Grace Church at Willow Valley

Vocational Elders (Pastors)

• Pastor John Smith
• Pastor Robert Kern
• Pastor Al Reilly
• Pastor Shannon Hollinger

Lay Elders (Not on staff)

Scott Talbot
Scott and his wife, Susan, have been married since 1986. They have a son, Austen, who currently attends college. Scott and his family began attending Grace Church in 1998 as a result of the chapel service held in Willow Valley’s chapel. Among the factors that attracted Scott and Susan to the church were the excellent preaching, the well-run youth program, and the friendly people.

In addition to serving on the Elder Team, Scott helps to lead an Adult Sunday School class, plays bass guitar in one of the Worship Teams, and is active in the Small Group program. Susan helps with the MomTime Ministry.

 

Scott is employed by Campus Crusade for Christ and works in their foundation providing specialized financial planning tools advice to ministry supporters.

 

Chuck Oettel
Chuck has been married to Debbie for 32 years. He is a sales manager for a plumbing, heating, and HVAC company and works part time as a professional guitarist. Debbie works as an R.N. in a physician’s office.
Chuck and Debbie have been attending Grace Church at Willow Valley for 32 years. Presently, Chuck serves on the Elder Team, the Music Committee, and has played guitar and served as a Worship Team leader. Chuck’s passions include playing the guitar and evangelism.

 

Randy Pearson
Growing up in the lake country of Central Minnesota, Randy accepted Christ as his personal savior during a Campus Crusade for Christ meeting. Spending his college years in California, he met his wife Shirl (see Administrative Assistant under “Pastors & Staff”) and graduated from Azusa Pacific College. He then went on for aviation training with Moody Bible Institute before spending 20 years serving as a pilot with Wycliffe Bible Translators, mostly in the country of Papua New Guinea (near Australia). The Pearsons have 3 boys who were all born while the family was overseas. Randy is an owner of Advance Coach Ltd in Lititz PA, serves on the Board of Directors for several Christian ministries and makes his home in Strasburg.

 

Don Mills
Don is the husband of Dawn Mills and the proud father of Tami and Son-in-Law, Matt Helm. Don and Dawn spend a lot of quality time with their two precious grandchildren, Madeline and Katherine. In addition to serving on the Elder Team, Don teaches an adult Sunday morning class and along with Dawn, leads a small group. Don graduated form Millersville University in 1974 and earned his Masters Degree in Education and certification for Administration Leadership from Immaculata College in 1995. His teaching career of over 30 years has been at Octorara Area High School where Don has taught Drafting and Woodworking.

 

John Baker
John and his wife Cindy were married in 1986. John and Cindy have three children, all teenagers, Zach, Nikole and Ben. Both John and Cindy grew up in Willow Street/Millersville area and have lived in Lancaster their entire lives except for a few years when John was assigned oversees while in the Army.

In addition to serving on the elder team, John teaches the 5th & 6th grade Sunday school, leads the Christian Service Brigade unit during our Wednesday night program, helps on missions trips, has lead a home group for the past 10 years and frequently speaks at the Willow Valley Chapel as a guest speaker. John also is active in the community, currently serving as a West Lampeter Township Supervisor. In the past John has also served the township as the Majority Inspector of Elections, Emergency Management Coordinator and Chairman of the Planning Commission.

John works for a security and consulting company and oversees 22 field offices in the Baltimore, Washington DC area. Cindy teaches 3rd grade in the LS School District.  

 

If you would like to contact one of our elders, please call the church office or you may use the      Elder Communication Form.