Pastor Lonnie
Rev. Dr. Lonnie Richardson, Founding Pastor
Lonnie is the founding and senior pastor of Fox River Congregational Church. His life has been shaped by a lifelong commitment to Christian ministry, theological education, and service across a wide range of congregational settings, including rural, urban, and university communities.
Pastor Lonnie began his ministry journey in 1970 with the Methodist Church, quickly progressing through leadership roles as a licensed minister and traveling preacher. He earned a degree from Greenville University in 1975 and later completed a Master of Divinity at Eden Theological Seminary, where he was ordained as an Elder in The United Methodist Church in 1981. Over the years, he served congregations in Missouri and Wisconsin before founding Fox River Congregational Church, where he continues to serve today.
A dedicated student and pastor, Dr. Richardson earned his Doctor of Ministry in 2008 and has pursued ongoing leadership training, including certification in transitional ministry. His work has been recognized for its innovation and impact, with the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel describing him as “a twentieth-century pioneer.”
Known for his thoughtful, transformative approach to ministry, Pastor Lonnie is committed to helping individuals grow in faith and live with purpose. Alongside his wife, Mercedes, and their three children and grandchild, his legacy reflects a deep devotion to spiritual leadership, community building, and lifelong service.
Rev. Jacquie Quirk, Minister of Congregational Care
Pastor Jacquie has a Master’s Degree in Christian Leadership from the University of Dubuque Theological Seminary and is an ordained minister who directs the Stephen Ministry. She develops congregational care ministries, worship services, coordinates pulpit supply, and assists in the pastoral ministries of the church.
Kostia Effimov - Resident Composer
Kostia is a Russian-born pianist, award-winning composer, and Narada recording artist who performs internationally. He arranges, composes, and records music for worship at Fox River, where his original compositions are featured each Sunday at Fox River Congregational Church.
Over the course of his recording career, Kostia has released several solo albums, including Suite St. Petersburg, 10 Pebbles, Piano Ocean, and others. His work also includes film and media projects. He composed the soundtrack for the motion picture The Play in the Modern Style and for Blue Lamp, a short film by Alex Boguslavsky. He collaborated with LEGO and George Lucas Films to create music for the animated short Star Wars: Revenge of the Brick, and one of his compositions was featured in the television series Sex and the City.
Kostia has recorded multiple albums with longtime bandmate Daryl Stuermer, including GO!, Rewired, and Retrofit. He also produced Carmen Nickerson’s debut album, Tomorrow Is Another Day. His most recent release is Still, Still, Still, a sacred and inspirational recording.
His music has been performed by the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra, the Utah Symphony Orchestra, and the internationally acclaimed Veronica String Quartet. Kostia has been the resident composer at Fox River for years.
Carmen Nickerson - Worship Song Leader and Soloist
Carmen has earned admiration from audiences of all ages and across a wide range of musical styles. Her work spans from collaborations with nationally acclaimed singer-songwriter Willy Porter to voicing Sonya Lee, a character in Fisher-Price’s Little People live stage productions.
Beyond the stage, Carmen is an accomplished professional vocalist and studio voice-over artist. She has recorded for Hollywood Records, a Disney subsidiary, in Los Angeles and contributed to the Pro Vocal Series for Hal Leonard Publishing in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. A member of Fox River, Carmen has been part of our professional music talent pool for many years.