Berkley First | 2820 12 Mile Road, Berkley, Michigan | Rev. Dr. John (Jack) Harnish, Campus Pastor
Get to know Berkley First
Want to get to know Berkley First? There’s no better way than jumping in! Whether you serve on a mission team, join the United Women in Faith, attend an event or Journey Group, or check out our Kids & Youth programs, you’ll quickly discover what makes this place feel like home.
Click the buttons below to explore how you can connect, grow, and serve alongside us.
Click the buttons below to explore how you can connect, grow, and serve alongside us.
Meet the Berkley First team.
Rev. Dr. John (Jack) Harnish
Contact: jharnish@berkleyfirst.org
Pastor Emeritus and interim Associate Pastor for the Berkley First campus, Rev. Dr. John E. (Jack) Harnish retired from Birmingham First in 2013 after 45 years in ministry, including appointments at First UMC Ann Arbor, Court Street UMC in Flint, and Dexter UMC. He also served in leadership with the General Board of Higher Education and Ministry and as a trustee for several theological institutions. Jack is the author of Thirty Days with E. Stanley Jones and, along with his wife Judy, lives on Platte Lake in Benzie County, where he continues to write a weekly Monday Memo at www.johneharnish.com.
Brian White
Contact: bwhite@berkleyfirst.org
Brian White is our Director of Berkley Worship and Youth. He is extremely humble for the insane amount of talent he has, and is always interested in lifting up those around him. Married to Julie White, our Children’s Ministry Coordinator, and with a house of five boys, Brian is the king of collaboration.
Rachel Alpert
Contact: ralpert@berkleyfirst.org
Rachel (she/they) supports hospitality and volunteers at Berkley First while managing the calendar and all events. She loves singing and playing guitar during worship with the incredible artists of Berkley First. At home, they enjoy low-key nights with their wife, three cats and chinchilla.
Julie White
Contact: jwhite@berkleyfirst.org
Julie White is our Children’s Ministry Coordinator at Berkley First. She grew up in Royal Oak and moved to Berkley when she and her husband started a family. An active mom of five, Julie is always ready for an adventure. Her organizational skills, creativity and an eye for safety help her lead ministry for infants through elementary aged children.