John Roper - Pastor

John was born in Hoke County, North Carolina, the son of Presbyterian parents and grandparents. He grew up there working on the family farm. John is a graduate of St. Andrews Presbyterian College, received his Master of Divinity from Columbia Seminary in Atlanta and Doctorate of Ministry from McCormick Seminary in Chicago. He has continued his education by studying with several prominent theologians.

He served as pastor and associate pastor of Presbyterian churches in South Carolina and Texas. When called to Harvey Browne Church in January 1997, he was pastor and head of staff at Bellevue Presbyterian Church in Nashville, Tennessee.

John's sermons are unique. He applies basic scriptural and moral truths to our everyday life experiences in a message flavored with delightful humor.

John's wife, Janie, is a graduate of the University of Texas and has a Master's Degree in Learning Disabilities. She is presently teaching at the DePaul School for children with learning disabilities. The Ropers have a son, Jeff, and daughter, Suzanne. Jeff and his wife Leslie live in Batesville, Arkansas where Jeff works in the admissions office at Lyon College and Leslie is the associate pastor at First Presbyterian Church.  Suzanne and her husband Tim live in Dallas, Texas where she is a doctor and he is in medical sales.

Adam Fischer - Associate Pastor for Ministry to Children & Youth

Adam is a graduate of Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary, where he was student body president, and the College of Idaho, a Presbyterian-related school outside of Boise. He has been involved with youth ministry since college. He has also worked as a student intern at Central Presbyterian Church in Old Louisville and as a Young Adult Intern with the Presbyterian Hunger Program, where he coordinated the denomination’s “Enough for Everyone” programs.

In 2005, Adam studied the impact of HIV/AIDS in South Africa, where he worked for three months as a volunteer with the Amy Biehl Foundation Trust in Cape Town. He was a Theological Student Advisory Delegate to the 2006 PC(USA) General Assembly and last year helped lead a Presbyterian delegation to Nicaragua to study the impact of fair trade and other just trade responses to the global market.

Kim Cabrera - Associate Pastor for Discipleship and Administration 

Kim holds a Master of Divinity from Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary. Her area of concentration was Christian Education. Kim completed her undergraduate studies at the Crane School of Music, SUNY Potsdam in Upstate New York, where she earned a Bachelor of Music degree in Musical Studies and Saxophone Performance.

For the past 10 years, Kim has worked with children and families in congregational ministry and pastoral care at Harvey Browne. She has written Sunday School and Vacation Bible School curriculum and worked closely with children and families of children with special needs. Prior to her ministry at Harvey Browne, Kim worked as the Catering Director and Event Coordinator at the Kentucky Derby Museum.

Kim moved to Louisville to attend graduate school at the University of Louisville School of Music. She met and married her husband, Alejandro in Louisville. Hondro is Lieutenant with the Louisville Metro Police Department. Kim still plays the saxophone and enjoys running, completing her first marathon in April 2008.

Kim and Hondro reside in St. Regis Park with their two sons, Brennen 13 and Braeden 10 and several pets: dogs-Ace & Amigo, hamster-Hamilton and 2 guinea pigs-Stanley and George.

Bill Williamson - Parish Associate

Bill is a graduate of Hampden-Sydney College in Virginia, Union Theological Seminary in Virginia, and Columbia Theological Seminary in Georgia.  He was the Associate Pastor at Westover Hills Presbyterian Church, Little Rock, Ark.; Pastor at Senatobia (Mississippi) Presbyterian Church; Pastor at First Presbyterian Church, Helena, Ark.; and Pastor at First Presbyterian Church, Columbia, Tenn. Bill is married to Nancy and they have two daughters and four grandchildren. His daughter, Sara Sutphin, and her two children, Jonathan and Paul, are members of Harvey Browne. Sara’s husband, Mike, attends faithfully. At Harvey Browne, Bill's primary focus will be on pastoral care including visiting our sick and shut-in members.

Larry Brandenburg - Minister of Music

Larry Brandenburg has been Minister of Music at Harvey Browne since August, 1997.  He is a native of Lexington, KY and a die-hard UK fan.  Larry, his wife, and two sons live in Shelbyville, KY on Harmony Fields Farm.

Larry has a Bachelor of Music degree from Campbellsville University, Master of Music from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary and has completed all course work for the DMA in conducting from the University of Illinois.  Prior to coming to Harvey Browne Larry served as Minister of Music in churches in Kentucky, Texas and Illinois and was a professor at Midwestern State University, West Texas State University and Georgetown College.

Tim Baker - Organist / Assistant Director of Music

Timothy L. Baker is a graduate of the University Of Louisville School Of Music and has been with the Harvey Browne Music Ministry for over 20 years.  He currently accompanies all choirs and directs the Adult Handbell Choir. 

Tim performs frequently with various vocal and instrumental ensembles in Louisville and the surrounding region.  In addition to assisting several Catholic parishes, he works with local community theater companies as musical director and accompanist.

Beth Brandenburg - Director of Children's Choirs

Beth Brandenburg has been Director of Children's Choirs at Harvey Browne since August, 1997.  She is also the music teacher at Bowen Elementary in Louisville. 

Beth lives in Shelbyville with her husband Larry, and two sons, Nathan and Matthew.  They have an organic farm called Harmony Fields Farm.

She has degrees from Campbellsville University and Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary and is certified in Kodaly and Orff.  She has also been a college professor of voice and music education at Dallas Baptist University, Midwestern State University and West Texas State University.

Allen Gilfert - Interim Music Associate

Allen Gilfert assists the various music programs at Harvey Browne as the Interim Music Associate. He is the director of the Youth Chapel Choir, and sometimes will direct other groups when needed. Prior to beginning his work at Harvey Browne in 2007, he received a Bachelor of Music Education in 2004 and a Master of Music History in 2007, both from the University Of Louisville School Of Music.

Allen has never been a stranger to Harvey Browne, spending much of his childhood in that church community, and during those years he participated often in the music and youth programs. In the summer of 2008, Allen married Michelle Gilfert (formerly Linder), who also has an educational background in music. When time allows, Allen and Michelle enjoy catching up with family and friends, reading, writing, taking the occasional hiking trip, and, of course, playing and studying music.

Kathleen Yager - Children's Choirs Associate

Kathleen Yager was born in Louisville, Kentucky.  Both of her parents are church musicians, her dad play Big Band music with the Mellotones, and her mother is also a former school teacher.  Both Kathleen and her sister are teachers.  During her school days she played with the Louisville-Jefferson County Youth Orchestra and the All-State Orchestra.  She graduated from Iroquois High School and attended Eastern Kentucky University and the University of Louisville on viola scholarship.  After a break, she returned to Louisville.  Kathleen has been at Harvey Browne Presbyterian Church, working with the 4 and 5 year olds, and assisting with the older children, since the fall of 1998.  Kathleen has 3 grown children and she and her husband, Darrell Rosenbarger, are raising their granddaughter Kayla, who they are in the process of adopting.