Pastoral Staff
Jim Gates
Pastor
Jim, his wife Krista, and his two children, Jonathan and Zoë, arrived at CCPC in March of 2015. After arriving in Wisconsin, they welcomed their third child, Asher. A few years later, Krista returned to work and is now the physics teacher at Wausau West. Between work, school, sports, games, and church, the Gates clan is bustling, busy and happy!
Jim’s best days involve board games with Jonathan, art and science projects with Zoë, lightsaber battles with Asher, deep talks and lots of laughter with Krista, dinner with friends, and, if possible, a game of ultimate frisbee. Other loves include history, theology, classes of any kind, board games, Duke basketball, exercising, mission trips, youth camps, plain hamburgers and talking about Jesus.
Jess Wakefield
Parish Visitor
Jess and his wife, Deb, have been members at CCPC for the past 28 years. An ordained Elder and Deacon, he answered the call to ministry in 2005 by enrolling in the online lay pastor program through the University of Dubuque Theological Institute. Upon completion of the program, he was commissioned to Covenant by the Winnebago Presbytery.
After Sid Bouldin retired in 2012, Jess served as the transition pastor until an interim was called to CCPC. Since May of 2013, he has been pastor at First/Riverside Presbyterian Church in Merrill and Gleason.
Jess enjoys time with family (six adult children, 14 grandchildren, and one great-granddaughter), dinner and trips with Deb, walking/hiking with their Old English Sheep Dog named Toby, reading, studying, and watching ALL the NCIS shows. He has been called the “People’s Pastor,” as he has a gift and passion for visiting and care for the sick, hospitalized, and homebound.
Church engagement
Drew Bouché
Communications Coordinator
Before joining the CCPC staff, Drew was a Graphic Artist in print media, advertising, and custom apparel. His passion and training in the visual arts led to stints at The Green Bay Press-Gazette, The Wausau Daily Herald, Eastbay, FastSigns, Go Getter Graphics (where he created over 300 original designs for retail apparel sales), as well as numerous freelance opportunities.
As a former college football player and Central Wisconsin native, Drew loves himself some Packers and Badgers gridiron, along with anything else sports related. His greatest pleasure in life, however, is time spent with his beautiful bride, Megan, and their son, Abram.
Drew’s responsibilities include all print and digital communications; website and social media development; video production and live-stream worship; as well as volunteer scheduling. He is so blessed by God’s grace and redemption, and he is honored to share that gift through his God-given abilities.
CHILDREN & FAMILY
Amanda Fuls
Director of Children
& Family Ministries
amanda@covenantcommunitypc.org
Amanda grew up in the small town of Butternut, Wisconsin and went to college in downtown Minneapolis. She found the best of both worlds here in central Wisconsin, where she met and married her husband, Jeff Fuls.
Amanda has worked in retail and office management, but really understood her purpose in life when she became a mom. Zachary and Micah are her "best accomplishments" and they keep her on her toes, always taking life on at full speed.
She enjoys coffee, a good book, time on "the lake" trying to out fish Jeff and sitting around a "fire camp" with friends and family.
Music Staff
Deb Perrin
traditional music director
Deb Perrin grew up in the Wausau area, and found her way back after living in Milwaukee and Menasha after marrying her husband, Kent. She has always loved music, made evident by performing in 4-H competitions, playing the guitar and ukulele, singing in swing choir in high school, and more recently with the CenterStage Band and Show Choir. Deb has also sung in various church choirs.
In 2008 she had the opportunity to co-direct the Children’s Choir at a local church. It was such a fantastic experience that she jumped at the chance to direct the Children’s Choir at CCPC in 2015. That successful stint has led to her adding the adult choir to her responsibilities. Deb is so blessed to have been given the honor to pass on her love of music to her CCPC family.
ORLANDO DIVALENTIN
CONTEMPORARY MUSIC DIRECTOR
orlando@covenantcommunitypc.org
Orlando is originally from Fort Myers, Florida and is a self-taught musician. He has vast experience with church worship bands and tech. teams, as well as administrative work and directing youth activities, but his love has always been for music. Orlando moved to Wisconsin to join a band and met his wife, Lori, who works as a nurse. He is a stay-at-home dad to his son Desi and daughter Violet.
