Our Pastor and Staff

Pastor Luke Bert became the senior pastor at First Pres in July 2025. Pastor Luke’s ministry goals are to love God and love God’s people. He has been in active ministry since 2010. He began his ministry career as the youth director at Calvary Chapel Jackson. In 2012 while preaching through the Gospel of John and attending Belhaven University, he became convinced of the doctrine of grace and Presbyterianism. After attending Belhaven, pastor Luke attended Reformed Theological Seminary (RTS) in Jackson, MS. During his time at RTS, he preached in small churches around Mississippi. He also interned at two different churches, Trinity PCA in Jackson and Hope Church in Shippensburg, PA. After finishing at RTS, Luke worked for one year at Belhaven teaching Bible before he and his family moved to Quebec to serve as missionaries. While in Quebec, Luke worked at SEMBEQ as a professor of Old Testament and Biblical Languages. Luke also trained and supported pastors across Quebec and eventually helped plant Grace Gatineau, the first PCA church in Quebec. He is currently working on his doctorate in Hebrew linguistics at the University of the Free State, where he studies Hebrew Poetry.

Luke had the joy of marrying his high school sweetheart, Rebekah, in August 2007.  Rebekah is a skilled musician and artist. She has a degree in technical theatre and is an accomplished pianist and French Horn player. Luke and Rebekah have four children: Matthias, Saranna, Kara, and Étienne (pronounced ATN). Luke and Rebekah have a deep and personal love for the Jersey Shore. They met at Harvey Cedars Bible Conference on Long Beach Island. The Berts enjoy playing board games, welcoming people into their home, and enjoying outdoor activities, such as hockey, snowboarding/skiing, canoeing, paddleboarding, kayaking, hiking, and going to the beach.

Kim Murphy has been our Director of Youth and Family Ministries at FPC since 1999. He was born in 1965 and grew up in the rolling hills of Little York, New York. By God's grace he received faith and believed he was a sinner in need of a Savior from the time he was a little boy and is forever grateful that God has seen fit to continue growing him deeper in a relationship with Jesus Christ since those early days. He worked as a church organist and pianist throughout high school, college, and many years beyond. He was also a partner in a family plumbing and heating business for ten years.

Kim and his wife Gretchen have been married since 1989 and have four children they are seeking to train up, though God's mercy, in the way they should go. In 1996 he graduated from Columbia International University with a BS in Bible and General Ministries and minors in Music and Youth Ministry.

He loves hard work, a good laugh, talking with people, hearing their stories, and the privilege of being a part of the Body of Christ: the church. In his position here at First Pres he highly values the many opportunities for mutually encouraging fellow believers to grow in walks with God, knowledge and understanding of His Word, and relationships with other believers. As he works with youth and families he endeavors to direct young people to their need for Christ and their parents. At First Pres we constantly seek to remember it is the parents' role to raise up the children in the fear and admonition of the Lord. Kim strives to support parents in this endeavor.

Kim's favorite authors and speakers are John Piper, Jerry Bridges, Charles Spurgeon, RC Sproul, and Voddie Bauchaum. He enjoys music by Stephen Curtis Chapman, the original Newsboys, Michael Card, David Meece, Petra, (Yes, you can STILL get their music!), Chris Tomlin, and the Annie Moses Band. Kim enjoys games (the old fashioned sort!), playing the piano, singing, nights at home with his family, Sunday afternoon naps, reading, movies, and getting his hands dirty with a job that needs doing!