Our Staff
Drew Sperry, Pastor
The Rev. Andrew (Drew) Sperry is a graduate of Niagara University with a BS in Management and Drew University with a M.Div. Drew began his ministry in 2010 as Chaplin at Greystone Park Psychiatric Hospital, where he helped to develop a diagnostic chaplaincy program. In 2014 Rev, Sperry was appointed as the Associate Pastor of Saratoga Spring United Methodist Church. While serving Saratoga he was commissioned as a provisional elder within the Upper New York Annual Conference and then ordained a full elder 2016. At Saratoga Rev. Sperry helped to build exciting outreach ministries, create intergenerational mission programs, and cared for the administrative needs of the church. In 2019, Rev. Sperry was appointed to Calvary (Latham) United Methodist Church as lead pastor. In addition to his work at the local church Rev. Sperry also serves the Annual Conference as a part of its leadership team, member of the Board of Ordained Ministry and the Jurisdictional Conference Delegation. He also chairs the Conference Clergy Wellness team and has a passion for helping every to discover holistic health and wellbeing. Pastor Drew is married to Dr. Eileen Sperry and a proud dad to Emily.
M. Gordon Drake, Assistant Pastor
M. Gordon Drake has been in ministry for nearly forty years: he retired in March 2012, from Northeast Parent & Child Society as their Vice President of Prevention Services. He has held several human service positions: Program Director for persons with developmental disabilities (Ohio); Director of Alcohol and Substance Abuse Services (in New York); Coordinator and Director for services with homeless and runaway youth and those in need of assistance (in Albany, NY and New Hampshire); and Associate Pastor at Calvary United Methodist Church, Latham, from 1978-1985. He has also served on several community agency committees and advisory boards. He is a graduate of Ottawa University, Kansas, Andover-Newton Theological School, Newton, Mass. Holding an M.Div., and Russell Sage Graduate School, with a Masters in Community Psychology.
He and his wife, Lisa, live in Colonie, New York and are active with various committees, and both sing in the choir. Lisa is a retired social worker. They are proud grandparents to two wonderful grandchildren.
Rev. John Philippe, Pastor Emeritus
Pastor Emeritus John Phillippe graduated from Purdue University in 1955 with a BSc. in Agriculture. After a stint in the US Navy and 6 years in the business world, he was appointed as a student pastor in 1963 to two churches in the Minnesota Conference, Racine, and Grand Meadow. While serving there he achieved his MDiv. Degree from Garret Theological Seminary in Evanston IL. Following that, he was appointed to the LaCrescent, MN UMC for 12 years and then to the Buffalo MN UMC for 8 years. In 1990, he transferred from the Minnesota Conference to the old Wyoming Conference of the UMC and was appointed to the Worcester and E. Worcester charge in Upper New York. He took full time retirement in June of 1996. Following a brief hiatus, he accepted a position as Asst. Pastor of Calvary UMC in 1999. He retired for the second time after serving 18 years at Calvary in 2017.
Natalia Shevchuk, Organist/Choir Director
Natalia Shevchuk, a native or Ukraine, had graduated from the Kyiv State Conservatory, now known as the National Academy of Music. Over the past five years she performed in NH, Maine, and released her first CD, "Schubert's Sonata in B-flat major, D. 960." Natalia and her husband Chris Young moved from Conway, NH to New Lebanon, NY in July, 2016. For more info please visit: http://www.nataliashevchuk.com
Charity Preston, Family Ministry Coordinator
Charity hails from Eastport Maine, and moved to the Latham area in 2001. She joined our staff in 2016, before beginning her ministry with us, she earned her bachelors in Psychology from Elmira College, and worked as a paralegal in the capital area. In addition to serving as our Family Ministry Co-Coordinator for families with older aged children, Charity also works as a Special Ed Teacher Aide and Job Coach for the Shenendehowa Central School District. She is married to Nate, and is mom to Matthew, Katie and Abbie.
Kristen Rains, Family Ministry Coordinator
Kristen is from Chicago Illinois, where she grew up in the Methodist Church. Prior to living in Latham she practiced as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker in the field of childhood trauma in Denver, Colorado. She and her husband Tim joined Calvary in 2019, and began her ministry with us as our Nursery Care Provider. In 2021, she transitioned to her current role as a co-coordinator of family ministries for younger families. Kristen is an outdoor enthusiast, feline-lover, and mother of two daughters.
Dinorah Raghubar, Administrative Assistant
Didi serves as the Administrative Assistant for the Church. She is an integral part in keeping Calvary organized! She is married to Dave and is Mom to her twins, Victoria and Alex.
Bob Savage, Sexton
Bob is a long time member of Calvary. In addition to being actively involved with the church in many capacities, he has recently assumed the position of Sexton, maintaining the building and grounds and providing valuable services to the church.