Born in 1947 to James E. and Willine Maxson, Robin was reared in rural Kansas and suburban Southern California. His father retired in 2000 after a 48-year career as a pastor. Robin is grateful to have been brought up by godly parents, and has been actively involved in Bible-teaching churches all of his life.

Robin received Jesus Christ as his personal Savior as a third-grader on March 3, 1955.

Upon his graduation from Buena High School (Ventura, California) in 1965, he attended Wheaton College (Wheaton, Illinois) where he earned his B.A. degree in Philosophy in 1969. His graduate work in Systematic Theology was completed at Dallas Theological Seminary (Dallas, Texas) from which he graduated with the Master of Theology degree in 1973. He is currently working on a Doctor of Ministry degree from Dallas Seminary.

In November, 1973, Robin married Louise A. Bachman in Oxnard, California. His first pastorate was at Union Valley Church in Hutchinson, Kansas. He became pastor of Klamath Evangelical Free Church on January 1,1976. The Maxson's two children were born in Klamath Falls: Rachel (1977) and Michael (1979).

In addition to his pastoral responsibilities with the church, Robin assisted Dr. Garry Friesen (Multnomah Bible College) in writing Decision Making and the Will of God: A Biblical Alternative to the Traditional View. It was published in 1980 (Multnomah Press). A revised and updated edition was released in 2004. Robin also wrote Hostage (Zondervan, 1982), as well as several magazine articles and book reviews.

Robin has been involved in regional leadership in the Pacific Northwest District of the EFCA. He has also taken an active role as an instructor and editor for discipleship-training ministry Training Network and is highly involved in the Klamath Evangelical Alliance.

E-mail Pastor Robin.

Rick Sonerholm- Associate Pastor

Rick has been with UEFC since 1985. His ministry takes many different forms ranging from overseeing adult ministries to building projects. He oversees the work of the office staff, and provides direction to the leaders of our Adult Bible Fellowships, Men's Ministry leadership team, and Stephen's Ministers (lay counselors). He also does a good bit of pastoral counseling.

Rick was born in 1948. He grew up in a Free Church in Britt, Iowa and spent his teenage years in Boulder, Colorado. His mother, Millie, lives in a retirement home in Klamath Falls. Raised by godly parents, Rick accepted Christ at age 5. Rick is grateful for the many adults who took an interest in his spiritual development, involving him in many growth and ministry experiences as he grew up.

Attending Trinity College (Deerfield, Illinois) Rick traveled extensively with music groups, visiting 46 states. Upon graduation he served for one year as youth pastor at the Roseburg, Oregon Free Church, developing a love, not only for pastoral ministry, but for the Northwest as well. He subsequently enrolled at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School earning a Master of Divinity degree in 1976. While there he met and Married Candi Jacobsen in 1975. Rick and Candi served the Evangelical Free Church in La Center, Washington from 1976 to 1985. During that time their three children were born - Bethany (1977), Jordan (1980) and Marisa in September (1984).

It has always been important to Rick that Christians be salt and light in their communities. In Washington Rick served on La Center's planning commission and town council. In Klamath Falls he serves as chairman of the Local Alcohol and Drug Planning Committee, and is periodically involved in musical theater. He also serves on the Board of the Pacific Northwest District of the Evangelical Free Church in the position of Regional Overseer for Southern Oregon Free Churches.

E-mail Pastor Rick

John Kupitz- Director of Student Ministries

He was born in 1979 and raised in the heart of the Silicon Valley. While there, he developed an interest in theatre. This led him to Seattle Pacific University where he earned a B.A. in Theatre Arts. In his senior year at SPU, John was given the opportunity to work with a youth group as an intern. After only two months he was promoted to part-time youth pastor. In 2002, he married his beautiful wife Heidi. John came on board the UEFC staff in February 2007 and is praying fervently for the youth in our church and the Klamath Basin. When he's not at the church or hanging out with youth, John can be found with Heidi spending time with their son Josiah and their new baby girl, Daisy.

Currently John has also taken on the role of student, which makes him feel a little bit like that hair club president "I'm not only the hair club president, I'm also a client!" John is a part time seminary student at Western Seminary, working diligently to grow in his knowledge of God and the Bible.

E-mail John.

Sally Ritter- Director of Children’s Ministries.

In this capacity, she oversees the church’s volunteer staff of adults who lead the various programs devoted to the spiritual nurture of children through grade 6. Her work is carried out in deliberate partnership with parents who are responsible for the spiritual training of their children.

Sally was born and 1956 and grew up in Sunnyvale, California. She was in junior high when she accepted Christ as her Savior. She attended UCLA and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Linguistics and Psychology. That same year she married John Ritter. After brief sojourns in Michigan and North Carolina, the Ritters resided in Hamptom, Virginia for 12 years. That’s where their sons were born: Chris (1984), Daniel (1986), and Steven (1989).

The Ritters moved to Klamath Falls in 1994 when John became Professor of Natural Sciences at O.I.T. Prior to joining the Ministerial Staff of UEFC, most of Sally’s professional experience was in education, in both public and Christian schools. She has been this church’s Director of Children’s Ministries since September, 2002.

E-mail Sally.