Our Elders
Crossway is an Elder-led church. In the New Testament we find four titles used for the officers of the local church: Elder, Overseer, Pastor, and Deacon. The first three terms are used interchangeably to refer to the same office. Elders (Pastors) were appointed to oversee (shepherd) the overall direction of a local church. Decision making by the Elders is done only when all Elders are in agreement regarding a particular issue. Each Elder has the same amount of authority as any of the others, but not necessarily the same role or specific ministry to fulfill. Depending on their spiritual giftedness and availability, our Elders will vary in time commitment or forms of public ministry.
Sam Vendt
Staff
Sam graduated from Keene State College in 2011 with a degree in Music Education and spent seven years as an elementary music teacher. During that time, he also got his Master of Education at Liberty University. Sam has served in various ministries including the worship team, leading youth ministry, men’s ministry, writing corporate worship songs, and teaching. Sam enjoys writing and recording music, playing board games, going for walks, and spending time with his family and friends. Sam and Alex have four children.
Aaron Russo
Staff
Aaron graduated from Dartmouth College in 1998, and got his MA in Music Performance from UMass Amherst. Since then he’s lived in all kinds of places, from the inner-city to the farm, and done a little of everything: carpentry, professional music, architectural conservation, supply chain management, and graphic design… among other things. Aaron has served with the worship team, teaching ABF classes, children’s Sunday School, Reach leadership team, and the finance team. Aaron also enjoys history, fiction, cats, the woods, and making/fixing things. Aaron and Becky have three kids.
Our Deacons
Deacons are official servants within the church, helping to free the Elders from many temporal concerns (Acts 6:1-6). They have delegated authority under the Elders to lead particular ministries (Acts 6:3, 6).
Eric Landfried
Children's Ministry
Eric has taught our 4th to 6th Grade Sunday School classes from day one, and has built a reputation for engaging young minds in a thoughtful, reverent examination of the scriptures. Eric oversees our Sunday School and Nursery ministries to support parents in giving our kids the best biblical education we can. Eric is also a novelist, a drummer, and our resident expert on superheroes. He and his wife Kristen (also a dedicated Sunday School teacher) live in Walpole.
Gretchen Russell
Women's Ministry
Bio coming soon!