Staff


  • MATT cHRIST, senior pASTOR

    Married to Denise J Christ, Pastor Matt has three children, Abigail, Malachi,  and Leshane. He graduated in 1995 from Mifflinburg Area Senior High School and was involved in FFA and varsity golf. He showed pigs, lambs and a steer at the local fair. His older children have followed in his footsteps showing lambs.

    Denise is a homemaker and hairstylist at The Stone Ridge Retirement Facilty in Myerstown, and enjoys family time. She is actually well known to our congregation, being the daughter of Jake and Dixie Myer, and grand daughter of Hershey and Anna Mary Myer. 

    Matt's call to ministry began in high school as he served as FFA chaplain and others saw pastor potential in him, but Matt continued his education at Bucknell University with a Bachelor of Arts in Religion and Environmental Studies, graduating in May of 1999. He worked in banking and insurance until he surrendered to the call in ministry in 2006, serving at Christ Church of Beaver Springs as their assistant pastor focusing on youth and children's ministries. Ask him about how God called him to this position.

    After two years at Christ Church,  a brother from his home congregation, Buffalo Valley, suggested he apply for the youth pastor opening.  Matt's passion is seeing people transformed for Christ through living a life focused on others and loving wholeheartedly with grace and compassion. He is passionate about serving The Lord through local missions and world wide. In 2013, he graduated from Evangelical Theological Seminary in Myerstown with a Masters of Divinity.

    His family enjoys being along the creek at their family cabin by a campfire as well as nature walks and bike rides. Family is very important to successful ministry and emphasis on the family unit is a priority for Matt's ministry. He enjoys archery hunting and fishing as well as motorcycle riding. His family loves spending time with others getting to know them and praying for their needs.

    You can reach Pastor Matt at PastorMatt (at) LittleSwatara.org.

  • Connie Davis, Administrative Assistant

    Connie grew up on her grandparent’s farm in Warwick Twp., Lancaster Co., PA.  She is a 1967 graduate of Warwick Twp. High School.  She lives in Schaefferstown, Lebanon Co., PA with her husband, David and their rescue cat, Hobo.  They have two children, Jason, the owner/operator of Practical Machining Solutions and Jessica, a seminary student at United Lutheran Seminary - Gettysburg. They also have two grandchildren, Samuel and Lilja.

    Before coming to Little Swatara, Connie worked for 10 years in the fire and liability insurance industry as an underwriter.  Then another 35 years in healthcare, most recently as the Compliance Officer for a tri-state physical therapy company.  Retiring is 2017, she then pursued a part-time career as a STEM instructor using LEGO as a tool to teach simple engineering, technology, science, and math to elementary age children.

    She was a Girl Scout leader and an BSA Explorer Post Advisor for over 10 years. She has been the Facilitator for the Richland Community Library’s LEGO club for over 7 years.

    Connie is an avid reader and her other interests and hobbies are varied and many…………LEGO, camping, riding motorcycle, crafting…….. just to name a few.


    Contact Connie at Secretary (at) LittleSwatara.org


     

  • Sara Bryant, Preschool Director (Miss Cindy)

    Sara Bryant is the Director of Little Swatara Preschool.  She graduated from King's College with a B.A. in Psychology and English and has several graduate credits from Cedar Crest College in Elementary Education.  Miss Sara lives in Rehrersburg with her husband Greg, and their two children, Lauren and Daniel.  She has served on the LSP Board of Directors as Secretary and Chairperson for multiple terms and was also the Preschool teacher for 3 years.  Both of her children are LSP graduates as well!  Miss Sara is a member of Little Swatara Church of the Brethren and deeply loves the church and the preschool program.  The local community is very dear to her so the opportunity to work and serve here is a blessing and a joy.  She loves Jesus, family, children, coffee, and books!


    You can contact Sara here - Sara.Bryant (at) LittleSwatara.org.  You can find more on our preschool ministry, and the rest of the preschool staff  here.