lead pastor: merrill smucker

Merrill was born and raised in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, in a conservative Christian home. In his younger years he went to church and Sunday School every Sunday, but did not have a personal relationship with Jesus. At the age of fifteen, Merrill began visiting other churches. On October 16, 1971, he attended a church service and gave his life to Jesus. At that point he became very involved in the local church he was attending. Merrill married Verna who was attending that church and God blessed them with four wonderful children. Their two oldest are married and have blessed them with eight lovely grandchildren.

Early in Merrill's spiritual journey, he felt God calling him into full time ministry. Merrill and Verna attended Bible College and took their first part time ministry position in 1979. Since then they have been involved in various ministry positions.

In February, 2003 God led them to plant a church in Gap, Pa, where they currently serve. Merrill and Verna are very excited about what God is doing at Gap Community Church (GCC) and in the community.

merrill@gapcommunitychurch.com

community life pastor: buck mowday

Buck Mowday is the Community Life Pastor for GCC. He is responsible for pastoral care, connection group oversight, and leading the Men Authentically Connected (M.A.C.]. Buck is licensed by the Worship Center Global Ministries fellowship and was Assistant Pastor as Victory Chapel for five years. He also was the interim pastor at Word of Faith Church in Coatesville. Buck has been married since 1980 to his wife, Verna. They have two children, Courtney and Devon, and two grandchildern, granddaughter Kierra and grandson Kamdon.

buck@gapcommunitychurch.com

assistant pastor: cody hall

Cody was licensed and ordained by the  Global Ministries fellowship in 1994. He served as director of prison ministries for the Worship Center and part time Chaplain at Lancaster County Prison (1993-1995). He also worked as the full time administrative Chaplain at Lancaster County Prison (1996-2004). He served as the executive Director of Transition to Community, a non-profit  organization that helped coordinate the re-entry of all inmates released from state and county prisons who reside in Lancaster County (2004-2006). He currently serves as the Assistant Pastor. He has been married since 1991 to his wife, Stephanie. They have been blessed with three boys, Christopher, Colby, and Cameron.

codyh@gapcommunitychurch.com  

YOUTH PASTOR: Jonathan Masteller

Jonathan was raised in Bellefonte Pa, and graduated from a Christian High School. After High School he attended a two-year discipleship program called University Masters Commission. He started volunteering with Amplify Youth Group and attending Gap Community Church in 2008. Spend a few minutes around Jonathan and you’ll quickly see where his passions are. His heart is for the youth of this area. He desires to challenge and encourage teens to live a God-Centered life and to become passionate about sharing their faith with their friends.

jonathanm@gapcommunitychurch.com   

worship coordinator: glenn stoltzfus

Glenn Stoltzfus was born into a conservative, Amish Mennonite family. He came from a family of five siblings and was raised in the Lancaster county area. His parents sent him to a private Christian school and he graduated from Lancaster Mennonite High School in 1982. In 1984 Glenn attended Christ for the Nations Bible Institute in Dallas, Texas. He met his wife, Luli at CFNI. and they both graduated in 1986. Glen and Luli moved back to Lancaster County and were married in April of 1987. Glen became involved as a back up singer at a local church. Eventually he became the worship leader and director of music. Glenn stayed in that position for many years and then was asked by Gap Community Church to link up with them in starting a new church in Gap. He came on board as the music coordinator in February of 2003. Glen and Luli along with his three children Jordan, Jonathan, and Julia currently reside in the Gap area.

children's coordinator: Jamie Smucker

Jamie grew up in a small town in upstate New York and graduated from Houghton College with an Education degree. She and her husband, Dan, married and settled in the area shortly after graduating in 2005. They have been attending GCC since the first Sunday they visited that summer and now live in Strasburg with their two little girls.

From the time she was a teenager, Jamie has served children and students in various roles (teaching Sunday school, as a camp counselor, leading youth group, volunteering at Kidzport). She also spent three years teaching high school English at Pequea Valley and at Living Word Academy before their first daughter was born. As a mom, Jamie understands that helping our children develop an authentic relationship with Jesus matters more than anything else, and she is excited to partner with families in that pursuit. 

Office Administrator Jaymie Nett

Jaymie was born and raised in Lancaster County and grew up in a Christian home attending a Baptist church and accepted Christ at age 11.  Jaymie has been married to Ed since 1986 and they have two sons, Randy & Steve.  They love dogs and share their house with their black Lab, Bo and their son Steve's two Pugs, Indy & Kirby.  Ed and Jaymie have been attending GCC for five years and have been volunteering in several areas.  They currently reside in the Quarryville area.