John Madvig | Lead Pastor
john@edgebrookcovenant.org
John Madvig joined us as lead pastor of Edgebrook Covenant Church in July, of 2024. It’s not the first time he’s lived in Chicago, as he attended elementary school here, returned after high school, again after college, and once again as he attended North Park Seminary, where he received his Master of Divinity degree in 2001.
John met his wife Evie when they were both serving as volunteers at KICY, the ECC’s radio station in Nome, Alaska. They’ve been married over 30 years and have two adult children, Sarah and Nathan.
A lifelong Covenanter, John began his ministry calling as a youth pastor in Kalamazoo, Michigan, and then Hilmar California. After seminary, he served for eighteen years as senior pastor at churches in Saranac, Michigan and Omaha, Nebraska. Prior to being called to Edgebrook, John served churches in Massachusetts and South Dakota as a Transitional Interim Pastor. He has a deep love for preaching and teaching God’s word.
John and Evie have enjoyed traveling together, having visited places like Ireland, Hawaii, and Croatia. They are becoming reacquainted with the wide variety of food, sports, and musical entertainment that is available in the Chicago area. John has joined a group of golfers who get together on Friday mornings. He also enjoys playing guitar, board games, and riding his bicycle.
Desiree Robertson | Worship & Music Director, Office Manager
desiree@edgebrookcovenant.org
Desiree and her husband, Zach, have enjoyed living in the Edgebrook neighborhood and serving at Edgebrook Covenant since fall 2017. Prior to her arrival on staff, however, Desiree was already known by many Edgebrook Covenanters as a child of the church! Desiree has a BME from North Park University (’12), with a specialty in choral music. She enjoyed teaching general music for a couple years before being called into church music ministry. Now, Desiree is a student at North Park Theological Seminary, where she is a hopeful May 2025 graduate with a Masters of Christian Formation!
Desiree is passionate about worship that honors God and contributes to faith formation by providing theologically thoughtful and relevant music and liturgies; supporting creativity in music and the arts; engaging in intergenerational and multicultural relationships; and nurturing inclusive spaces where all are welcomed to experience the life-changing good news of Jesus.
When she’s not at church or studying, Desiree loves to craft home décor, rehab old or found furniture, explore the city of Chicago (especially the arts and food scene), play games, hang out with her nephews, and travel to GA or NH to visit family. Home organization is Desiree’s favorite form of self-therapy, and everything she does with a cup of coffee (single-origin pour-over basically guaranteed) in one hand and some dark chocolate in the other.
Kathy McKeon | Custodian
custodian@edgebrookcovenant.org
Church Council
Erik Tenglin | Chair
Patty Shepherd | Vice Chair
Jon Lind | Secretary
Ken McCullah | Treasurer
Candi Tepke | Congregational Care & Connection
Paul Edison | Properties & Facilities
Val Persson | Spiritual Formation & Discipleship
Mary Doucette | Member at Large
Jennifer Ronan | Member at Large
Rob Endo | Financial Secretary
