Our Staff
Nicholas Barber
Business Manager
814-833-1761 ext. 1001
Nick is originally from Oil City, PA, but was confirmed at St. Paul's in 2003 and has been working here since 2015. He enjoys playing hockey and golf, reading history, and boating and fishing on Lake Erie. He graduated in 2011 from Penn State Behrend. His favorite things about St. Paul's are the friendships he's made and all the support he's received over the years.
Melissa has been a member of St. Paul’s for 26 years, dedicating around 24 of those years to nurturing young minds as the Youth Director, a Sunday School teacher, and a pre-K teacher. Originally from Northumberland, PA, Melissa moved to Erie to attend Gannon University, where she earned her degree in Early Childhood/Elementary Education. She and her husband Mike are proud parents of two adult children: Emily and Andrew. Their family also includes their dog Cali and a grand-puppy named Jesse.
Melissa loves traveling, with Jamaica and Colorado being favorite spots she shares with Mike. In her free time, she likes walking with friends, visiting farmers markets, watching movies around the firepit, and spending time with Emily in Ohio. What she values most about St. Paul’s is the community. She finds the people to be incredibly friendly and helpful, often saying that the church feels like family to her.
Nancy Dahlquist
Director of Child Development Center
814-833-1761 ext. 1004
Nancy began working at St. Paul's in June of 2019. She was born and raised in Erie and attended both Gannon and Mercyhurst Universities. Nancy's family includes four children and three grandchildren whom she loves to spend time with and who are the light of her life. She also enjoys reading, crafting, and gardening. Prior to working at St. Paul's, she was a teacher in Early Childhood for 25+ years and a director at three Star-4 facilities. In her free time, Nancy enjoys animal documentaries and learning about real crimes involving serial offenders. Her favorite thing about St. Paul's is the support and cooperative community.
Debbie Dravecz
Director of Communications & Administration
814-833-1761 ext. 1001
Debbie has been a member of St. Paul's since 2010. Raised in the Lehigh Valley, PA, she moved to Erie in 2007. In her free time, Debbie enjoys reading, spending time collecting beach glass along the shores of Lake Erie, and hanging out with friends and family. Her favorite thing about St. Paul's is the community.
In 20212, Andrew was hired as our Music Director, a very exciting hire for St. Paul's music and worship ministries.
Erik Young
Pastor
814-833-1761 ext. 1008
A native of Chicago, Illinois, Rev. Erik Young graduated from Judson College (now University, in Elgin, IL) in 1988 with a Bachelor of the Arts in Youth Leadership. He continued his education at Trinity Lutheran Seminary in Columbus, Ohio, earning a Master of Divinity (M.Div.) degree in 1996. Following graduation, he was ordained into the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, accepting his first call that same year in Southern California. He would go on to serve a total of three congregations there over the next almost-two decades. Pastor Erik and his family moved to Erie in 2015 as Senior Pastor for a local sister congregation, joining St. Paul's in May of 2023. Additionally, Pastor Erik serves our country through the US Navy Reserve as a Captain (CAPT) in the Chaplain Corps.