Staff

Rev. John F. Kassouf

Born and raised in New York, “Pastor John” attended Immanuel Lutheran School in Mt. Vernon, NY.  After completing High School, he attended Concordia College New York, graduating with a BA in Biology and Education and a Lutheran School Teacher’s Diploma.  He married Fran and moved to Baltimore where he served as a teacher, DCE and then Principal at Calvary Lutheran Church and School followed by St. Paul Lutheran Church in Catonsville, MD.  Pastor John then attended Concordia Lutheran Theological Seminary, St. Catherines, Ontario, Canada on the campus of Brock University.  Upon completion of his seminary education, Pastor John was ordained in 1992 and served  First Lutheran Church, Huntingtown, MD and St. Matthew Lutheran, Bel Air, MD.  He came to Risen Christ in the fall of 2004.  His hobbies include photography, music and travel.  Pastor John and Fran are the proud parents of Andrew, Tim and Mark.

Mrs. Cindy Ruisi
Secretary/Bookkeeper

Born and raised in southwestern Pennsylvania, Cindy was employed as a secretary for several years before marrying and starting her family. In 1996 Cindy and her husband, Joe, moved to the Myrtle Beach area, where they began attending Risen Christ, becoming involved in church activities right away. In 1998 she accepted the position as church secretary and bookkeeper. In addition to her office responsibilities, she volunteers as the A/V Coordinator for both worship services, and the Special Events Coordinator.
Cindy has two adult children, Ryan and Stacy, and three grandsons, Bradley, Chase, and Luke, all living in Pennsylvania, and is grandmother to Joe’s four grandchildren, Melissa, Chris, Claire, and Joleen.

Martin E. Boehling, Ministry Associate in Music, Organist

Martin Boehling began as an organist in 1951 in St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, Boonton, Newjersey.  Organ studies commenced in 1952 at Boonton High School, with Mary Rose Fegans, the Choral and Organ teacher.  In 1958, he studied Classical and Liturgical organ with Frank Cedric Smith, of Grace Episcopal Church in Newark, NJ.  In 1960, he entered the Mannes College of Music in New York, where he studied organ with Hugh Giles and Edgar Hilliar.  In 1983 he did Masters Degree work, analyzing the doctrinal emphases of the music of the Lutheran Reformation.   Luther’s Formulae Missae was offered as the material for his Master’s Thesis.  He has served many Lutheran, Anglican, Methodist, and Presbyterian Churches in his 60+ year vocation.  Martin has also played concerts from Long Beach, California to Cornwall-On-Hudson, NY; including Church of St. Mary of the Virgin, St. Thomas’ Church, the Cathedral of St. John-the-Devine and Gustavus Adolphus Lutheran Church.

Sean O’Connor
Minister of Christian Education
Music Minister – Praise Team Leader

Sean, originally from DeKalb, Ill, received his Bachelor’s degree in Music Education from Northern Illinois University in 1996.  He brings a wealth of experience in all aspects of education that was obtained in educational work in illinois, Massachusetts, and South Carolina.  He has been a middle school teacher at Risen Christ for 3 years where he also works as an Associate in Music Ministry.  Sean is very active in the entertainment seen in Myrtle Beach having appeared in such shows as Dixie Stampede, Medieval Times, and Pirates Voyage.  He is married to Christina and they have two children, Lindsey and Nathan.