Elder Bios

  • I grew up in a Christian home with one older brother and the loving influence of my parents and extended family.  Moving away from friends in Connecticut to western New York at the beginning of high school was a stressful experience that motivated my teenage search for lasting purpose and fulfillment. Christian friends and teachers helped point me to Christ, and halfway through my senior year, I surrendered to him as Lord and Savior. 

    I studied much math in Michigan, receiving a BS from Michigan State University and an MS and Ph.D. from University of Michigan. I taught math in graduate school and at the Scranton campus of Penn State University before moving to Maryland in 1994 to work as a mathematician for the federal government.

    My wife, Amy, and I met at Chapelgate Career Fellowship in 1997, were married in 1999, and are now blessed with five children. Life is never boring!  We have been members at Chapelgate since 2001. At various seasons, our involvement has included several small groups, the Missions Team, Pioneer Girls, and Christian Service Brigade. I have served on the worship team (with a break during COVID) since 2012.  

    The church community is an integral part of my life in Christ. So many have encouraged, prayed for, instructed, corrected me, shared their time, gifts, wisdom, joys, sorrows, and struggles with me, and pointed me to Jesus. I treasure the life-giving conversations, the thought-provoking questions, the testimonies and fellowship which remind me that he is Immanuel, God with us. If elected as an elder, I pray that I would always view it as an opportunity to serve and to love others as I have been loved and that I would always remember that he is the one who will build his church.

  • I am a life-long resident of Maryland, growing up in Howard County. I went to Howard County Senior High School, and the University of Maryland at College Park, graduating with a degree in Accounting. I later got a master’s degree in finance from Loyola. I came to Christ during a youth retreat run by Chapel Hill UP Church. I was a counselor at that retreat and thought I was a believer, but during the retreat I realized I was not. I gave my life to Christ on the Sunday morning after the last group talk was held. That was quite a day for me!

    Janet and I were married in 1969, and have two sons, Andy and Jon. I have been retired since 2013.  I was a CPA/general auditor for several banks, and lastly the compliance officer at First Mariner Bank. 

    Janet and I also joined Chapelgate in 1969. I have taught in several adult Sunday School classes.  I have been trained as an ESL teacher and have worked with the Hispanic community in Woodlawn. More recently I worked on the Sanctuary Fund Raising Committee.  I lead a men’s Bible Study.  I served on the Giving Committee, which made recommendations on how the church would grant the money that we were tithing from the sale of our property.  I was chairman of the Church Planting Committee that planted Chapelgate’s first church plant: City Church in Baltimore (now Roland Run), pastored by Patrick Donohue. I have been an elder for many years, since Chapel Hill days, and at various times was Clerk of the Session, and chaired the Finance and Evangelism Committees, as well as a School Planning Committee and a church-wide planning committee. 

    I feel that I am called to continue to serve the Lord on the Session.  The ministry of shepherding has grown in importance to me. I have personally experienced cancer, and another health issue that was far more painful. When people visited me, I felt like it was a visit from Jesus, as they ministered to me simply with their presence.  I hope to be that to my oversight group.

Deaconesses

  • On April 23, 1961, I gave my life to Christ as my savior at the conclusion of the evening service at Faith Bible Church. They had shown the Billy Graham film, “Shadow of the Boomarang,” and during the invitation at the end of the film I said yes to asking Christ to forgive me of my sins and save my soul. Even at 11 years old I knew that was what I needed to do and He has carried me through all the days of my life.
    I have been a widow for 10 years and Tom was my husband of 42 years. We had 1 child, Andy, and he graduated from CCA IN 1996. I have 4 grandchildren.
    I was cafeteria manager at Waverly Elementary in Howard County for 27 years. I retired in 2012 to care for my husband after his stroke.
    I joined Chapelgate in December of 2021, and am involved with Bible studies, New Normals widows group, and with the visitation program where I mainly visit widows. This church is amazing in their care of their widows.
    Last year someone submitted my name for deaconess and I wrestled and prayed the whole 2024 summer and felt God was allowing me to say no to the call and I was at peace with that. Then someone put my name in again in spring 2025 and I figured that it was already settled. So when asked in the fall if they should make a training packet for me, I surprised myself by saying yes and was so surprised by the overwhelming joy that I felt from that  decision. He knows just how to handle and lead us, and He knows I am ready for the role of deaconess. I am ready to serve the needs of this church wherever and whatever they are, as the Lord will provide me with the wisdom and strength to do whatever He asks of me.

