Interim Associate Pastors for Congregational Ministries

The American Church welcomes the return in February 2020 of Jodi and Doug Fondell as Interim Associate Pastors for Congregational Ministries.

Jodi and Doug have been active in International Church ministry since 1998. Their first call abroad was to Immanuel International in Stockholm, Sweden where a 3 year call yielded 17 years of fruitful and meaningful ministry. Since then they served at the American Church in London, at the ACP, and at All Nations Church Luxembourg.

Prior to moving to Europe, Doug served as associate pastor in the Chicago area where his responsibilities included ministry to youth and young adults along with preaching, leading worship, working with the Christian Education board, teaching Sunday School and directing Vacation Bible School programs. Jodi served as Chaplain of North Park University, a Christian liberal arts college in Chicago where she was engaged with college-age students through pastoral care, leading and planning chapel services, and building campus ministry teams. Both Jodi and Doug have extensive experience in leading mission trips both in the US and abroad.

Youth and Young Adults Pastor

Victor was born in Dayton, Ohio, and from the age of 10 grew up bouncing around South Florida. He attended Southeastern University in Lakeland, Florida where he drummed for the Worship Choir and graduated with a degree in Practical Theology. While attending Southeastern, he interned in Los Angeles, CA. After graduation in 2009, Victor spent five years in Concord, North Carolina serving a dual position as the High School Bible teacher and the Associate Youth Pastor at Concord First Assembly. After a deep stirring to pursue further education, he enrolled at Duke Divinity School in Durham, North Carolina. During his three years at Duke University, he lived on campus as a Graduate Resident & Resident Assistant. As a student and through Duke’s Field Education program, Victor had the opportunity to intern in South Africa, Chicago, and North Carolina. Despite growing up in the Assemblies of God, the internships helped confirmed that he was called to be ordained through the Disciples of Christ. In 2017 and after graduating from Duke with a Masters of Divinity degree, he enrolled at UNC Medical Center as a Chaplain Summer Intern. It was during that summer when Victor first felt a call to ACP.

Victor is the youngest in his family, never quite hit a long-prayed-for-growth-spurt (thanks mom), and loves arroz con pollo. In his free time, he loves watching sports, writing, reading (again, credit to his mother), and has a love-hate relationship with the outdoors (i.e he enjoys God's grandeur that can be felt at the top of a mountain but is also terrified of the critters, bugs, and several living things he'd most certainly have to go through to get there [that'll preach]). Though born in Ohio, Victor confesses to being an addict of Vernors Ginger Soda and a die-hard Michigan Wolverine fan thanks to his father who grew up in Flint, Michigan. Lastly and significantly, Victor is most passionate about the intersections of theology, social justice, and the arts.

Director of Children's Ministry

Allison attended Ohio Wesleyan University, graduating with degrees in Religion and Theatre in 2008. After graduation Allison remained in her hometown of Columbus, Ohio, teaching theater classes for children and teens at various institutions and working as a Volunteer Management Intern for the Available Light Theatre Co. During this time she was also heavily involved in the youth program at Northwest Christian Church.

Allison and her husband, Jonathan, came to Paris in January of 2011 after he accepted a post-doctorate research position in physics here. Since that time she has been involved in both the youth and Children’s Worship ministries at ACP. She also began work towards her Masters of Divinity at Phillips Theological Seminary in the fall of 2011.

Allison and Jonathan are the proud parents of Josephine and Benjamin.

In her free time Allison enjoys exploring Paris’ beautiful museums, parks, and churches, as well as cooking, reading, and singing (although these days it’s mostly rounds of “Old MacDonald” to keep the baby entertained). She also enjoys spending time with her family travelling and seeking new adventures.

You can contact Allison here.

Dan Michalek: Visiting Pastor

Dan Michalek is a retired pastor, having served the First Presbyterian Church of Brighton, Michigan, for nineteen years. His wife, Francine, served as director of worship and music at the Brighton church, and together they have two grown children, Krista (married to Jordan) and David (married to Emily), and one grandchild, four year old Emilia Jean.

A native of Flint, Michigan and a graduate of the University of Michigan Flint and Gordon Conwell Theological Seminary in Boston, he served two churches in Pennsylvania for a total of twenty years before returning to his home state.

Dan currently serves on the Board of Directors of LACASA, Livingston County’s nonprofit organization that ‘protects, advocates for and empowers victims and survivors of child abuse, domestic violence and sexual assault,' and is also president of the board of directors of the House of Healing Foundation, the agency that oversees a comprehensive mission in Guatemala. He has made numerous mission trips to Guatemala and participated in the United Nations' annual Consultation on the Status of Women, having participated in three presentations there.

Fran recently retired from her position as Worship and Music Director at First Presbyterian Church in Brighton where she served for 14 years. She directed the adult traditional choir in works that included Rutter's "Requiem" and Vivaldi's "Gloria," and led the adult handbell choir as well. She also helped develop a new contemporary service and band in 2005. She worked with teen and children's choirs in the performance of a personally composed musical along with others such as "Godspell." She led children's music camps, developed creative worship services and supervised the direction of children's chimes and teen handbells.

