Our Team
Pastor Gil Thibault
Lead Pastor
Gil has been leading First Church since 2020 with a blend of creativity, compassion, and a deep commitment to building a grace-filled community. Originally from Connecticut, he studied Music and Communication Arts at Eastern Nazarene College before earning his Master of Divinity from Nazarene Theological Seminary.
Before stepping into pastoral leadership, Gil spent eight years as a chaplain at the Kansas City Rescue Mission, walking alongside those experiencing homelessness with empathy and hope. In 2011, he and his family followed a call overseas, serving as missionaries in Kosovo with the Church of the Nazarene.
Gil’s ministry is rooted in cross-generational connections. He’s passionate about making faith tangible and transformative for all ages.
He’s been married to his best friend, Sarah, since 2001, and together they’re raising three incredible kids: Megan, Malachi, and Aria. Gil also believes in the spiritual power of a good walk, a caramel macchiato, a well-balanced board game, and the occasional dad joke.
231-775-7531
Jes Kroes
Youth Leader
Jes has been attending Cadillac First Church since 2013. She started working with the children and youth in 2015, when her kids were little. Jes loves having the opportunity to lead the youth group year after year, watching them grow in grace and knowledge. Jes is married to her high school sweetheart, Jim, and they have two kids, Ryan and Gracie. She loves to read, camp, and explore beautiful Northern Michigan!
Sarah Thibault
Children's Ministry Coordinator
Since joining First Church in 2020, Sarah has brought heart, humor, and a deep well of compassion to everything she does. With a rich background in social work, she’s served in places as varied as a homeless shelter in downtown Kansas City, a high school in Kosovo, a residential home for children, and most recently, hospice care in Traverse City. Her calling is clear: to walk alongside people in every season of life with grace and love.
Now serving as our Children’s Ministries Coordinator, Sarah delights in helping kids discover God’s love in creative, meaningful ways. She’s passionate about building spaces where children feel safe, seen, and celebrated.
Outside of church, Sarah is a proud wife and mom, a loyal friend, and a firm believer in the power of a good latte—hot vanilla, to be exact.
Carol Boersma
Missions President
Carol has attended First Church since 1974. She’s served in a number of roles, including youth leader, Sunday School teacher, and in children’s ministries. Most recently she has served as our Missions President since 2025. She has been married to her husband, David since 1986. She has two grown children and three grandsons. She is currently loving retirement!
Gloria Frost
Discipleship
Gloria has lived in Cadillac since 1970 and she’s attended First Church since around 2012. She has served as our Discipleship Coordinator since 2024. Gloria loves walking around downtown Cadillac and enjoys her nightly bowl of popcorn.