  • I was raised knowing Christ within our family and home. That involved daily prayers, Sunday School, Worship and Youth Fellowship. But when visiting my grandmother, she helped me make the connection more “real”.  She lived her faith “out loud”.  She didn’t just talk to Christ in private with her devotions.  She spoke to him daily and praised him for his wondrous works that she was blessed to see. This personal relationship helped open my heart to my relationship with Christ. 

    My husband, Chris, and I have been married for 12 years. I have 2 wonderful daughters, who are both married. One lives here in EC, the other is in Alaska. We have 4 fabulous grandkids from Chris’s side of the family. And I am mom to Lacey and Luke, both Shepherds. 

    I recently retired at the end of June from the Food Industry. I specialized in the Organics and Specialty division within Industry.

    I’ve been a member of Chapelgate for 10 years. I helped within ESL for a couple of years, prior to Covid, but needed to stop when I moved my mother up from NC to live us.  She has Alzheimer's and requires 24/7 accompaniment.  After 4 years, I needed to move her into an Assisted Living. I visit mom daily and I am thankful that she still remembers me.  And I am happy that I can bring some joy to other patients there.

    I was surprised when asked to consider a Deaconess position because I worshipped online for 4 years while mom was with us.  But most of all, I am very humbled in being asked.  I have really tried to be a servant of Christ throughout  my professional and personal life.  Where there is need, I have felt a calling to help. I have been blessed to meet many wonderful people when helping in the name of Christ. And I am looking forward to using my gifts to bring comfort and help to those that may need it within our church family.

Deacons

  • I came to Christ when I was about 6 years old, praying the "sinner's
    prayer" with my father as he was putting me to bed one night. I am
    blessed to have not known a day where I did not know the Lord. 

    I married my high-school sweetheart, Whitney, in 2008. We have 4
    children: Cameron (14), Catherine (12), Carson (8), and Carinne (6).

    I've been an Officer in the United States Navy since graduating from
    the Naval Academy in 2008. I was commissioned as a Naval Flight
    Officer, and after about 7 years of really great times as an Aviator, I
    laterally transferred to become an Information Professional Officer
    working in the Information Warfare mission space. I recently
    transitioned to the Maritime Cyber Warfare Officer community and am
    currently serving at Navy's Fleet Cyber Command. 

    Whitney and I became members of Chapelgate right as COVID hit in 2020, and since then both Cameron and Catherine have become members.  We were blessed to have Carinne baptized in 2021.  I'm currently involved in the Christian
    Service Brigade ministry, and I'm very excited to continue ministering
    to Christ's church as a Deacon. My sense of calling to this office is
    largely in response to the way that God and His Church has been
    faithful to our family throughout the arduous 'curve balls' life can
    throw in the adventures of a military family.  We've finally settled
    down to a duty station where I plan to retire from and we're excited
    to love God's Church and our Church Family through acts of service,
    meeting the felt needs of life in a sinful world.

  • I went to Episcopal Church as a child and learned mostly about being a good boy. In high school I became connected with Young Life and was introduced to the basics of the gospel. I actually did pray a prayer to receive Christ in my junior year of high school, but I don’t think I actually understood my need clearly at that point. It was in college, through Inter-Varsity Christian Fellowship, that the pieces started to come together for me. In the years since then, I have come to realize just how desperately I need Jesus.

    I have never married but I enjoy spending time with my nephews and nieces and now my great nephews and great nieces. Almost 5 years ago, I retired from working in the field of environmental health. Recently, I began working part-time for the board that licenses individuals to do what I used to do.

