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Armstrong Chapel has a friendly and experienced staff who work hard to meet the needs of the congregation. We encourage you to share your thoughts through e-mail to any of the staff members, or staff members may be reached by calling the church office at (513) 561-4220. |
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Rev. Greg Stover, Senior Pastor
gstover@armstrongchapel.org
Rev. Greg Stover has served the Lord in many capacities during his 30-plus years of pastoral ministry. Prior to coming to Armstrong Chapel, he served in the Cincinnati area as District Superintendent of the Cincinnati District, and Senior Pastor of Sharonville United Methodist Church. Earlier pastorates include Church of the Cross UMC in Toledo, First United Methodist Church in Sidney, Ohio and two student pastorates in Martinsville and Marathon, Ohio.
Greg is passionate about encouraging the local church to catch God's vision of Changing Lives and Our World Through Jesus Christ.
In addition to his pastoral duties, Greg has served on numerous church and volunteer boards and committees. Currently, he serves as a Director of the General Commission on Christian Unity and Interreligous Concerns for the United Methodist Church and and has served as a delegate to three General and five Jurisdictional Conferences for the UMC. He is on the Board of Directors member of Life Enriching Communities, Inc., the parent of Twin Lakes and Twin Towers Retirement Communities here in Cincinnati.In addition, he serves as a "lay member" of the Grievance Committee for the Cincinnati Bar Association.
Greg and wife Linda have three grown children: Philip, Geoffrey and Christopher.
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As an Associate Pastor for Armstrong Chapel since 2003, Rev. Nathan Custer is the staff liaison for adult ministries, missions and outreach, membership and evangelism; does non-member weddings and premarital sessions; works with people of all ages through pastoral counseling and relationships; and is the lead preacher for the contemporary worship service. He seeks to be a helpful resource for the church who can: 1) Thoroughly understand contemporary issues through the eyes of faith in Christ; 2) Help people to relate to God and the Bible in ways that are intellectual and experiential, contemporary and ancient; and 3) Train and encourage others to become leaders and resources for their church and their community by using their God-given gifts and abilities.
Nathan has two young sons, and as for interests and hobbies, his wife readily concurs that he is interested in just about anything and everything…sometimes to her exasperation! |
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Rev. Dr. Lee Tyson, Pastor to Students
Pastor Lee Tyson began his full-time ministry career as a youth pastor to inner-city teens at an United Methodist Mission in Lexington, and was then called to Ft Lauderdale to serve as Pastor to Students at the Sawgrass Community Church. Lee has been with Armstrong Chapel since 2001, and has built a solid student ministry, aptly named, Vertical Impact.
Lee is fully aware that being a teenager isn't easy. He feels the greatest need of the up and coming generation is finding a place of unconditional love and acceptance where students can be real and safely remove their facades. Lee is quick to convey his belief that parenting is the most difficult job in the world, and a parent gets only one opportunity to do this job correctly. Consequently, he affirms that youth ministry is not only relevant to the teens themselves, but to the entire family system of which they are a part. Finally, Lee is strongly convicted that the Lord has called him to Armstrong not to be a director of programs, but a discipler of students. His ultimate mission in life is to expand God's Kingdom by bringing love, acceptance, and direction to every student he encounters.
When Lee isn't busy doing youth ministry, he enjoys spoiling his dogs - Jackson, Gretchen and Tori, and playing basketball, snow skiing, watching movies and cheering on the Los Angeles Lakers. If you are a Laker fan, you certainly have a friend in Lee! |
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Rev. Stan Lawrence, Associate Pastor of Congregational Care
Stan Lawrence is a graduate of both Asbury College and Wittenberg University. He was an active pastor in the West Ohio Conference of the United Methodist Church for more than forty years, pastoring churches in Springfield, Toledo, and Cincinnati, before retiring in 2000. He has served at Armstrong Chapel as Associate Pastor of Congregational Care since July, 2005. His responsibilities include pastoral care, visitation, and occasional preaching. He and his wife Karen, a retired Registered Nurse, live in Fairfield Township and enjoy grandchildren, travel, flower gardening, and reading. |
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Melanie Stearns, Direcotr of Education and Spiritual Formation Ministries
Melanie Stearns grew up in a small Georgian town Methodist church. God led her to Asbury College where she earned a degree in Elementary Education and met husband, Randy, who later pastored youth at Grove City UMC in Ohio. Teaching until Randy was appointed to Brice UMC in Columbus, Melanie then embraced her new career as full time mother to William, Melissa and Lyndsey.
With her love of sharing Jesus Christ and of education, Melanie became the pioneering principal in 1995 of Brice Christian Academy. In eight years, it grew from 25 students in Kindergarten and 1st grade to a K – 8th grade school with 265 students, a staff of 32 and a new facility! Melanie, during those years, was the only Christian school principal in the Ohio Principal’s Academy.
When Randy became Superintendent of the Springfield District of the West Ohio UM Conference, the family moved to Springfield, Ohio after 18 years in Columbus. Melanie completed her Masters in Education at Wright State University in the spring of 2007.
