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First Presbyterian Church - Jerome
Meet Our Staff
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Rev. Mark Allen, Ph.D.
Lead Pastor
Serving First Pres since November 2024
Helen Iverson-Metzger
Organist
Serving First Pres for 35 years!
Irene Staffen
Children’s Outreach Director
Serving First Pres since August 2025
Tausha Cummins
Office Administrator & Project Coordinator
Serving First Pres since March 2025
Certified Lay Pastors
Reverand Dr. Mark Allen
Mark serves Jerome First Presbyterian as Lead Pastor. He has a diverse background in ministry, academia, and business. He worked his way through Bible College as a radio announcer and youth pastor; and through his Master of Divinity in Leadership at Denver Seminary in New Home Construction sales. Mark then completed an M.A.T. and Ph.D. in Systematic and Philosophical Theology at Fuller Center for Advanced Theological Studies. He has been a business owner and has also served as a college pastor, interim lead pastor, and volunteer chaplain throughout his academic and business pursuits over past three decades. Born and raised in Southwest Iowa, Mark has lived in a lot of places, primarily: Denver and Southern and Central California. He and his lovely wife Vanessa have a 13yr. old Basset Hound named Watson; enjoy traveling internationally through wine country; weightlifting and meeting up for fun with family and friends. Currently, Mark’s favorite book of the Bible is the Gospel of John. One of his favorite verses is: Revelation 21:3-4. He is passionate about equipping people to understand and interpret the Bible for themselves and helping them grow in living out their hope in Christ.
Certified Lay Pastor
Linda W. Gray
Linda W. Gray moved to Idaho in 1980, where she founded Stained Glass Reflections, creating commissioned stained glass for churches, homes, and businesses throughout southern Idaho. For many years, she also taught stained glass classes, including at the College of Southern Idaho. A lifelong artist with a degree in Art Education from Montana State University, Linda later returned to watercolor painting inspired by landscapes from her travels and flowers from her garden, and she remains active in local and statewide art communities. Rooted in a deep faith in Jesus Christ, Linda has long served her local church and became a Certified Lay Pastor in 2020. She and her husband, C. Wilson Gray, enjoy travel, photography, fly fishing, and time with their family.
Certified Lay Pastor
Valerie Varadi
Valerie Varadi has been a member of First Presbyterian Church of Jerome for the past 15 years and completed the CLP1 program in March 2025. She has served on Session since 2019 as the Worship Elder, where she has been deeply involved in supporting the worship life and leadership of the church. Valerie married her husband, John, in 1998, and together they have two daughters and a son-in-law. She enjoys camping, rock-hounding, and traveling, and is grateful for God’s faithful presence and abundant blessings as she serves her church and helps share His love within the congregation. Born and raised in Southwest Iowa, Mark has lived in a lot of places, primarily: Denver and Southern and Central California. He and his lovely wife Vanessa have a 13yr. old Basset Hound named Watson; enjoy traveling internationally through wine country; weightlifting and meeting up for fun with family and friends. Currently, Mark’s favorite book of the Bible is the Gospel of John. One of his favorite verses is: Revelation 21:3-4. He is passionate about equipping people to understand and interpret the Bible for themselves and helping them grow in living out their hope in Christ.
Church Elders
Larry Greenwalt
Micah Robinson
Wilson Gray
Linda Gray
John Varadi
Valerie Varadi
Josh Kern
Marilee Allison
Jennie Gibson
Secretary
Joyce Flick
Church Guard Dog
Kizzy Flick
Church Deacons