Staff

My name is Matt Henry and I am the senior pastor at Friendship Celebration Lutheran Church.  I’m thrilled to be in Idaho!  I have served as a pastor for more than 17 years in the Northwest (previously Trinity, Oregon City, OR, and Faith, Lacey, WA).  I grew up in Idaho Falls and graduated from University of Idaho before heading to Concordia Seminary in St. Louis (MDiv 2004, DMin 2017).  My passion and hope for the church is to embrace discipleship of Jesus as our highest calling in life.  My wife, Sally, and I met while working at Camp Lutherhaven in Coeur d’Alene, ID.  God has blessed us with four children.  I enjoy parody, politics and puns—any play on words.  It’s exciting to be a part of Friendship family and I invite you to see what God is up to in this place as His kingdom of grace continues to come.

My name is Kayla Liehe and I have been working at Friendship Celebration as the office manager since October 2011. I began attending Friendship Celebration while dating my husband, Bob, in 2006. We were married in 2007 and have two wonderful children, Benjamin and Elizabeth. When I am not working I like to read, crochet and spend time with my family enjoying activities in the outdoors. I am blessed to have the opportunity to work with such a wonderful staff and community here at Friendship Celebration.

I have been attending Friendship Celebration Lutheran Church since 2017. My husband, Steve, and I have three children that keep us very busy. I enjoy reading, gardening, camping, cooking/baking, and homeschooling my kids. I am grateful for the opportunity to serve as church secretary and to be working with such amazing people.

My name is Rebekah Fry and I am the director of music at FCLC. I graduated with a bachelors of music in piano performance with a minor in entrepreneurship from Miami University (Ohio) in 2016 and masters of music in piano pedagogy and performance from the University of South Carolina in 2018. I love God and His people and it is a privilege to share His word through music with the church! When I’m not playing or listening to music or teaching piano lessons, I’ll probably be reading, on a hike, or at a local coffee shop. My prayer is that we are a community of people who love Jesus and build each other up through the encouragement of music and prayer.

Lori has been teaching at Friendship Celebration Preschool since 2006 and recently appointed our Preschool Director.  Prior to that, she was a teacher at Good Shepherd Preschool for ten years.  Lori is a wife and mother of two grown children. 

"Being a preschool teacher is a great experience.  It is wonderful to watch young children grow, learn, and change throughout the year.  Working at a Lutheran School also allows me to have the great opportunity to tell children who Jesus is and what He has done for them.  What could be better than that?"