    I became a member of Chapelgate in 1991. Over the years, I have been involved in various facets of church life. Most recently I have been involved with internationals and assist with reviewing Sunday sermons with some of them. With regard to my sense of calling to being a deacon, I can’t say I have a clear sense of calling, but I also don’t have any good excuse for not serving. I do like the fact that this ministry connects me with people in the church who have real needs.

  • I grew up in a home where church attendance and involvement was an important part of the family dynamic and where I learned something about Jesus, but not much about what a relationship with him could be like. Faith in my church seemed more important than faith in Christ. In high school and my early college years, through the ministry of friends, good preaching, and Christian radio, the Holy Spirit worked on my heart showing me my deep need for a Savior.  I understood that Jesus was Lord of my life and not just for Sundays. 

    I married my high school sweetheart , Patti, 41 years ago and together raised four children: Joe (38), Becky (37), Sam (35), and Dan (31).  Together with their spouses and 13 wonderful grands, we enjoy large family gatherings. 

    I have a Mechanical Engineering degree from the University of Maryland and have worked for Westinghouse/Northrop Grumman for nearly 42 years. It was through an invitation from former Elder, Jim Mullis, that our family came to Chapelgate in 1992 and joined shortly after.  It was the emphasis on the truth of scripture and a constant dependence on Jesus that drew us so closely to the Chapelgate family.   

    Over the years, I have been involved in church ministry from the early days of Habitat for Humanity in Sandtown, the church orchestra, as a Children’s Sunday School teacher, and as a board member of Chapelgate Christian Academy. My primary focus has been as a leader in the Battalion Unit of Chapelgate’s Christian Service Brigade. I have truly enjoyed this ministry of helping young men embrace their faith and find their place of service in the Body of Christ.

    As I’ve prayed about the calling of Deacon, I’ve recalled that even as a kid, my family didn’t go home from a church function until all the chairs and tables were put away and I still feel that tug. I’ve had great mentors in my life who’ve taught me auto mechanics, wood and metal work, and just how to tinker. I feel God’s call on my life to serve by sharing what I can, learning from others, and encouraging the Body of Christ toward good works He has prepared for us.   

  • I came to know Jesus Christ as a child through my parents' deep faith. I was raised Catholic, but felt something was missing. I left the Catholic Church after attending a nondenominational church later in life, where my faith was reborn. I realized I only needed to put my faith in Jesus Christ as the path to God and trust fully in his control, living in his glory and grace. After some life events, we found Chapelgate and have continued to grow in faith there.

    I am married to my wonderful wife of 12 years, Alison. I have five children, three of whom are mine from a previous marriage and two of whom are Alison’s children, making me a grandfather to four grandchildren. I am fully retired from a career as an active duty Coast Guard officer and 15 years as a Coast Guard civilian. Alison and I have been members of Chapelgate for 10 years.

    Currently, I have been involved in several service ministries at Chapelgate, including Rebuilding Howard County as a three-time house leader, leading four trips to western North Carolina for Hurricane Helene relief efforts working through MNA, and participating in numerous Fall Cleanup Day events over the last decade.

    My call to service has been a part of me since early in my life. I served in the US Coast Guard because I felt a sense of duty to help those in need, and I continue to answer that call to this day. Being a Deacon in the church will be akin to the pride I have in serving in the name of Jesus Christ to all His children in God.

  • I came to know Christ when I was in my late twenties. I battled with substance abuse and during the early months of my recovery, a close family member showed me what a relationship with Jesus looks like. I came to know Christ personally and he changed my life.

    I became a member of Chapelgate 30 years ago and met my wife, Kathie, here. We have been married for 28 years and have 3 grown children. I am currently employed at Head USA as the distribution supervisor.

    I have served at Chapelgate in different capacities over the years- Children’s Sunday School teacher, leader at CSB and Sunday morning greeter. I was also part of the initial team that helped to bring Celebrate Recovery to Chapelgate. I enjoy helping others wherever I can and I feel that the call to become a Deacon will open more opportunities to serve him and share my faith with others.