Our New Associate Minister – Rev. Olena Withrow
As of July 1, 2026
A Note from Lena
March 27, 2026
Dear First Congo friends,
Hello!!
I write with love across the distance from Winston-Salem, North Carolina to Western Springs. Though we do not know each other, yet, I already anticipate with great joy all the ways we will join in Godโs creative work of love together and the wonderful mornings, afternoons, dinners, and coffees I will get to spend with you as we get to know each other. I offer my gratitude to the Youth Search Committee, to the co-chairs Jen and Michelle, to your pastors, Chrissy and Meredith, and to all who have already shown such leadership, welcome, love, and care through the search and call process. Thank you!
Through the stories you have told me, the warmth you have embodied, and the questions you have asked and answered, I have experienced an honest community of faith, who journeys together on the way of love and truth and justice โ not seeking conformity but engaging curiously with one another and with God, ready for the path of Love to be continually revealed in and through the spirit of God at work among us. Because of this, it is with great excitement and hope that I am accepting the call to serve as your Associate Minister and join you on the journey. It is my deep conviction that the most formative and supportive communities of faith are intergenerational and interdependent. So, I am so grateful to be joining a community that places such value on the equipping and formation of youth and young people. To those who have stepped in and led so well in this transition time, thank you! The energy, effort, and time you have spent walking with these students matters and will continue to matter!
As my season serving here in Winston-Salem draws to a close over these next weeks and my husband Devin and I, (and our pup, Howie) prepare to join you at the beginning of July, we transition from one community of love to another, and so I hope you will keep us and the good folks of First on Fifth in your prayers as we move through this transition. Ahead of my formal start this summer, Iโll join the PF crew down in Savannah, GA for a couple of days of Work Tour, which is sure to be a blast and offer meaningful time with the High School students (and adult volunteers!) on the trip as we get to know each other more and engage in good work together!
Though July may still seem far off, before we know it, the spring will turn to summer and we will be worshipping together in-person! What a joy that will be! I appreciate any and all of your prayers, good vibes, and well wishes as we take the time to honor this transition and make the move to Illinois, pausing for time with our families in Kansas and Oklahoma, and welcoming the birth of my sisterโs new baby along the way. Like Paul says in his letter to the Philippians, โI thank God whenever I think of you!โ
With hope for the road ahead,
Lena
Biography of Lena
Rev. Olena โLenaโ Withrow is joining First Congregational Church of Western Springs to serve as Associate Minister and will journey alongside our middle and high school youth as a steady guide along their faith journeys.
Lena is coming to First Congo from First Baptist Church on Fifth in Winston-Salem, NC, an inclusive Baptist church affiliated with the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship, where she has served since 2023. Lena currently serves as Pastoral Resident, Communications Manager, and Ministry Assistant at First Baptist. Lena has ministered in contexts from Kansas to North Carolina to New York City and has served in various positions ranging in emphasis from ecological justice, food justice, and chaplaincy, to congregational care, childrenโs ministry, and youth ministry.
Lena holds a Master of Divinity degree from Wake Forest University School of Divinity and a Bachelor of Arts in Christian Formation & Ministry from Friends University. She is Mental Health First Aid Certified, has completed one unit of Clinical Pastoral Education (ACPE), and is a 200-hour certified yoga teacher. Lena was ordained to the Gospel Ministry by First Baptist on Fifth in 2025.
One of Lenaโs favorite scriptures comes from the prophet Micah. When the questions are asked, wondering if we must do many drastic things to earn goodness in the eyes of God, Micah reminds us, โHe has told you, O mortal, what is good, and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?โ
Lena is married to her husband, Devin. They have one dog, Howie, a five year old bernedoodle, who they love with absurdity. Lena is a Dr. Pepper enthusiast, a lover of the arts, and deeply committed to the way of Jesus that reminds each of us that we are completely beloved in the wholeness of who we are and that teaches us how to shape our lives in the way of truth, love, and justice.
Education
- Wake Forest University School of Divinity, Winston Salem, NC – Master of Divinity
- Friends University, Wichita, KS – Bachelor of Arts, Christian Formation & Ministry
Ministerial Experience
- First Baptist Church on Fifth, Winston-Salem, NC – Pastoral Resident, Communications Manager, and Ministry Assistant
- Metro Baptist Church, New York, NY – Summer Ministry Intern
- Parkway UCC, Winston-Salem, NC – Climate Hope Fellow
- Friends University, Wichita, KS – Apprentice Outreach Team Coordinator
Professional Certifications
- Ordination to the Gospel Ministry, 2025
- Mental Health First Aid, 2025
- 1 Unit Clinical Pastoral Education, 2025
- 200-hour Certified Yoga Teacher, 2023
A Message from Youth Ministry
Search Committee Chairs
March 27, 2026
Dear Members and Friends of the First Congregational Church of Western Springs,
We are pleased to share that Rev. Olena (Lena) Withrow will be joining our congregation as Associate Minister beginning July 1, 2026. In her role as Associate Minister, Lena’s primary responsibility will be with middle and high school youth, leading our programs and services that support faith formation for students in grades 6-12. She will lead PF, Jrneys, Confirmation, and other opportunities that meet the needs and appeal to the interests of our youth. Before arriving in our area, however, Lena is excited to spend a few days with our PFers in Savannah, Georgia, during Work Tour this coming week.
Over the past year, the Youth Minister Search Committee has engaged in a thoughtful, prayerful, and thorough discernment process to identify the next leader for our youth ministry. In March 2026, after several interviews, we welcomed Lena for an in-person visit. During her time with us, Lena met with Chrissy, Meredith and staff, members of the Executive Committee and several program leaders. She also connected with families and congregants, shared a meal with our high school students, and led a JRneys activity. Across every interaction, Lena offered a warm and engaging presence, a grounded and thoughtful approach to ministry, and a genuine enthusiasm for building meaningful relationships with youth and their families.
Lenaโs experience reflects a deep commitment to fostering inclusive, supportive, and spiritually enriching environments. Her leadership emphasizes authenticity, connection, and empowering young people to ask questions, grow in faith, and feel at home within the church community. Feedback from all who met her was overwhelmingly positive, affirming the many gifts she brings and the strong alignment between her call and the needs of our congregation.
We are deeply grateful to the members of the Youth Ministry Committee; the leaders of JRneys, Confirmation, and PF; and all who helped make special events such as Friendsgiving, Cramminโ at Congo, Work Tour and other offerings possible. Your support over the past two yearsโthrough programming, mentorship, faith formation and careโhas been a true gift to our youth and our church and has laid a strong foundation for this next chapter.
We look forward to warmly welcoming Lena into our community in the months ahead. We will share more details about her and opportunities to connect with her soon. This Sunday, during both worship services, we will share this great news with the congregation. We hope to see you then to learn more about Lena and the process that led to this joyful announcement.
With gratitude and anticipation,
Jennifer Dunleavy and Michelle Halm
Youth Ministry Search Committee Chairs
