Staff and Council Leadership
Pastor Heather Hayward
Pastor Heather began her ministry at St. Matthew’s New Life in January of 2020 and remains so excited to journey with this great community! She most recently served St. Luke’s Lutheran Church in Middleton for 12 years, and, prior to that, Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in La Crosse for 6 years. She really enjoys creativity in worship, interactive sermons, family-friendly events and interactions, and walking alongside of those in need of God’s Spirit. She has been so blessed by the people of this faith community and looks forward to where God will lead us together!
Heather’s family consists of her daughter, Emma, whom she adopted from Ethiopia in 2010, and then in 2014 she married her husband, David, who also adopted Emma in 2016. They also love their pets – cat Mia and dog Ray. David’s son, Daniel, recently finished his college studies at Michigan State. Heather’s extended family also live in the area and will be at New Life on occasion. Heather’s bachelors degree was in Vocal Performance and so she loves music of all kinds. Pastor Heather loves their home in Cottage Grove – her neighbors, garden, and ability to walk the dog in such a great neighborhood.
Jessica Korrison, Children & Youth Ministry Coordinator
Jessica is excited to be in ministry with New Life! She has lots of experience leading the youth group of her home church, Grace Lutheran in Grafton, WI. She has a degree and work experience in the hotel management and hospitality industry, but has always felt God’s tug to be in ministry as an occupation instead of volunteer. She has led middle school and high school classes, events, retreats, and youth trips plus helped in children’s ministry as well. She has led a youth trip to the Boundary Waters Canoe Area in northern MN for several years. Growing up, youth group was such an important part of her faith and life, and she looks forward to making that experience a reality for our kids as well.
Kathy Scholl, Office Assistant
Kathy has been a member of New Life Church, along with her husband Verne and son Jesse, since 1998. Her B.A. is in Communication from the University of Michigan. Prior to her previous career service in communications with the State of Wisconsin, Kathy worked in the private sector as a radio announcer, reporter and producer. She serves in our music ministry for both the traditional worship service as well as singing in the band at the praise service. Besides music, Kathy’s hobbies include distance running, and she participated in the 2022 Boston Marathon. Her favorite Bible verses come from the last chapters of the Book of Revelation: Rev. 21:1-2 (the “New Jerusalem”) and Rev. 22:13 (“I Am the Alpha and the Omega).
Shakia “Queen” Turner, Property Manager
Shakia “Queen” Turner serves New Life as our Property Manager. Queen was born in Mississippi and moved to Madison, WI at an early age. She is a graduate of Madison East High School and completed four years of technical training at MATC. She married her former husband in 1998 and has three children. She has been working professionally in property management since 2005. Queen has also done much volunteer work, with children’s ministry and at the church office for the Nehemiah Center, with women’s ministry (sexual abuse) at Lilada’s Living Room at the Fountain of Life, and she also volunteered at Christ the Solid Rock. Currently, she owns her own property that she rents to single women and families, and is working with homeless families to find permanent housing. Queen’s hobbies include spending Tuesday movie nights with family, running around on errands for the community, snowplowing in her red F150, lawn mowing on her rider, and she used to ride a red Can-Am Spyder.
Mike Berchem, Bookkeeper
Mike Berchem joined the staff in September 2022 as Bookkeeper, assisting Ken Wundrow.
He is a lifelong resident of Dane County, who has been in the Accounting/Bookkeeping field for more than 20 years, working for various accounting firms and businesses in the area, including his own. During that same period he has also driven a variety of commercial vehicles on a part time basis, some of which include semi, school bus, and although not a commercial vehicle, Zamboni. Having had enough of office life full time, he now drives full time hauling mail to southwest Wisconsin and will stay active in bookkeeping on a part-time basis. He is among the few whose favorite season is winter, enjoying downhill skiing, watching ice hockey and cooking up something good in the slow cooker. He is glad to be part of the staff and hopes that he can maintain the excellent work of this role at New Life Church.
New Life Council Leadership