Prior to her church work Fran taught vocal music in a public middle school and served as music director and choreographer for high school musicals. She has performed in musical theater herself but her greatest joy is preparing and directing others.

Fran has served on the House of Healing Foundation Board, volunteered in Guatemala, designed and led women's retreats and directed two choir tours to Scotland. Her most recent work has been at a hobby store selling seed, binoculars and feeders for wild birds. She is an avid "birder" and is looking forward to watching the unique bird species in France.

Youth and Young Adult Ministry Intern

Please welcome Grant Mongin, our 2019-2020 Youth and Young Adult Ministry Intern! Grant first came to know Christ in his family’s interdenominational church when he was 6 years old and is excited to work with the young adults of ACP this coming year. Grant is coming to ACP from Princeton Theological Seminary (USA) where he is pursuing a Master of Divinity with a Certificate in Theology, Women, and Gender, and just completed his second of the three year degree program. Most recently, Grant has been working with The Juilliard School in NYC where he serves as the Residence Life and Summer Dance and Percussion Program Coordinator.

Grant was born and raised outside of Chicago, IL, and that is where his parents and sister live now. He was awarded a Bachelor of Science in Christian Ministries from Indiana Wesleyan University in Marion Indiana. He is particularly passionate about creating a Church where the lived experiences of all people are considered in the construction of liturgy, theology, and ministry. Providing a loving, accepting, and socially conscious space for young people to discover who they are is vital to Grant’s approach to ministry. He feels especially close to God when surrounded by nature and loves to share his passion for backpacking, rock climbing, and camping with anyone who is interested. When not in the outdoors or working, Grant enjoys going to concerts, Broadway shows, modern/contemporary art exhibits, and dance performances. A particular area of excitement for his work with ACP is their focus on interdenominational/ecumenical worship and their commitment to social justice.

Grant looks forward to getting to know the ACP community and working with an experienced staff where he can learn what full-time ministry looks like and is excited for the opportunity to grow alongside this team. He knows that this year of ministry will be full of highs and lows but is excited to learn through the process. He sees getting to know the members of the ACP community as a vital piece to his ministry and as such would love the opportunity to get to know any and all of you over coffee, a meal, at a show, or really anywhere you love!

Grant arrives in August. You can contact him by email : This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Music Director

"I highly value providing leadership for the music ministry at ACP which strives to reinforce the spoken word by providing a complementary spiritual avenue in our quest to experience God."

Fred is a native of Washington state where he began organ studies with Dr. Edward Hansen of Seattle. He earned organ performance degrees from Syracuse University and the University of Michigan, moving to Paris in 1972 for organ study with Marie-Claire Alain and Maurice Duruflé. Since 1976, he has been Director of Music at the American Church in Paris where he is organist and conducts the Adult Choir, the ACP Bronze Ringers, and the Celebration Ringers. Fred also organizes the weekly Sunday evening classical concert series. He has numerous choral and handbell works published in the United States and is the Honorary Associate Director of the Raleigh Ringers of North Carolina as well as the Embellish Handbell Ensemble of Grand Rapids, Michigan. Fred is the newly appointed director for the Bay View Week of Handbells, Bay View, Michigan, and continues to be the permanent director for Bronzefest and UK Bronze.

Contemporary Music Director

"Leading worship brings together everything I love and value most; it's an opportunity to testify to who God is and what he has done, in fellowship with other musicians, through music that I love. 'Because your love is better than life, my lips will praise you…with singing lips my mouth will praise you.'"

Natalie is a native of Richmond, Virginia who came to Paris after 7 years in Milan, Italy. After graduating from the Peabody Conservatory of Music with a Bachelors of Music in voice performance under Phylis Bryn-Julson, she continued her vocal studies with Renato Cazzaniga of La Scala. In Milan she performed in classical and jazz concerts and lead worship at the Milan Bible Church. Natalie has lead the Contemporary Service since it began in 2008, and joined the ACP staff as Contemporary Music Director in 2009. "I love the diversity of what we can do as a worship team at the ACP.  The extraordinary diversity of our backgrounds and blend of classically and self-trained musicians allows each of us add our own unique style and faith experience to the blend."

Director of Children’s and Youth Music Ministries

Born in Geneva, Switzerland, Sara was raised in Miami, Florida. Her first experience in music was playing the xylophone for a school play at age 5, and piano lessons soon followed. She studied both piano and later the organ, and became organist at a local church at age 15. Sara earned a BA from St. Catharine’s College, Cambridge where she studied English Literature and served as Organ Scholar. She then returned to Miami and served as organist and handbell director first at Christ the King Lutheran Church (1999-2006), and later at Coral Gables Congregational Church (2006-2008). While in Miami she obtained a Master of Music from Florida International University, whilst also serving as an adjunct professor. Sara has been a music teacher for many years, and currently teaches at École Jeannine Manuel for students at collège level. Sara has lived in France since 2008, and resides in Villejuif with her family.