Clergy, Staff, and Lay Servants

Any time that the doors at Otterbein are open, chances are that you’ll see one or more of these servant leaders.

Pastor Rev. Matthew Garrabrant

What brought you to Otterbein?
I serve the UMC of the East Ohio Conference. As a UM pastor I am appointed to serve the church and community I am appointed by the Bishop. The church is an outpost in the community to provide the good news of Jesus Christ and how Jesus gives hope, joy, love and peace.

How long have you been in the ministry?
The Lord began to call me into ministry in 2004. I said, “Yes” in 2005 and began the work that need to be done and the Lord opened the door of opportunity. My first appointment began in July of 2007.

Tell me about your family.
My family is a growing family. The Lord has blessed me with a wonderful wife who is the mother to our 8 children. The Lord has given us 4 boys and 4 girls.

What are your hobbies/recreational interests?
I like to be active, outside and working with my hands. I enjoy woodworking, hunting, fishing and coonhounds.

What is your favorite part of your ministry?
The joy of the Lord filling me with the Holy Spirit and that joy filling my cup and running over upon others around me.

What was your first job?
My very first job was doing chores on my parent’s dairy farm as I grew up. My first off the farm job was at the local grocery store and with training I became a meat cutter in the meat department.

What do you feel is the main focus of your ministry?
I feel God has called me to be an encourager, provide the message of hope found in Jesus, be a comfort in time of loss and promote eternal life in Heaven.

What inspires you?
The many blessings, provisions and answered prayers that the Lord has done and continues to do; inspires and motivates me to keep working for the Lord. Everyday the Lord is so good.

What has God been teaching you lately?
I have had turned to God for direction and insight for parenting my first adult child who is in college. The prayers for your children and trusting God to protect them never end.

What is your favorite scripture?
Psalm 139:14, “I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.”

What are your favorite songs?
“Lord Prepare Me To Be A Sanctuary” is my song of meditation and preparation before preaching on Sunday morning.

Secretary Doris Brown

Custodian Ken Brown

What brought you to Otterbein?
Came from Grove and have been here ever since.

How long have you been in the ministry?
Since the beginning of time.

Tell me about your family.
My wife is the secretary here at Otterbein. We have 4 kids. One is a paramedic and the others are ministers.

What are your hobbies/recreational interests?
Camping and bowling.

What was your first job?
Body man in a Ford dealership.

What is your proudest moment?
When my kids decided to be ministers.

What inspires you?
Auto Service.

What has God been teaching you lately?
How to get along with people.

What is your favorite part of your job?
Keeping our church in its best shape.

What is your favorite song?
Amazing Grace

Custodian Dale Lockhart

Lay Leader Sheryl Seward

What brought you to Otterbein?
My mom and dad were members of Niesz church, one of the 3 churches that combined to form Otterbein. I was part of the first Youth Fellowship and I remember making many new friends and having good times in the early years of “The Church on the Hill.” I was away at college for the first few years, but after college I was married at Otterbein in July of 1968.

How long have you been a servant leader?
I was involved in the education department of Otterbein (teaching Sunday School — first 5th grade and then high school) for many years. I have also been involved in VBS almost every year since I moved back after college. The last several years I have been a teacher for 3-4 year olds, and it has been a delight! I love seeing the world through their eyes and introducing them to the Bible characters. I also love singing in the Contemporary choir. I am a member of the United Methodist Women.

Tell me about your family.
Although I am single now and live alone, I have 3 adult children. I recently moved from an 82 acre farm to a home in the village of Navarre. It is an adjustment, but I am enjoying having less to take care of. My oldest son, Jody, is married to Jamie and they have 3 girls (Abby- 13, Julia- 12, and Laura- 10) They will be moving to the farm where they have a herd of sheep. My second son, Jeff, works at the Beach City waste water treatment plant. He has 3 children (Courtney-23, a daycare teacher, Brooke-19, who works at Brewster Park, and Marty, 18 who is a senior in the construction trades class at R. G. Drage. My daughter, Julie, is married to John Roberts, an engineer with ODOT. They have 5 children and another on the way in April (Charles- 12, Clare-9, Benedict- 6, Anthony- 4, and Jude- 2) I love having the grandchildren visit.

What are your hobbies/recreational interests?
In addition to spending time with my grandchildren, I love reading, gardening, and golfing. I also enjoy the women’s Bible studies at Otterbein.

