Meet Our Staff & Leaders
![Pastor Gary_edited.jpg](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/4bcd30_d549e92760514df0bf19f90cb8f92a14~mv2.jpg/v1/crop/x_0,y_0,w_520,h_383/fill/w_389,h_287,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_avif,quality_auto/Pastor%20Gary_edited.jpg)
PASTOR
Rev. Dr. Gary P. Lissy
When not pastoring, Gary is Abiding Savior's "Vision Caster", projecting where the church is going and serving on the church council. Originally from Chatham, NJ, he's been at Abiding Savior since 2012. He and wife Sandy have two sons and a daughter. He loves barbecued and international food.
![Sandy Lissy_edited.jpg](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/4bcd30_dcc07b95ada34f82ac973bcaa7043099~mv2.jpg/v1/crop/x_0,y_73,w_2250,h_1943/fill/w_389,h_336,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_avif,quality_auto/Sandy%20Lissy_edited.jpg)
SECRETARY & COUNCIL MEMBER
Sandy Lissy
Sandy grew up in Ashland, NE around seven horses her family owned. Her favorite was Blaze, a quarter horse. She first attended Abiding Savior in 2013 with her son, then married Pastor Gary in 2014. Interesting fact? She has a degree in electronics. Email Sandy.
![Office Manager Eleanor Brierley_edited_edited.jpg](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/4bcd30_9ef4b9281f3d4aa293fce4b342446669~mv2.jpg/v1/crop/x_19,y_0,w_840,h_619/fill/w_389,h_287,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_avif,quality_auto/Office%20Manager%20Eleanor%20Brierley_edited_edited.jpg)
OFFICE MANAGER
Eleanor Brierley
Eleanor is a 2nd generation Scottsdale resident who's played flute for the last 20 years with the Ahwatukee Foothills Concert Band. She's been the Abiding Savior office manager since about 2000 and has been a member since the early 1990's.
![Treasurer Kurt Parks_edited_edited_edite](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/4bcd30_cd08375785f742aaa63c4c475b7f3023~mv2.jpg/v1/crop/x_0,y_4,w_1058,h_780/fill/w_389,h_287,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_avif,quality_auto/Treasurer%20Kurt%20Parks_edited_edited_edite.jpg)
TREASURER & COUNCIL MEMBER
Kurt Parks
Kurt was raised in Burnetsville, Indiana. He moved to Arizona in 1965 and has attended Abiding Savior with his wife since 1970. He's been treasurer since 2017. He's the father of four boys and has two grandchildren. He says: "Eat dessert before the main meal, when possible."
![Paul Mercer_edited.jpg](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/4bcd30_72d511fe0f1b4c989cbdc946625a74b9~mv2.jpg/v1/crop/x_21,y_0,w_2208,h_1907/fill/w_389,h_336,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_avif,quality_auto/Paul%20Mercer_edited.jpg)
COUNCIL PRESIDENT
Paul Mercer
Paul attended Abiding Savior regularly between 2009 and 2012, then moved out of state. Whenever he visited, he'd come to church. (His family has been attending since the early 90's). In the summer of 2022, he moved back to Arizona and to this church family. He participates regularly in the Thursday Night Men's Group and Sunday Morning Bible Studies.
![Barbara O'Connor small_edited.jpg](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/4bcd30_51e39d5c78994aeca3f2cab89d448457~mv2.jpg/v1/crop/x_0,y_43,w_288,h_249/fill/w_389,h_336,al_c,lg_1,q_80,enc_avif,quality_auto/Barbara%20O'Connor%20small_edited.jpg)
ELDER & COUNCIL MEMBER
Barbara O'Connor
(Bio coming soon)
![Meri Weinstein council member small_edit](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/4bcd30_3f898311cd1b4b59bc27624ac930e8dc~mv2.jpg/v1/crop/x_0,y_40,w_288,h_249/fill/w_389,h_336,al_c,lg_1,q_80,enc_avif,quality_auto/Meri%20Weinstein%20council%20member%20small_edit.jpg)
DEACON & COUNCIL MEMBER
Meri Weinstein
(bio coming soon)
![Screenshot 2024-05-07 165401_edited.jpg](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/4bcd30_ead14fc8adc44d168a36afbe08070913~mv2.jpg/v1/crop/x_21,y_0,w_456,h_394/fill/w_389,h_336,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_avif,quality_auto/Screenshot%202024-05-07%20165401_edited.jpg)
SUNDAY BIBLE STUDY LEADER
Carol Parks
Carol was born into a career military family, the longest I lived anywhere was 2 1/2 years in a small tornado-prone town outside Kansas City, MO. The fact that I ( with Kurt and our four sons) have been a member of Abiding Savior Lutheran Church for 54 years is " mind-blowing" for me. In those years, God has provided many opportunities to team up with my sisters and brothers here, in "being" the church. Connecting people with Jesus is great a great pleasure.
![Lew_edited_edited_edited.jpg](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/4bcd30_31e83e515eb14ae5b8a777c7c822298e~mv2.jpg/v1/crop/x_0,y_32,w_470,h_406/fill/w_389,h_336,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_avif,quality_auto/Lew_edited_edited_edited.jpg)
THURSDAY NIGHT MEN'S GROUP LEADER
Lew Moyer
Lew was born in Elkhart, Indiana. He's attended Abiding Savior since 1977 and is married with two kids and three grand kids. He's a shellback and interested in genealogy. He also leads the Thursday Night Men's Group.
![fd53a61d-e8e4-4446-ad6d-be8a402afe80_edited_edited.jpg](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/4bcd30_b37de400f9e14d69a856bd60f8443bbb~mv2.jpg/v1/crop/x_63,y_0,w_409,h_353/fill/w_389,h_336,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_avif,quality_auto/fd53a61d-e8e4-4446-ad6d-be8a402afe80_edited_edited.jpg)
WEBMASTER, AUDIO-VIDEO-COMPUTERS
Joey Robert Parks
Joey is a Phoenix native. He first attended Abiding Savior in 1976. He's authored and ghostwritten 32 books of fiction and nonfiction. "Just do the next right thing" is his life mantra.
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Email Joey with website questions or suggestions, here.