Pastor Alex Jerve
Born and raised near Minneapolis, I grew up participating in church, sports, Boy Scouts, and drama. Although initially intending to go into a career as a Physical Therapist, as a college student I became fully engaged in a Christian ministry group on UW-La Crosse’s campus. I was inspired by the older students in the group who were passionate about Jesus and made him a part of every word spoken, action taken, and choice made. I spent my college years as a leader of this group and a camp counselor at a Christian camp. After graduating, I served as a ministry intern at the camp, where I learned that sometimes ministry is NOT fun… sometimes it can be MESSY (And I mean literally; because I had to clean bathrooms!).
No longer interested in Physical Therapy school, God used my college connections to bring me back to La Crosse in 2014 for a full-time job as a Director of Youth Ministry at First Presbyterian Church in La Crosse. I had the privilege of teaching and bonding with students in grades 6-12 through Bible studies, youth groups, mission trips, outreach events, and more. I soon became more and more interested in being a pastor and started seminary studies through the University of Dubuque in 2017. I graduated with my Masters of Divinity in 2021, became ordained as a pastor in January 2023, and started as pastor of First Presbyterian Church in Galesville in September 2023.
I love being the pastor of this church! I’ve found the congregation to be welcoming, creative, and open-minded. They have embraced me as they embrace every single child, youth, and adult that walks through those doors! I’ve also discovered that Galesville is a very special place!