What is your favorite quote?
A favorite quote of mine is: “Enjoy the little things in life for one day you’ll look back and realize they were the big things.” I don’t know who said it, but I think it is true. Another one I had up on a poster in my classroom was: “Attitude is the mind’s paint brush; it can color any situation.” You may not be able to change your circumstances, but you can always change your attitude, and that makes all the difference.

What is your favorite scripture?
A favorite scripture I try to live by is Philippians 4:4-7. “Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God which transcends all understanding will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” A pretty good model for living!

What is your proudest moment?
My proudest moments were seeing my children graduate from college. Now I enjoy watching the grandkids in their many sporting activities: swimming, soccer, softball, and basketball.

What was your childhood ambition?
As a child, I used to make my 2 sisters and the neighbor girls play school with me. More often than not, I was the teacher. I can not remember ever wanting to be anything other than a teacher. When I went to OSU, I pursued a degree in education. I taught French and language arts for 31 years. There were also some years in there when I was a learning disability tutor.

Church Council Chair Jody Seward

How long have you been at Otterbein?
I’ve been at Otterbein pretty much since birth (1972 for those who prize accuracy).

What brought you here in the first place?
My family brought me here originally.

Tell me about your family.
I’ve been married to Jamie since 2003 and we have three daughters—Abigail, Julia and Laura.

What are your hobbies/recreational interests?
I love watching my girls compete in sports, singing, playing the organ or piano, and taking care of and showing my Montadale sheep.

What was your first job?
My first job was baling hay on our farm growing up.

What is your proudest moment?
My proudest moment was when each of my girls was born.

What was your childhood ambition?
My childhood ambition was to become a veterinarian, get married and raise a family.

What inspires you?
Music inspires me, especially classical and sacred music.

What has God been teaching you lately?
God is constantly teaching me patience and reminding me to rely on him and not on my own strength.

What is your guilty pleasure?
Smarties candy

What do you like most about serving?
Directing the chancel choir and playing the organ are a joy. I can offer the gift of music back to God. Chairing church council allows me to facilitate new and existing ministries, which is exciting.

Finance Chair John Feucht

What brought you to Otterbein?
Was married here.

How long have you been in the ministry?
15 years

Tell me about your family.
Twin daughters Katie & Kendra.
Graduated from high school with my wife, Michelle.
Michelle is a nurse and I am a pharmacist.

What are your hobbies/recreational interests?
Hunt and going to the beach.

What is your favorite quote?
“Be part of the solution, not part of the problem.”

What was your first job?
Bus boy and dish washer.

What is your proudest moment?
The day my daughters were born.

What was your childhood ambition?
Always wanted to be a fireman.

What inspires you?
God, to be the best.

What has God been teaching you lately?
How to be patient and deal with people in the age of adversity.

What is your favorite part of your job?
Being able to see money used for the mission in the church.

What is your favorite scripture reading/song?
For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. (John 3:16-17)

Staff Parish Relations Chair Terry Selby

What brought you to Otterbein?
We had moved into Perry Twp. and I was driving through the area and saw the church on the hill. I told Tammy about it and we started attending.

How long have you been in the ministry?
We’ve been members for about 30 years and active in the administrative area for 20.

Tell me about your family.
Tammy and I are approaching our 40th wedding anniversary and we have two grown children, a son and daughter-in-law, Joshua and Cassie and daughter and son-in-law, Sarah and Steve.

What are your hobbies/recreational interests?
Camping and I sing a bit.

What is your favorite quote?
“And this too shall pass.” Nothing in this world is permanent. Regardless of what you’re going through now, good or bad, the situation is bound to change.

What was your first job?
Well, I was raised on a farm so there’s that. My first real job was working at the Mapleton Auction Barn helping move the consignments for the auctioneer and customers. I was 13 or 14.

What is your proudest moment?
There are several of which I am equally proud. My marriage, the birth of my children, the marriages of my children and the celebration of my parent’s 50th wedding anniversary.

What was your childhood ambition?
Law school. Didn’t get there (yet).

What inspires you?
People who go out of their way to be helpful to others with no expectation of reward.

What has God been teaching you lately?
Stop worrying, He’s got this.

What is your guilty pleasure?
Blueberry muffins, or actually, anything with blueberries.

What is your favorite part of your day job?
As an architectural draftsman, I get to draw the plans for a person’s dream home.

Music Committee Chair Jody Seward