Meet Our Staff
PASTOR
Mike Hardeman
Hello! My name is Mike and I am so grateful to serve as one of the pastors here. My spouse Elizabeth and I began ministering with SRC in July 2023, so we're relatively new to this congregation. I grew up in the nearby metropolis of Leighton (population 151), attended Pella Christian Schools, and graduated from Northwestern College in Orange City and Western Theological Seminary in Holland, Michigan. Elizabeth and I served as co-pastors in Alton, Iowa; Plano, Texas; and Orange City, Iowa before moving to Pella. We have three cherished daughters. Personally, I love SRC's commitments to inclusivity (all are welcome), historicity (we value tradition), curiosity (we love grappling with challenging questions), creativity (we're open to new possibilities), levity (we're playful and love to laugh), and generosity (we share our lives and our resources extravagantly).
PASTOR
Elizabeth Brown Hardeman
I’ve gone by just about every variation of Elizabeth at some point in my life. In college, I decided I just prefer Elizabeth over any of the other 421 nicknames for Elizabeth. It takes a long time to write, but it suits me. I grew up just outside of Des Moines in Waukee. I’ve lived in four different states and two different countries, but Iowa has always been my home. I’m a momma of three . . . four if I count our four-legged Shichon/pandemic puppy, Griswold. I’m a spouse of 20ish years, a pastor of 20ish years, and a vegetarian of 30ish years. (See Mike’s bio for a bit more detail.) I’m a reader (recent reads are Fierce Kingdom, The Dry, and Nothing to See Here). I start each day with a good workout. I always have a cup of tea (greens and whites are my favorite) on my office desk. If I had a Top Ten List of Elizabeth’s Least Favorite Activities, writing a brief bio would be somewhere on that list. And I’m beyond grateful for the wonderfully wide welcome of the Second community and the ways we live out God’s unique call as a church within the broader Pella community.
PASTOR FOR YOUTH & FORMATION
Katie Alley
Hello! My name is Katie and I serve as the Pastor for Youth and Formation here at Second Reformed Church. I care deeply about spiritual formation and helping integrate young people into the life and work of the Church. It excites me to see people of all ages living fully and freely as they were created and my greatest joy is cheering others on in that endeavor - especially young people as they navigate the ins and outs of growing up and becoming the person they were always meant to be. Other things that bring me joy include driving with the windows down, high-fives, and ice cream cones! Stop by and say hello anytime - I would love to hear your story!
COMMUNICATIONS & OFFICE MANAGER
Rachel Renaud
Hello, my name is Rachel, and I serve as the Communications and Office Manager. I’m a wife and mother of three lively and lovable boys who keep life interesting (and always full of adventure!). I spent over twenty years as an English teacher before joining the team at Second. I feel incredibly grateful to be part of a community that is welcoming, affirming, and filled with truly lovely people. When I’m not at work, you can find me reading, walking among the trees, planning long road trips with my family, or hiking (or dreaming of hiking) in the mountains.
FACILITIES COORDINATOR
Shane Rouw
My name is Shane. I am the custodian for the church. Since the summer of 2020, I’ve been maintaining the church – keeping it safe, neat, clean, and orderly. My wife, Katie, and I live on an acreage with our two children, Gentry and River. As a family, we like to travel out west, garden, and take care of our two dogs, four cats, eleven chickens, and two rabbits.
DIRECTOR OF MUSICAL ENSEMBLES
Sean Stephenson
Hello! My name is Sean Stephenson, and I’m the Director of Music Ensembles at Second Reformed Church. I love making music with the choir and the bell choir at Second–it’s the perfect counterpart to my “day job” at Central College as Assistant Professor of Music. Second has such an incredible musical tradition, and it’s an honor to be part of that. If you want to be part of that, please reach out to me and let’s talk!
Beyond my duties at Second and Central, I am a newly minted father to Mary Pryce, and a husband of 15 years to Mary Hannah. I enjoy exercise, travel, gardening, coffee, and entertaining friends at our small home just to the west of the church. If you walk out the west facing doors, you might just see us sitting on our brick patio on any given evening!
WORSHIP SUPPORT LIAISON
Kellee Van Hemert
I serve as the Worship Liaison, assisting on Sundays during our service with sound and tech, playing guitar and singing, and leading youth group musical worship times. During the week, I work at Many Hands, a nonprofit doing community development work in Haiti and Abaco, as the Marketing & Communications Manager. Before all this, I lived in Cambodia with my family and ran a music studio there for several years. I'm thrilled to continue to serve through music at Second.
WORSHIP ACCOMPANIST & ORGANIST
Lori Witt
Hi! My name is Lori Witt. My official title at Second Reformed Church is “Worship Accompanist & Organist.” I have filled this role since September 2024. I have been a member at Second since 1995. My husband Jon and I moved to Pella from Chicago in 1993. We came because Jon got a teaching job at Central College (he’s a Sociology professor). Once our two daughters were both in school, I started teaching full-time at Central in the History department. Our daughters are now grown and off pursuing their lives, while Jon and I are still teaching at Central. Music has been in my life since I was a little girl, and I appreciate the opportunity to play for services and the choir and be background for Kellee’s guitar. I like the old hymns that I grew up with, but also the new songs that our congregation has been learning.
