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Pastor Nancy Bontempo is originally from Sturgeon Bay and after graduating from a local high school, she enrolled at UW-Green Bay, completing a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communication and Business. She spent the next 30 years applying her education to leadership and team development in a corporate setting.

Her first love, however, has always been her faith. “I have been a student of the Bible from the time I was a child. I count myself richly blessed to have sat under amazing teachers who helped me understand the depth and practical application of the Word of God." She has served in a variety of ministry positions over the years, but pastoring at Friends since 2014 is the greatest honor in her life. 

Friends Community Church is one of the oldest in Door County, being established in 1880. The Society of Friends believes that both men and women are qualified to serve in pastoral leadership and that the Bible’s prohibition of women in ministry was written in light of societal norms at the time. This Friends community has employed a number of women as pastor since its inception.
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Linda James
Psalm 62:8 Trust in the Lord at all times, O people; pour out your heart before Him:  God is a refuge for us.
God has been Linda’s refuge throughout life! Church attendance and Bible reading were important before she understood their impact. She thought God lived at church but was told that He could live in her heart – which changed everything! The Lord led Linda to a master’s degree in Speech Communication; resulting in her first college teaching position. Later, as a high school radio/television teacher, she advised a Bible Club and student-produced Christian cable television program. Linda continued her education with a major in Bible at the Moody Bible Institute. In addition, a “Write to Publish” Moody course encouraged her to write stories of God’s faithfulness for publication, which she has done over the years.  After meeting and marrying the most wonderful man in the world, Linda and her husband, David, led the pre-marital classes at Elmbrook Church (Brookfield, WI) for 17 years. Through God’s amazing faithful healing and strength; nothing short of the miracles of His power has sustained her! She considers it a privilege to serve the Lord at Friends Community Church.