Pastors and Staff

Our Pastors

  • Pastor David Lillejord

    SENIOR PASTOR

    PastorLillejord@naplesemmanuel.org

    Pastor David Lillejord accepted a call to serve Emmanuel in 2024. Pastor Lillejord is a graduate of Luther Seminary in St. Paul, MN.

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  • Pastor Rick Bliese

    ASSOCIATE PASTOR / TEACHING

    pastorrick@naplesemmanuel.org

    Rev. Dr. Richard Bliese was called to serve Emmanuel in the fall of 2018, after serving our congregation for two years as a consultant for the Kern Family Foundation from Waukesha, WI.

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  • Pastor José Lebrón

    ASSOCIATE PASTOR AT EMMANUEL COMMUNITY CHURCH

    pastorjose@naplesemmanuel.org

    Rev. José Lebrón was born in the Dominican Republic. Lived in Brazil and was a well known pediatrician. Pastor José leads Emmanuel Community Church, which offers bilingual Spanish/English worship.

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  • Pastor Jay Shailer

    ASSOCIATE PASTOR AT OIL WELL ROAD

    PastorJay@napelsemmanuel.org

    Pastor Jay Shailer is called to lead the Emmanuel Church, Oil Well Road campus. Pastor Jay is a graduate of Trinity Lutheran Seminary in Columbus, OH.

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Our Deacons

  • Jim Cooper

    ELCA Deacon for Youth and Families

    jim@naplesemmanuel.org

    Jim arrived at Emmanuel Lutheran Church on August 1, 2001, with his wife and two children. Prior to being at Emmanuel, he was the director of student life ministry for seven years at Lord of Life Lutheran Church in Ramsey, Minnesota.

  • Dee Schleutker

    ELCA Deacon for Programs and Outreach

    dee@naplesemmanuel.org

    Dee-Anne Schleutker, an Ohio native, received her B.S. in Nursing from Capital University in Columbus, Ohio. After several years of theological education, Dee was commissioned and installed as Deacon for Mission, Service and outreach in 2012.

  • Nieves Lebrón

    Synod Parish Deacon

    nieves@naplesemmanuel.org

    Nieves Lebrón was born and raised in Dominican Republic and become a pediatrician. She holds a master’s degree in Arts at Lutheran School of Theology in Chicago, and a master’s degree in Education at Quincy University in Chicago.

Our Staff