Our Deacons

I am 59 years old, and I reside in Quinton with my wife of 37 years, Karla.  I am a jack-of-all-trades, an accomplished contractor and barber.  I learned my barbering trade from my father-in-law, James C. Simpkins.

But my greatest accomplishments are my three children, Brent, Dustin, and Chelsea.  I am now blessed with two grandchildren.  My grandson, Chase, resides in Alaska with my son Brent and his wife Brandy.  My granddaughter is not far from our home in Quinton; she lives with her parents, my son Dustin and his wife Jen.

My name is Andrea Zieger.  I go to Woodstown high school.  I am a junior.  I have been going to First Presbyterian of Salem for 7 years.  I enjoy attending church, Sunday school, and youth group.  I help out where I can, and I especially enjoy caring for the children in the church.

Currently, I am serving on the Board of Deacons as Treasurer.  I’ve been a member of the First Presbyterian Church of Salem, NJ for 49 years.  I’m the third of five generations that have been or are currently members of this congregation.

I began singing in the children’s choir at age six and continued through youth choir all the way to the adult choir, in which God still allows me to sing.  I am an Elder and have served on staff as Custodian and Organist.  I still substitute on organ and piano when needed.

My first memory of this church is of Sunday School.  I started class at age two.  My teacher was Miss Sally Cook.  She said I was a little young, but since my brother (two years my senior) was attending, I could stay in the class, if my grandmother would stay with me.  The rest, as they say, is history.  My grandmother later became the Church Secretary and I have moved from sitting in a Sunday School classes to teaching those classes, from Beginner’s and Toddlers all the way through High School.  I’m currently teaching the Beginner’s class.

As president of my High School age church youth group, the Harvesters, the natural transition for me after graduation was to become co-Youth Advisor.  The skills developed from these experiences, which God has blessed me with, were excellent building blocks for the Coffee House Ministry that blossomed at the First Presbyterian Church in the years that followed and many came to know our Lord through that ministry.

I’m currently a student at Arcadia University, in Glenside, PA.  I am a third generation First Presbyterian member and have attended here all of my life.  While at school, I major in Biology and I attend a young, Presbyterian Church called Grace Point Church, which is near my school.

My husband Chris and I with our children—Cara, Jakob, and Elise—moved to Salem from New York City. Our beginnings with the First Presbyterian Church family came through the youth group and then through my involvement with the Lighthouse Ministry, Inc. (For more about this you can check out the Lighthouse Ministry tab on the website.) We have a deep concern for the life of the residents of Salem City and a desire to see the town reflect the peace for which it is named. Being a deacon is an extension of the work I am already a part of through Lighthouse.  I desire to see spiritual growth in this body of Christ. As we are strengthened in our faith and encouraged by one another, we are called to join together with the greater Body of Christ in serving and reaching out to others around us with the love of Jesus.