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 2017. Prior to her arrival on staff, however, Desiree was already known by many Edgebrook Covenanters as a child of the church!
Desiree is a music educator-turned-church musician who has lived in Chicago for most of her life. Her first community, however, was a small village in the Democratic Republic of Congo where her parents spent two years teaching nursing. She also spent some time living in Yaoundé, Cameroon. Growing up as a “missionary kid” cultivated in Desiree a deep appreciation for and curiosity about God’s beautiful, complex, and expansive world.
Desiree has a BME from North Park University (’12), with a specialty in choral music as well as an MaCF from North Park Theological Seminary (’25). She is passionate about worship that honors God and forms congregations in doing justice, loving mercy, and walking humbly. She is equally passionately about growing in intergenerational and multicultural relationships as well as nurturing inclusive spaces where all are welcomed. When she’s not leading worship or running the church office, Desiree loves drinking coffee, listening to audiobooks, crafting home décor, rehabbing old and found furniture, exploring the city of Chicago, playing games with friends, being auntie to her nephews and niece, and traveling to visit family.
Hailey Bianco | Edgebrook Youth Together Minister
edgebrookyouthtogether@gmail.com
Hailey Bianco (she/her/hers) is a current seminarian at the Wartburg Theological Seminary, pursuing a Master of Arts in Diaconal Ministry degree. She came to Edgebrook after graduating with a B.A. in graphic design from North Park University in 2023. During undergrad, she heard her first call into ministry while working on summer staff at Covenant Point Bible Camp in Iron River, MI.
Hailey has a passion for creativity and cultivating inclusive spaces where everyone can experience God’s unconditional love. In her free time, she enjoys painting, hiking, cycling, playing ultimate frisbee, and being with her kittens, Josie and Francine.
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
