Leadership Team

Rob & Lori Schlegel
lead pastor & women’s / children’s ministry

Rob and Lori had a crazy idea to start a church that didn’t look like a church, smell like a church, or feel like a church. Instead Epic Church looks like an art gallery, smells like a coffee house and feels like a family. As lead pastor, Rob is the driving force behind Epic’s desire to reach those who are interested in God but have given up on church by introducing them to God’s Epic story. As his wife, Lori is right there beside him. To fuel that passion in a welcoming atmosphere the Schlegels took up coffee roasting to provide the freshest coffee possible.

Lori is behind the scenes in every chapter of Epic’s story, helping where needed and always smiling. She has a very special touch, not only with Epic’s children but with also her clients since she maintains a part-time position as a home care Physical Therapist. The Schlegel’s two active boys, Matthew and Nathan, give her plenty of P.T. practice at home.

Brian & Ali Muh
teaching pastor & bookkeeper / barista

Brian met Rob in seminary and the rest is history. After seminary Brian and Ali decided to follow the star to Bethlehem from New England for the sole purpose of planting Epic with Rob and Lori. They are currently restoring a 100 year old house in West Bethlehem, where they live with their 3 kids, Jonas, Colin and Nora. During the week Brian indulges his inner geek by designing voice systems for CSI. Epic has put those skills to good use.

Ali works full time at home with Jonas, Colin and Nora, and enjoys meeting other moms out there as well. She is also our PT bookkeeper and an awesome barista. The Cafe feel of Epic is a tribute to their passion for God’s gift of the Arabica Bean.

Sarah Shafer
graphics / design / women’s ministry

Quiet by nature, Sarah doesn’t say much with words but speaks volumes in pictures. Sarah’s daytime cover is a bank teller, but really she likes using her training in the graphic arts to get us thinking about God. Sarah works part-time for Epic making all those colorful handouts, fliers and just about anything we need on paper.

Sarah is a prayer warrior, so if you have a prayer request email Sarah and she will get right on it. She is also very active with our woman’s ministry, organizing and leading prayer and Bible study groups to help keep our women connected.

Andrew Salib
worship Leader / youth ministry

Mild Mannered Business Student by day, and Christian Rock Musician by night, Andrew longs put an end to his double life by managing a performing arts venue featuring Jesus Freaks for the masses. This combined with Andrew’s passionate love for God makes him an ideal worship leader for Epic, where he plays everything from the classic hymns to current artists, as well as some originals. Andrew is a business student at De Sales University and works for his father’s company.

At Epic we believe in “learning by doing” and Andrew does plenty for both for Epic and the community. He gets to try out his business smarts by running Epic’s monthly coffee house and helping to coordinate 2nd Story Youth Ministry events. He works hard to show that someone can maintain Christian values and have fun at the same time.

Matt & Emily Close
creative planning / worship team & youth ministry

Matt and Emily moved to the Lehigh valley so that Matt could study Herpetology (snakes) at Lehigh University for his PhD. (we sure could have used him in the Garden of Eden), and is currently carrying out his research as a graduate student and teaching assistant. Matt serves as part of our Creative Planning Team, helps out with the Youth Ministry, and is a part of the Worship Team, adding vocals, cello and guitar to the mix.

When Emily isn’t working with Epic’s youth, she’s working with the youth in inner-city Allentown at Bikeworks, a 10 week mentoring program that uses bicycle mechanics to teach life skills. Emily manages to reach out with her heart as she teaches the value of earning a bike by showing up consistently, working towards meaningful goals (i.e. rebuilding and caring for bikes) and developing and showing respect for oneself and for others.

Deb James
homeless outreach / women’s ministry

Originally a Jersey Girl, Deborah left the corporate world and moved to Bethlehem with her son Jonathan to marry her best friend Peter. Peter gave away his neck ties and retired from his career as a stock broker a few months later. Their blended family of seven children (five sons and two daughters) between the ages of eleven and thirty-one, plus their six year old grandson are their shining stars.

Peter, Debi and their two youngest children, Holly and Jonathan, moved into and are gradually restoring and updating a funky old house in North Bethlehem that was built in the late 1800′s. Due to the James’ culinary and conversational skills, their dining room table is often filled with friends and family from all walks of life, sharing community and breaking bread. The Woman’s Wednesday morning Bible Study is hosted at their home.

Debi graduated from the “School of Hard Knocks” and has put her life’s education to good use here in Bethlehem . While helping to rebuild broken lives, she shares her story and a message of God’s Love and a Hope for a better tomorrow at the local soup kitchens and shelters. She keeps her finger on the pulse of the community and remains involved in projects assisting and collecting much needed items for the local homeless population, community outreach and addiction recovery.