Arnold Deknatel, Senior Pastor

"I have a passion to help people understand just how much God loves them.  The way God has equipped me personally to do that is through families.  I want marriages and families be the best they can be with Jesus right in the middle."

Pastor Deknatel has been the Senior Pastor at RCLC for 14 years.  He has served churches in New Jersey, North Carolina and Washington DC. His education includes;   Johns Hopkins University, BA 1975, Concordia Theological Seminary, M.Div. 1979, Princeton Theological Seminary, 1979-1981, Fuller Theological Seminary, Doctor of Ministry, 1997.  He has been married to his beautiful bride, Nancy, for 37 years and they have 1 son, Matthew, 33, who is engaged to Niki Scarpetta and one Grand-dog, Penny Lane.

  Sara Reczek- Family Life Minister

   "Life is short, so I want to live well with God and with the people around me.  With my immediate  family and friends, as well as with my church family and the community around us, I want to make a difference and help people live the best they can, especially in their marriages and families, even as I am learning to do so myself.

Sara has been married for 21 years to a suave and debonair guy named Steve, and has two teenage daughters who are really great people.  She has worked and volunteered in many different areas of human services including crisis pregnancy, human rights, hospice care, domestic violence, the elderly, and child-related issues including education and poverty.  She joined Risen Christ’s staff in 2007 and hopes to see lots of growth and forward momentum in the area of healthy families and marriages both in our church and in our community.

Patty Flowerday- Youth Minister

"I enjoy working with the youth and their families and I am also am  blessed with a dance ministry ‘Leap of Faith’.  My goal here at Risen Christ is to build strong relationships in Christ and to let people see Jesus in me."

Patty Flowerday has been working with youth in the Rochester area for the past 30 years.  She is currently in her 10th year of Community Bible Study, 7 of those years she was a leader.  She stepped down from her leadership position to spend more time in youth ministry.  Patty graduated from Bishop Kearney High School and then went on to SUNY Brockport to pursue her love of dance.  She owns Dance 22 in Webster and has a Dance Ministry "Leap of Faith" at Risen Christ.  This is her 2nd year  working with the teens at Risen Christ and her 6th year as a Youth Minister.  Patty is passionate about bringing the teens closer in relationship with Jesus and closer in their relationships with their families.  Patty is a member to the Eastside Youth Workers, a  group of Youth Ministers in this area who encourage and support each other in their ministries.