The DiValentin family enjoys spending time at the lake or beach, going to concerts, short winters, and long summers. Desi is currently interested in robotics, specifically Battlebots, while Violet is obsessed with puppies (but not their puppy ... a 55lb. black Goldendoodle named Kitty). Orlando does not watch sports, but does want to let everyone know that he has always rooted for the Packers, as they are his mother's favorite team.
JEHAE KIM-BIXBY
ACCOMPANISt
& BELL CHOIR DIRECTOR
JeHae comes from Incheon, South Korea where her parents are active members of the Presbyterian church. She has loved church music since childhood as she grew up in a Christian family. JeHae worked internationally as an accompanist for an acclaimed Korean choir, and taught piano accompanying as an adjunct professor at a university in Korea. She was invited to work for a music production company in Rockford, IL as an International Artist in Residence, and then moved to Wausau, WI in August 2020, at which time she became a member at CCPC.
JeHae likes to read Christian books with hot black coffee even on a hot summer day. She also enjoys arranging hymns and sight reading new songs. She lives with her wonderful and faithful husband, Brett, as well as two pretty and kind daughters, Ireh and YeRim, and her sweet-smiling boy, YeHwan. She likes to play silly with her “four” kids and to cook delicious Korean meals for her family.
As a daughter of her Father in heaven, JeHae devotes her music to praise and glorify God. She hopes and prays that peace, restoration, and joy from God will come to all those who listen to her music. JeHae is very blessed and grateful for the opportunities to share her talents and heart at CCPC.
Les Fraaza
ORGANIST
Les Fraaza, our organist, lives in rural Birnamwood in a home he designed and built himself. Actually, Les has been building homes since the age of 20, starting out with his father and then owning the business himself 10 years later.
His dedication for, and love of, church music started at the age of 12 when he began playing for a small country church.
When not making music or building homes, Les enjoys basketball and is a hard core Wisconsin Badgers and Green Bay Packers fan. He spends most of his free time outdoors and loves to travel, but particularly loves worshipping with his family at CCPC.
Support Staff
CYNDI SCHNEIDER
OFFICE MANAGER
Cyndi is a Wausau native who was raised a Presbyterian and has recently found her way back to the church community. She has three amazing children (Tyler, Kyle, and Megan) who are her best friends, and has eight grandchildren. Her professional background includes working for both the public and private sectors in marketing, philanthropy/venture capital, office and continuous improvement management and Human Relations.
Cyndi’s best buddy is her little rescue dog, Chula; however, she believes Chula rescued her. The two of them live on the southeast end of Wausau where she grew up and raised her children.
As Office Manager, Cyndi is in charge of the church calendar, building management, mailing operations/volunteers, office/building supplies, phone/guest reception, and more!
RAISSA DUPUIS
ASSISTANT TO THE SENIOR PASTOR
raissa@covenantcommunitypc.org
Raissa was born and raised in Central Wisconsin and met her husband, Bobby, in high school. Then came a move to the Southwest where she earned a degree in Art History and Museum Conservation from New Mexico State University. Raissa and Bobby have four brilliant, creative, and loving children named Jack, Wyatt, Eli, and Piper who attend D.C. Everest schools.
Raissa enjoys spending time immersed in art as well as being outdoors, hiking and exploring the natural world with her family. She loves cooking and discovering new flavors to share with her family and friends.
As Assistant to the Senior Pastor, Raissa handles a variety of administrative duties to assist Jim Gates, and is a valuable asset supporting him with youth leadership and programming.
Renee radtke
church accountant
Renee is a born and bred native to the Wausau area and currently resides in Rothschild with her Pit Bull, Liberty (aka Libby). She is a member of St. Paul’s United Church of Christ, where she served 6 years on the Church Council and 3 years on the Finance Committee.
Renee has one child, Hannah, who is currently attending UW-Eau Claire. Although she is no longer at home, they remain very close. Hannah would describe herself as the “acorn that didn’t fall too far from the tree.”
Renee holds several FINRA security licenses as well as State of Wisconsin insurance license. She is a self-employed Retirement and Financial Planner. Her passion is to help clients plan, navigate, and live out their future financial and retirement goals.
She believes that life is made of memories and enjoying the opportunities that God has provided. Renee’s activities flow with the seasons, so she is on the go all year long enjoying camping, water skiing, fishing, hunting, snowmobiling and UTV rides. Her motto is the ‘more the merrier’ and is always on the lookout for friends to join in the fun.