Our Staff

In 2017, EFCA’s North Central District called Brian Farone to serve as our District Superintendent. A first generation christian who came to faith through the ministry of Young Life, he is a graduate of Arizona Christian University and Trinity Evangelical Divinity School. Prior to joining the NCD, he served in pastoral ministry in Arizona and California. Likewise, he spent four years serving in regional leadership on the staff of EFCA West. Brian and his wife Teri are the parents of two young adults, Samuel and Grace. Together with the rest of our district team, he is passionate about serving pastors, church leaders and churches as they invite people to trust, walk with and serve Jesus Christ.  

Pat Wester serves the North Central District as our Director of Church Revitalization, where he provides key resources and support as he coaches and consults with NCD churches towards greater effectiveness. Raised in Minnesota, Pat and his wife, Dawn, now live in Rochester, MN.  They have three grown children and are “Papa and Nana” to four grandkids, who somehow manage to get spoiled every time they visit. Ordained in the EFCA, Pat brings 27 years of service in pastoral ministry, including youth, children’s, small groups, and executive roles to our team, as well as a desire to see congregations and church staffs flourish and find vitality.  

As Director for Women in Ministry, Andrea Tyson will build up the women in ministry leadership in the NCD as she invests, coaches, refreshes, and equips women for God’s glory and their good. Andrea graduated from the University of Northwestern and Providence Theological Seminary. She served as a Director for Women’s Ministries for 14 years before joining a church plant in 2021 where she currently serves full-time as the Director for Community Life and Women’s Discipling. She is passionate about making disciples who make disciples, so this part-time role to pour into people who pour into others is an expression of her heart and ministry philosophy. The gospel motivates her to share her life and the gospel, love and live God’s Word, and have meaningful conversations for people’s joy and progress in the faith. In spare time, Andrea enjoys simple things like going on walks, hanging out in a tree hammock, traveling, playing games, being inspired by decorating shows, and eating raised vanilla sprinkled doughnuts.  

Having always felt called to play a support role to those in ministry, Office Administrator Sharon Trucker oversees the basic office administration and support for the NCD, including mailings, database and facility management, and support of credentialing and placement.  Sharon grew up in the Pacific Northwest and in the EFCA but considers herself a Minnesotan now after attending Bethel College (with a BA in History) and working at the EFCA National Office for 15 years supporting various directors with Mission USA/ReachNational, Urban/Intercultural Ministries, Student Ministries, and Challenge Youth Conference.  While passionate about enabling others to do the work they’re called to do, she also is drawn to multicultural ministry, having led the immigrant garden ministry at Revive Church in Brooklyn Park for a couple of years. 

Sonja has a long history with the EFCA, growing up in the Evangelical Free Church of Crystal Lake, IL, graduating from Trinity College in Deerfield in 1994 with a degree in mathematics, and attending South Suburban Evangelical Free Church in Apple Valley, MN since 2003. After working in various accounting roles prior to motherhood, once her four children were all in school, Sonja began working in the South Suburban Church office, eventually taking on bookkeeping responsibilities there. She is grateful for the opportunity to continue her journey with the EFCA, supporting the North Central District through her attention to detail and skill with numbers.