Our Staff
Senior Minister
The Reverend Sarah Lusche
Sarah is a minister called to the intersection of religion and the public square, with a passion for community engagement, social justice, and multi-faith conversation. She aims to work with individuals and communities to find and celebrate their place in the Divine story and to use their strengths for the common good. Her ministry encompasses preaching, teaching, pastoral care, and strategic visioning, with particular work on anti-racism and cultivating space for those in generations X, Y, and Z.
Sarah comes to OCBC most recently from Chicago, IL, where she served as a bi-vocational pastor and therapist. Sarah received both her Master's of Divinity and her Master's of Social Work from the University of Chicago, and continued with the University as a field educator and facilitator for M.Div students. Sarah served as the co-pastor of Hyde Park Union Church, a historic congregation affiliated with both the American Baptist Churches and the United Church of Christ. Sarah's clinical work centered on relational models of acceptance and healing, with a special focus on working with those who have experienced religious and / or spiritual trauma. In both of her vocations, Sarah worked for the integration of mind, body, and spirit, and a sense of connection to one another and creation.
Sarah finds great joy in the work of congregational ministry, as well as in mountains, pop culture, the performing arts, and the perfect almond croissant. She's an avid reader and absolutely thrilled that her son's first word was "book!"
Associate Minister
The Reverend Naro Pongen
Temjennaro Pongen, who goes by Naro, was born and raised in a Baptist family in the predominantly Christian state of Nagaland, India.
In 2007, after completing her Bachelor of Arts degree, Naro started her theological journey at Clark Theological College (CTC), where she earned her Bachelor of Divinity degree. She went on to pursue a master’s degree in Women’s Studies in the southern Indian state of Karnataka.
After completing her master’s program, Naro spent six months at the Bossey Ecumenical Institute of the World Council of Churches affiliated with the University of Geneva, where she earned her certificate in Ecumenical Studies. In 2015, Naro moved to the United States to pursue a Master of Arts in Theological Studies (MATS) with a concentration in Feminist Liberation Theologies at the Episcopal Divinity School (EDS) in Cambridge, Massachusetts.
While at EDS, Naro started worshiping at Old Cambridge Baptist Church (OCBC) and subsequently became a member in 2017. It was at OCBC Naro discovered her passion for church ministry. The all-encompassing theology of radical love embodied by OCBC captivated her theological imagination. After earning her degree in 2017, Naro joined the ministerial staff as a part time assistant minister. Then in 2019, Naro received the call to serve as the Associate Minister to Families and Children, the position she held till December 2023. In December 2023, Naro was ordained by OCBC under the Samuel Stillman Association of The American Baptist Churches of Massachusetts and was called as the Associated Minister, the position she currently holds. For Naro, OCBC is her spiritual home, where she is continuously nurtured and sustained by the legacy and wisdom of those who came before her, and by the conviction of those she walks alongside toward a vision of a beloved community.
Minister of Music
Daon Drisdom
Tenor Daon Drisdom, a Georgia native and graduate of the New England Conservatory, is recognized for his rich tone, expressive storytelling, and dynamic stage presence. His performances span opera, jazz, and sacred music, including appearances with the Boston Lyric Opera, Odyssey Opera/BMOP, and White Snake Projects. Passionate about preserving and sharing the legacy of Black art songs and spirituals, Drisdom brings depth and authenticity to every performance. Beyond the stage, he is a dedicated educator and music minister, nurturing young musicians and communities through his work in Boston-area schools and churches.
Singers interested in singing with the Choir of Old Cambridge Baptist Church can contact Daon at music@oldcambridgebaptist.org. The choir sings an eclectic balance of repertoire that reflects the conjunction of the arts in worship while bringing to bear peace and justice concerns
Pianist and Organist
Cholong Park
Cholong Park is a pianist and organist at Old Cambridge Baptist Church, bringing passion and artistry to worship. She specializes in contemporary music and is the founding member of two chamber ensembles, What Is Noise and Some Assembly Required. Cholong has performed at Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center and has released three albums, available on Spotify and iTunes. She holds a Master of Music in Piano Performance from Florida State University and a Graduate Performance Diploma in Collaborative Piano with a Chamber Music emphasis from the Longy School of Music of Bard College. She is the organ scholar at Boston’s historic Old North Church and an Educational Partner with Steinway & Sons. Recognized by the City of Boston with an Artist Certification, Cholong is dedicated to creating meaningful musical experiences that inspire worship, community, and connection.
Minister for Earth Justice
The Reverend Betsy Sowers
Betsy’s ministry with OCBC is rooted in the emerging theological reformation that recognizes humans as creatures inextricably entwined with the rest of creation, a sacred whole and home of the Holy One. She leads the Creation Justice Group, which helps the congregation ground our intersectional justice ministries in that theological soil. Outside of the church she represents OCBC in faith-based and secular climate justice organizations, and keeps the congregation aware of current opportunities for engagement. Betsy holds a Master of Divinity from Harvard Divinity School, and a Master of Social Work from Boston College.
