Emma has been part of the Baptist Resource Network since its beginning in 1970, when she first served as a “page” (through the Girls in Action program) for the first annual meeting. Active in Southern Baptist work, she worked previously for the North American Mission Board (NAMB) as a summer missionary in 1977 in the Northwest Association, on staff with Ridgecrest Baptist Conference center in 1976-77, and in the South Central Baptist Association, where she was music director for all the churches. She was a part of its first project, “Festival of Praise,” which is still taking place at this time.
Emma was also instrumental in starting a church in Manheim, Pennsylvania (now called Bethel Baptist Church) and has served on the worship team at Emmanuel Baptist. In 1996, she married Mark Tentarelli and moved to South Jersey where she became involved with the association as recording secretary, serving through 2018. She graduated from Lancaster Bible College.
For the Baptist Resource Network, Emma has served on its Executive Board several times and has taught discipleship training, Sunday school training, and nursing home ministries. She also has been treasurer and recording secretary, and has served as prayer coordinator for and on the women’s leadership team of the BRN. She also assists with BRN’s Helpdesk, focusing primarily on South Jersey.
In addition, she currently is employed as financial secretary by Cultivate Church, where she also serves with the food pantry and prayer ministries.