Team
Rev. Nathan Longfield
Pastor
Nathan Longfield is the pastor of Emmaus. He is a Minister of Word and Sacrament and holds a Masters of Divinity from Western Theological Seminary and a Bachelors of Arts from Hope College. He is passionate about building up this church. Nathan and his wife Tori have a son Solomon and an adorable puppy named Auggie. In his free time he enjoys playing ultimate and tennis, table top games, cheering for the Cubs, and reading. Contact Nathan.
Melissa Johnson
Melissa is thrilled to work alongside the Emmaus staff to bring a loving, hospitality and community-driven church to Holland. Melissa is a native Michigander and grew up near Detroit on the east side of the state. She graduated from Hope College with her Bachelor of Music in Music Education and a minor in Ministry and also holds a Master of Music in Conducting degree from Butler University in Indianapolis, IN. Melissa has worked as a music teacher in Holland, Zeeland, and Indianapolis teaching preschool – 12th grade and has recently stepped into the role of Director of Athletic Bands at Butler University. In her spare time, Melissa enjoys doing pilates, crocheting, and watching college basketball.
Tori Longfield
Tori Longfield has lived in the Holland area for the past 10 years. Tori graduated with BA in History and BMus in Flute Performance from Hope College in 2015 and her MS in Library and Information Science from the University of Illinois Champaign-Urbana. Since graduating from U of I Tori has been the Digital Liberal Arts Librarian/Assistant Librarian back at Hope College where she is excited about teaching digital competency skills to students and supporting the technology-driven research of faculty and students. Tori is passionate about hospitality and community around church-building and is excited to participate in the building of Emmaus Reformed Church. Tori’s married to lead pastor Nathan Longfield where they reside on the South Side of Holland, MI and taking care of their beautiful puppy Auggie.
Hannah Barker Nickolay
Hannah Barker Nickolay (she/her) grew up in the cornfields of northwest Iowa. She has lived the last six years in Holland, Michigan. Hannah has an M.Div. from Western Theological Seminary and a B.A. in Theatre from Northwestern College. She is a licensed candidate for ordination in the Reformed Church in America. She is a member and co-founder of liturgical arts company Wayfolk Arts. Hannah is passionate about helping others engage scripture with curiosity and creativity. She works to create spaces—physical spaces and worship spaces—where others might experience love and belonging and encounter God. She dreams of more people at the table. Hannah loves dandelions, dragons, poetry, telling stories communally via playing D&D with her friends, and feeding people.
Rev. Jackson Nickolay
Jackson Nickolay (he/him) is originally from the North Woods of Minnesota along the shore of Lake Superior, but has lived in Michigan for the last 6 years. He graduated with a Master of Divinity from Western Theological Seminary with a focus on worship design and is a licensed candidate for ordination in the Reformed Church of America. His artistic pursuits are as a musician, a writer, and a storyteller and he enjoys practicing his art through busking, leading worship, acting, producing, playwriting, and directing.
As a member and co-founder of the liturgical arts Company Wayfolk Arts, Jackson has a passion for living into the dual vocation of an artist and a minister and finds application for these callings in worship music, embodied scripture, performance criticism, theatre, liturgical writing, and liturgical arts.
His other interests include camping, hiking, tabletop games, Celtic Spirituality, pretentious coffee brewing, bread making, and discovering new facets of being an enneagram 3.
