Media Presbyterian Church

Program Staff

Senior Pastor - Reverend William L. Borror

The Rev. Bill Borror is in his fourteenth year as Sr. Pastor of Media Presbyterian Church. Bill is graduate of Princeton Theological Seminary and is a Doctoral candidate at Drew University . Currently, he is serving as an affiliate Professor of Historical Theology at Eastern Baptist Theological Seminary in Philadelphia Pa. Prior to seminary, Bill was in youth ministry for seven years both in churches and as an area director for Young Life. He continues to be involved in a wide range of issues relating to youth and family on a community and regional level. Bill is also recognized as national leader in the promotion of engaging congregations in hands-on ministry and mission. He frequently is invited to speak on these issues and is the author of numerous articles. He was the chairman of the national board of Evangelicals for Social Action and a founding member of the Delaware County Housing Coalition. He is a member of the GA Task force on Jewish-Presbyterian dialogue.

Congregational Minister - Craig M. Bean

The Rev. Craig Bean joined the staff of Media Presbyterian Church in January 2008. Craig grew up in Delaware County and served on the staff of a non-denominational church for twenty years, including ten as Senior Pastor. Prior to that he served on the staff of Campus Crusade for Christ. He is also currently serving on the staff of the US Center for World Mission, teaching the “Perspectives on the World Christian Movement” course, consulting with missionary teams and mentoring leaders in the movement to take the Gospel to the nations. In addition, he has been assisting in the development of Compassion Corps, a ministry co-founded and co-directed by his wife Jan, whose vision is to resource and partner with African Christians in holistic works of compassion among African Muslims by engaging and unleashing a company of caring and committed activists.

“It has been said that the aim of missions is ‘Christ incarnate through every church in every culture.’ As Minister for Congregational Life at MPC my prayer is that as individuals and as a church community, Jesus will be alive in us and all we do.”

Craig believes that every believer has an important role to play in the Kingdom of God and that the cause of the Kingdom is diminished to the degree that everyone who follows Jesus is not properly connected and functioning.

“God calls us to life together as His people, His congregation. He has designed us to be involved in significant relationships with allies who share our beliefs and values. One of those values is that everyone has a deep need for Jesus; therefore He also calls us to build relationships with those outside His Kingdom, take opportunities to love them and invite them to share in the fullness of life in Him.

Craig likes to travel, read, try new and exotic foods, and he’s an avid Philly sports fan. Mostly, though, he loves to spend time with his family. He and Jan have six awesome children.

Director of Youth and Outreach Ministries - Mark Boyd

Mark joined the staff of Media Presbyterian Church in March 2005 as Director of Children and Youth ministries (now Youth and Outreach ministries.) Prior to joining the MPC family, he served as Youth Pastor at a church in his home state of WV. Mark is a proud alumnus of Marshall University, as well as Palmer Theological Seminary where he earned a BBA and MDiv respectively.

Mark views his role as Youth Director to be the most important responsibility in the church setting. His passion is to introduce the life and ministry of Jesus Christ to young people, and he loves hanging with kids.

“I have never viewed youth ministry to be a stepping stone to ‘real ministry.’ These young people are not only the future of the church; they are the present as well. My life is fueled by the energy they bring to worship, and it is a true joy to walk alongside them in their faith journey.”

The other aspect of Mark’s role at MPC is in the area of Outreach and Evangelism. Mark feels truly called to the unchurched and dechurched populations, and desires to be a witness in this culture.

“I can completely understand why there are individuals in the world that have problems with church. I sometimes have problems with church, and that is because churches are filled with people. I hope and pray that God uses me in a way to spread the news of His unending grace. I think if that message was heard and understood more often, people might have fewer problems with church.”

Mark enjoys football and baseball, collecting tattoos, fishing, and tries really diligently to golf. However his biggest joy comes in spending time with his family. He and Jamie have three awesome children.

Children's Director - Cara Cavicchia

I started working at Media as a children’s ministry intern during the summers of 2005 and 2006. After graduating from Geneva College in May of 2007 with a major in elementary education along with a handful of Bible and youth ministry classes I began working at Media fulltime as Children’s Director. During college I was actively involved in Young Life as well as played on the Geneva Women’s Rugby Team. My passion is children’s ministry and it is a blessing to work for a church that values children’s ministry as much as I do. I grew up attending Media Presbyterian and it is a privilege to come back and lead a ministry that had such an influence on strengthening my faith as a child and youth.

Director of Contemporary Music - Larisa Forest

Born to a Puerto-Rican father and a Mennonite mother, Larisa Forest lived in the coal hills of Pennsylvania most of her young life. Since she was big enough to climb onto a piano bench, she has filled her life with making music, art and singing. Having studied a variety of instruments from piano to bassoon, she graduated from Messiah College in 1999 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Music, concentrating in classical voice performance. Around this time, the character of God began to grip her, causing her to question her ambitions of pursuing further study, fame and recognition in the world of the arts. Turning down tempting graduate fellowship offers, she was compelled to pursue a discipleship/wilderness training course in the Adirondacks of New York. There Christ became real to her, and upon returning to Pennsylvania, she was committed to using her musical gifts to honor Him and to enhance the church’s worship.

