Our Staff

Our Pastor: Rev. Dr. Yaliang Zhao

Pastor Yaliang joined us in 2017 as our lead pastor. She came with more than ten years of ministry experience in a Chinese Christian church and two years of youth pastoring experience in a multicultural, multigenerational church in MA.
Pastor Yaliang was born and reared in Xi’an, China. She was taught to be an atheist and later turned agnostic in her teenager years. She graduated from Peking University in China with a B.S. degree in Biochemistry and from Northwestern University in Evanston, IL. with a Ph.D. degree in Neuroscience.

She was compelled to become a believer of Jesus Christ in 2000, and first heard God’s call to “drop your job and serve the church” in 2005 when she was working as a senior scientist in Wyeth Pharmaceuticals (now Pfizer). She struggled with “the Call” and finally went back to school in 2012, this time to the seminary. She graduated with an M.A. degree in Religion under the mentorship of Dr. Alice Mathews (the former Academic Dean at Gordon Conwell Theological Seminary). Dr. Mathews is the one who helped her sorting through the theology behind women in church leadership. You can find a term paper that was written by Yaliang summarizing this part of her journey by clicking here. Yaliang is now a Doctor of Ministry degree candidate at Gordon Conwell Theological Seminary, majoring in Pastoral Theology in Practice.

At First Baptist Church in Woburn, she is leading to revitalize our church that has over 240 years of history to further the Kingdom of Christ. The mission statement in her life is: "I must be about my Father’s business." (Luke 2:49).

Pastor Yaliang is happily married to Dr. Yan Feng, her college classmate. Together, they have three lovely kids: Kimberly, Samuel and Timothy. When she is not preaching, teaching or counseling, you will find her on the tennis court playing, on the mountain hiking or skiing, or in the water swimming.

Our Music Director: Marsha Johnson Weiss

Marsha is a soprano, a pianist and choir director. She began her music ministry at the FBCW in October of 2018. Originally from the Midwest from a family of Methodists, she and her husband now live in Chelsea. Her husband, Herman Weiss grew up in Connecticut and was steeped in the Jewish Orthodox traditions. Dr. Weiss is a composer, pianist, conductor and professor of music. Together they perform as the Dream Song Duo. Dr. Weiss is currently the Music Director of the Nahant Village Church and occasionally fills in at the FBCW. He is a principal pianist for the Boston Ballet School in Marblehead.

Ms. Johnson is a board certified music therapist, specializing in Neurologic Music Therapy. She graduated from Lesley University with a Master of Arts in Counseling and Music Therapy. She has supervised 20 interns in her 25 years as a music therapist for the Department of Developmental Services, and long term residential facilities for the elderly.

Ms. Johnson is also a Licensed Mental Health Counselor and maintains a private practice at the FBCW, offering counseling and Music Therapy. Her work also takes her to the Chelsea Jewish Lifecare as a Hospice Music Therapist. She serves as a Music Specialist for the Rock n Roll Daycare in Cambridge one morning per week.

Prior to becoming a music therapist, Marsha sang professionally as a free lance soprano throughout the New England area. She directed music for the Beech Street Baptist Church in Cambridge. She was soloist for numerous churches in the area including Church of the Advent, St. John’s Episcopal in Newton, The Baptist Church and the Congregational Churches of Medford. She was a fellow of the Bach Aria Group twice. She graduated from The New England Conservatory with a Master of Music in Voice. She studied with D’anna Fortunato, Donna Roll, and Ray Devoll. Her repertoire includes Bach, opera, contemporary and the American Songbook. Her husband composed “Five Songs” for her, recorded with ensemble.

Both Marsha and her husband are avid gardeners, cooks and concert goers.

Our Administrative Assistant:
Michele Brown-Tosi

With over 30 years of experience working as a paralegal,
Michele has been offering superb administrative help
from our church office and beyond. As a devout Christian,
she regards working as a spiritual experience . Her hearty
laughs, her caring voice, and her drive for professional
excellence make her a precious jewel on our staff team!

Michele lives happily with her husband and daughter in
Melrose, MA.