The Bethlehem Staff is ready to serve

Eric is the Youth & Children’s Minister at Bethlehem and has been since 2012. He grew up in Portland, attending Trinity Lutheran School and Portland Lutheran High School. He graduated from Concordia, St. Paul, Minnesota as a DCE.  In 2021 he got married at Bethlehem. He and his wife have one adult daughter living on her own, one in college, one in high school, and one dog who loves to lay by the fire.  He loves giving children’s sermons, inviting youth and their families into a deeper relationship with Jesus, the Blazers, running, and Mario Kart. 

Laiva has been Bethlehem Preschool’s director and lead teacher since 2017.  She earned her Master’s in Curriculum and Instruction in 2018 from Portland State University.  She and her husband have a daughter and a son.  In her free time, Laiva enjoys to run, read, craft, cook and be with friends and family.  She classifies herself as an early literacy “geek” who loves to provide as many opportunities for children to develop not only these skills but their social and math skills as well.

Joel has been Bethlehem’s Parish Administrator since 2017 and took on the role of Worship Coordinator in 2025.  He grew up in the congregation before attending schools in California and Louisiana.  He holds a Master’s in Teaching from Concordia University, Portland and taught for 5 years before becoming a stay at home dad.  He and his wife now have 3 children in school.  Joel is also a part of the Youth Ministry Squad, Trustees, and leads the Young Adult Bible Study and Men’s Bible Study on Monday nights.

Mary has been Parish Assistant since 2017.  Prior to joining the office staff, Mary worked in Bethlehem’s preschool as a teacher’s aide, starting in 2003.  Mary and her family have been members of Bethlehem since 2000.  She grew up in Wisconsin, moving to Oregon in 1995.  Mary and her husband have 3 grown children and 4 granddaughters.  Mary is involved in Worship Team, Choir, and Women’s Ministry here at Bethlehem.