Since then, the Lord has returned the gift of performance and music-making to Larisa in unexpected (and better!) ways. Since 2000, she has been an integral member of her church’s worship team where she met a musical friend with similar passion and commitment to the arts - Angela Sheik. In 2004, she was given the opportunity to travel to Germany for six months with “Ange” to work solely on writing music together. Currently, Larisa “Ris” is partner in Ange&Ris, Inc., their singer/songwriter duo based in Wilmington, DE. She and Ange write original songs and perform in the Philadelphia area and beyond. They have found much joy together in pouring out musical ideas with poetic lyrics inspired by a fascination with Christ and the faces of people in their everyday lives. They also love to write Scripture songs and hymn arrangements for the encouragement and worship of the church, some of which are a regular part of MPC’s Contemporary Service. The duo released their first album in July 2007 entitled “...not me” available at www.angeandris.com .

In the fall of 2007, Media Presbyterian Church invited Larisa to be part-time Director of Contemporary Music for its new 9:30am contemporary service – a dream job! Since then, she is working to develop a worship team comprised of members of the congregation and organizing/arranging music for the 9:30 service. She has also been working with MPC’s musical youth – a Middle School Music Workshop on Wednesday nights and a High School Praise Team on Sunday evenings. Larisa is most passionate about two things: 1. worshipping the Lord corporately through theologically engaging, rich words melded to beautiful, well-done music and 2. encouraging individuals in the body of Christ to step forth and use their gifts to serve and bless others. She is delighted to be a part of the church at MPC and looks forward to how the Lord will grow it in the coming years.

Larisa lives in Chester, PA with her best friend and husband Gabriel Forest whom she married in 2006.

My song is love unknown, My Savior’s love to me;
Love to the loveless shown, that they might lovely be.
O who am I, that for my sake
My Lord should take, frail flesh and die?

Here might I stay and sing, no story so divine;
Never was love, dear King! Never was grief like Thine.
This is my Friend, in Whose sweet praise
I all my days could gladly spend.

Director of Music Ministries - Alma Zensen

Alma Zensen I joined the MPC staff as Director of Music in 2000. Choral music has always been a passion and a ministry. I feel that the Gospel message in song is an important part in reaching people for Christ. The Sanctuary Choir, Chorale and Men of Praise are all volunteer singers who minister at the 8:15 and 11:00 traditional services. It has been a great joy and priviledge to work with them. They all are constantly striving for choral excellence and enjoy blending their voices in song. We all believe that the Lord deserves our best!

Bachelor of Music, Shelton College, N.J.
Teacher's Certification, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA

Taught general music in Philadelphia Public Schools for 20 years
Former choir Director/organist at Church of the Good Shepherd, Yeadon, PA and Princeton Presbyterian Church, Springfield, PA

Director of Children's Music - Janis Richards

I was born in Upper Providence, PA and have been a member of Media Presbyterian Church all of my life. Don Norquist baptized me at MPC in 1965.

My parents and youth group leaders and friends positively impacted my spiritual growth, and I was saved on one of our youth retreats at Camp Kirkwood. I still remember and enjoy the songs we sang at the beginning of our youth group meetings.

After going through the Rose Tree Media School District and being in various choirs, singing groups, and musicals, I attended Gettysburg College where I auditioned for the College Choir. I enjoyed four years in the choir and was manager for our European Summer Tour my senior year. We sang in churches in Italy, Germany, Austria, and Switzerland, and in France we performed in the Notre Dame Cathedral. I graduated in 1987 with an Elementary Teaching Certificate as well as a degree in English.

I was thrilled to get a job teaching second grade in the Haverford Township Public School District. I asked to have a piano in my classroom so I could sing with my students every morning before starting our work for the day. I sang on Monday nights with our community adult choir, The Havertown Choristers, and on Sunday mornings with the Chorale at MPC. I also taught Sunday School for a few years and earned a Masters Degree in Reading from Widener University.

My involvement in Children's Music Ministry started in 1999 with the Sunday morning singing time and the Wednesday Night Kids' Program. There was often talk of doing a musical for kids, and God cultivated a desire in me to pursue that project. In December of 2002 the kids in the Wednesday Night Program put on The Good News Christmas Cruise, our first children's musical at MPC. This was followed by Discovery at Camp Wise 'N Up in February of 2004. A year later, I was hired as the Children's Music Director and started the Kids of the Kingdom Choir in September of 2005. Since then, we've done three musicals including Dr. Newheart's Neck-up Check-up, Truthworks, and Kingdom Quest.

From September of 2005 until June of 2007, I served as Opening Worship Leader for KidzZone on Sunday mornings, coordinator and teacher of the Wednesday Night Kids' Program, and director of The Kids of the Kingdom Choir. Once the position of full-time Children's Director was filled, I was able to concentrate all of my efforts on the Kids of the Kingdom Choir.

It is truly a privilege to work with the kids at MPC. I'm passionate about sharing Christ's love for them through music and drama. I strive to find musicals which teach eternal truths and have lessons that are applicable to daily life so that the children's faith will be enriched. "Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see." (Hebrews 11:1) My hope is that as we study God’s word in the songs and stories, we will grow in our relationship with Him. I learn just as much in preparing for choir rehearsals as the kids do attending them!

The God we serve cares about each one of us personally. I want the kids to know that even the small details of their lives are important to Him. "And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests...."(Ephesians 6:18) Through sharing prayer requests, singing, acting, learning scripture, celebrating birthdays, having snacks, playing games, and just spending time together, we are a family of love in the Body of Christ.

I live in Havertown with my husband, Dave, daughters Cameryn and Brenna, and dog, Koda. I'm grateful for their support of my work in this ministry and the many ways in which they help me throughout the Sunday School year.