I (Jesus) came that they may have life and have it abundantly.”
During her years of ministry, Sharon has seen that far too many Christians do not realize their potential in life and thus do not live a life of fulfillment. She wants to help women realize who they are in Christ and walk in the plan that He has for them. Another favorite Scripture of Sharon's is Psalm 139, which helps us to realize how much we mean to God and how He knew us before we were born. Please feel free to contact Sharon at 599-3116 or via email at sharoneastrockaw@aol.com.
Jill Ohl and her family joined East Rockaway Nazarene over 10 years ago and are actively building God's kingdom, one step at a time.
She is the principal of our successful nursery school, Little Pebbles. Under her leadership, the school has progressed dramatically.
Jill began her career in 1980 and has worked in both, the public sector as well as the private sector. She holds a B.A. in Speech Pathology and Audiology, and a M.S. in Education for the Deaf and Hearing Impaired.
She is also a member of the church's vision group and is active in the youth ministry. If you have questions about Little Pebbles, please contact Jill Ohl at (516) 593-8507 or calp1@optonline.net.
Bob McHale has been the worship leader of East Rockaway Nazarene for about five years and has been a member since 1991. Not long after arriving at East Rockaway Nazarene, Jesus called Bob to serve Him in a meaningful way. "I gave my heart to Him and nothing has been the same since!" says Bob. He continues to learn about the Lord and credits Pastor Stephan and the congregation for taking a part in that role. Bob lived in Florida for a few years and worked in Christian television. Bob believes that by being on the air each day, God gave him the confidence to perform in front of an audience. As the worship leader, he believes that worship plays a vital role in the development of our church and is looking forward to seeing what great plans the Lord has in store. If you have any questions about our Worship Team, you can call Bob at 632-5484 or email him at bobasan@optonline.net. 
Arlene Blondo is the head of our Sunday School Ministry. She is in charge of all the Junior Church programs and the Nursery School. In this capacity, she has established a curriculum for children of all ages. Mrs. Blondo has an Associate Degree in Liberal Arts, with a major in Psychology. Her education makes her a perfect fit for this ministry. She is married to Michael and together they have adopted two lovely children.
Arlene is an avid follower of Christ and stands firm on her favorite scripture verse, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." (Philippians 4:13)
If you have any questions about our Sunday school program, please call Arlene at 887-6949 or email her at arleneblondo@aol.com. She will graciously answer all your questions and provide you with the information you seek.
Contact Info for Board Members:
Sam Harris: 593-3780
Jill Ohl: 887-5291 or calp1@optonline.net
Gary Geverts: 924-0773
Gary Aue: 561-4219
Mariano Balbi: 887-3920
Bert Ingenito: 887-0739
Bob McHale: 632-5484
Gene Philcox: 593-0891
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