With God’s guidance and gentle tug, Melanie became the Director of Christian Education at Trinity UMC in Upper Arlington, Ohio where she enjoyed working with Rev. Philip Brooks from 2005 to June 2007. When the West Ohio Conference restructured in 2007, Randy was asked to be Superintendent of the new Ohio River Valley District. The family moved to Loveland, and Melanie has the privilege of being the Director of Christian Education and Spiritual Formation at Armstrong Chapel United Methodist Church in Indian Hill, Ohio.
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Susan Siemer, Administrator
Administrator Susan Siemer came to Armstrong in 1998 to oversee the office operations and the custodial staff. She believes and tries to affirm that EVERY position on the staff is a ministry. Her duties include overseeing day to day operations, procurement, maintenance and inventory of office equipment, computers, telephones, AND OTHER! She is also ultimately responsible for the facilities being in readiness for the ministries of the church, and is staff liaison for the Trustees and Fellowship Committee.
With a degree in Graphic Design from DAAP at the University of Cincinnati, Susan can get lost in painting, photography, knitting and other art forms, and loves "arty" movies. Each summer when she can, she heads for her family's place in northern Michigan where she enjoys spending time with her mother, three children, two adorable (!) grandchildren and three sisters and their families. |
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Karen Decker, Financial Administrator
Karen Decker currently serves Armstrong Chapel part time as the Financial Administrator, coming to Armstrong after many years at Knoxl Presbyterian Church. Karen is married and has three children. |
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Joy Helton, Administrative Assistant
A fifth generation Armstrong, Joy has worked at Armstrong Chapel for over 11 years. She edits our bulletin, newsletter, and oversees missions, membership records, accounts payable and more! Joy has a degree in Family and Consumer Sciences from Mount Vernon Nazarene University. She and her husband, Paul, live in Milford with their two boys, Ty and Tanner. |
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Wendy Ransom, Administrative Assistant
Wendy Ransom joined the Armstrong office staff in January of 2006. She grew up in Kettering, Ohio and graduated from Miami University with a BS in Education. After a few years of teaching, Wendy moved into the business world and worked for GE Consumer Finance and Household Credit Services in various positions for over 10 years. Currently, Wendy works part time in the office supporting Lee Tyson and the Vertical Impact Student Ministries, the Christian Education Director, and coordinates weddings for the church as well as any other miscellaneous things that need doing.
Wendy lives in Loveland with her husband, Doug, and her Shih-Tzu, Milo, who is a sometimes visitor to the church office. Wendy is also an avid handbell enthusiast and is currently directing one choir and ringing in another at Epiphany UMC.
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Ben Basone, Director of Music
Ben Basone taught public school music for 31 years, the last 25 years at Walnut Hills High School. He retired in 2002, and spends his time woodworking, playing golf, and traveling. Ben came to Armstrong Chapel in 1987 as a paid soloist for Dr. Elmer Thomas. In the fall of 1994, Ben assumed the music director's position when Dr. Thomas retired. He has no plans to retire from Armstrong any time soon!
In 1989, he and Darlene were married at Armstrong, and transferred their memberships as well .
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Children's Choir
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Matt Boyd, Contemporary Worship LeaderMatt joined the Armstrong staff in 2005 and is serving as the Contemporary Worship Music Leader. Matt also works for the Kroger Company in Information Technology. When he isn't working you might find him at home with his wife Kelly and their 2 kids. Matt also enjoys computer gaming and all kinds of sports. He is an avid fan of the Miami Dolphins and Notre Dame. |
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Stacy Haney, Organist, Bell Choir
Stacy came to Armstrong Chapel in 2003 to be our Organist and Handbell Choir Director. He received a bachelor's degree and a partial master's degree from Bowling Green State University in music education with an emphasis on organ performance. Stacy also directs the 7th and 8th grade Male Choruses and the 8th grade Mixed Chorus at Nagel Middle School in the Forest Hills School District. The Mixed Chorus has performed at Armstrong in the past.
Stacy enjoys playing golf and weight lifting, and spending time with wife Kelly, daughter Caitlyn, and twin daughters Megan and Shannon.
Aimee Fischer, Vertical Impact Staff
Aimee serves as Lee's assistant, and basically does everything Lee doesn't want to do. She recently graduated from Miami University (no, not in Florida…the real Miami), and is now also employed as an "instrument cleaner" (don't ask!) at University Hospital! Aimee is a very effective communicator and is known by most as being a little loud, hyperactive, and at times downright obnoxious. Regardless, she loves teenagers and is presently considering entering into full time youth ministry. Some of Aimee's specific assignments at VI include running Media Shout & helping out with the lessons. She also is an awesome story-teller… just ask her to tell you one of her random experiences! We are blessed to have her on staff at VI! You can email Aimee at aimeefischer@mac.com
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important numbers |
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Main Phone: 513.561.4220
Fax: 513.561.3062
Extensions:
Greg Stover.......... 302
Nathan Custer........303
Lee Tyson.............. 304
Stan Lawrence .....312
Melanie Stearns... 305
Susan Siemer........307
John Kester ..........306
Joy Helton .............309
Wendy Ransom..... 310
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