First Lutheran Ministry Staff

  

Roger Harms - Intentional Interim Pastor

 

 

Cindy Lockney - Secretary

Stan Golden ‑ Visitation Minister

 

Ministry Leaders

Gary Welch  - Parish Administrator

Betsy Ehret – Director of Outreach

 

 

Sue Mentink – Director of Discipleship for Adults

Michelle Goodman - Director of Discipleship for Children and Youth

 

Church Council

Doug Wooley  - President

 

Dan Cooper – Vice President

Secretary – Carol Peterson

 

Kent Hasbargen – Treasurer

 

Andrea Brock

Phil Cross

Mathew Davis

 

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Brad Gault

Rick Marks

Gary Welch

 

Becky Richardson

 

Betsy Ehret - Outreach Ministry Coordinator

 

Married - 45 years - 3 children and 6 grandchildren

Retired: GE Plastics - International Customer Service Leader for GE Petrochemical Business

Education: Graduate: Whitehall High School, Whitehall, PA . Allentown Comptometer School/IBM Data Processing Certificate Program; Various Management Training Certificate Programs and Related Business Courses/Seminars through WVU-P and GE.

Volunteer/Community Involvement: Sunday School Teacher; Women’s Leader both in the Congregation and WV/WM Synod; GE Elfun Officer/Volunteer focusing on: Partners in Education; GE/PSHS Mentoring Program; Community involvement includes: Volunteer Action Center of the Mid-Ohio Valley supporter and Board Member; FaithLink volunteer and Board Member.

Reason for Serving: Since FLC Outreach Ministry Coordinator position enables me to serve our congregation and continue to work with those community based groups that focus on helping people in need by blending the resources and service opportunities of both church and community for the benefit of all. It also allows me to utilize the skills and working relationships established throughout my years of involvement with GE and their support of community and educational based programs. I have been richly blessed by the opportunities afforded me over the years to learn and grow in my faith and skills, to not continue to use both in service to God and his people would be a waste of the trusts placed in me.

We know that all things work together for good to those who love God.   

                                                                                                                                                    Romans 8:28

Gary Welch - Parish Administrator

 

Gary Welch and his family have been members of First Lutheran since 1984. A graduate of Clinton Community College, Clinton Iowa (1966) and served in the Army (1967- 1971).

At First Lutheran he is a member of the Men's Prayer Breakfast, Church Council, Property Committee and the Men's Softball Team.

Gary is married to Sharon (1967), they have two grown children, son Scott and daughter Sarah. Scott is married to Christy, they have two daughters Keya and Shayla.

Life Verse: Ephesians 6:10 - Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power.

Ministry Goal: To be involved, participating and contributing as much as my abilities allow to the kingdom of God.

Sue Mentink - Discipleship Minister of Adults

 

Sue Mentink has been a member of First Lutheran since 1991. She has served as a Sunday school teacher for many years, teaching children though adults. Sue has been trained as a prayer care minister and for the Stephen’s ministry. She has served on the Worship and Music Committee, the Praise Team and Prayer Team, and as a sound operator. Sue has been involved in Bible Study Fellowship for 8 years and has completed their study program. She also has a degree in Mechanical Engineering from Michigan Technological University and is presently teaching part time at Washington State Community College.

Sue is married to John. They have two children, Autumn presently a student at Ohio Northern University and Kyle a student at Parkersburg South High School.

Verse: Matthew 4:4 - Jesus answered, "it is written: Man does not live by bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God."

Ministry Goal: To encourage others to love and share God’s word.

Michelle Goodman ‑ Director Of Discipleship for Children and Youth

 

Michelle Goodman has been a member of First Lutheran since 1996.  She has served as Sunday School teacher, Children’s Church leader, LOVE Preschool teacher, Christmas program co-director, Vacation Bible School director and teacher, and a member of the handbell choir.  Outside of First Lutheran, she is involved with Bible Study Fellowship and has completed 5 years of their study.  She also has a dcgree in Chemical Engineering from the University of Wisconsin; she worked in that field for 10 years before “retiring” to stay home with her children. 

 

Michelle and her husband, Don, have 4 young children: Clare, Sam, Matt & Ben. 

 

Jeremiah 29:11-13  For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.

 

Stan Golden ‑ Visitation Minister

The Christian Community is not driven together but drawn together. By leaving the ordinary, and proper places and responding to the Lord's call to follow Him, people with very different backgrounds discover each other as fellow travelers brought together in common discipleship.   

                                                                                                                                                    Henri J M Nouwen

          As long as we belong to this world, we will remain subject to its competitive ways with the expectation to be rewarded for the good that we do, this is the nature of business in a world in which we live. I have worked in retail management for over twenty five years. I began my retail career at the age of sixteen working in a small community store where I grew up until the age of twenty. I would leave the area to transfer in the capacity of supervisory management with several different companies such as G.C. Murphy, Foodland and Seven‑Eleven until relocating to the Parkersburg area in 1989. It is here that I met my lovely wife Patti in 1998, and we were joined in marriage in 2001. Patti is employed at Marietta Memorial Hospital as a Medical Social Worker.

        The areas of ministry that I have been serving in at First Lutheran prior to becoming the Visitation Minister are:  Distribution of Holy Communion to those within our congregation unable to attend service, Co‑Sunday School Teacher of our adult class and men's prayer breakfast.

        When we belong to God, who loves us unconditionally and we live without any expectation of reward, we can live as He does. His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by His glory and goodness. 2 Peter 1:3