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The Rev. Dr. Brian H. Hughes, Lead Pastor

Pastor Brian Hughes has been serving as Lead Pastor at St. John Evangelical Lutheran Church in Columbia, MD since the fall of 2002. The consummate team-builder, his passion is creating "Leaders of Leaders" who will have the gifts and training to dream of and guide new ministries. He envisions St. John as a place where all may experience the transforming power of the Cross of Christ. Deeply committed to outreach, he intends to equip members for relational evangelism and seeing Christ in “the least of these our brothers and sisters.” Prior to his return to the East Coast, he served as Assistant to the Bishop of the Sierra Pacific Synod (Northern California and Nevada).

He is the author of the book Our Structure: Carrying Out the Vision, part of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America’s (ELCA) Congregational Leadership Series published in 2002. Brian has led several congregations through times of purposeful transition, including congregations in western Pennsylvania, inner city Washington, D.C., and suburban northern California where, at the time, he helped to create the only self-sufficient Korean/Anglo congregation in our denomination. He's a diver (SCUBA, diving helmet and K250 submersible pilot), camper, gear head, weight lifter, fly-fisherman, husband, parent, and keeper of a two hyper-energy German Short Haired Pointer dogs. Brian lives in Sykesville, MD with the loves of his life; his wife Christine and their two children.

The Rev. Dr. Michael R. McQuaid, Pastor for Family & Youth

Pastor Mike has been serving as Pastor of Family and Youth Ministry at St. John since August 1994. He graduated from Albright College in Reading, Pennsylvania, before earning his Master of Divinity at the Lutheran Theological Seminary in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. He recently received his Doctor of Ministry degree in Family and Youth Ministry through Fuller Theological Seminary in Pasadena, California. He and his wife, Carol, have three children.

Karen Heist, Executive Administrator

Karen Heist brings 20+ years of leadership experience from business, consulting, and lay ministry involvement to her role as Executive Administrator. Her primary responsibilities include ministry planning and implementation, staff supervision, and leadership development. In her former career, Karen helped hospital systems work through the process of change, and was a regional vice president managing nursing homes and rehabilitation hospitals. With a Master's degree in Nursing, she offers a unique perspective to congregational health and growth. Her passion stems from seeing lives transformed by applying the Gospel to everyday life. She is currently enrolled at Rockbridge Seminary. Karen and husband, Jim, live in Ellicott City, MD.

Lisa Thompson, Coordinator of Children's Ministries

Lisa Thompson is our Coordinator of Children's Ministries which includes Nursery through 6th Grade. Lisa oversees our Nursery, Sunday School, Wednesday night activities (WAVE), Clown and Puppet Ministry, Children's Music Ministries, Vacation Bible School, Children's Wonderful Worship Experiences, and the Christmas Play.

She is a former public music school teacher, church program director, church choir, band, orchestra, and bell choir director. She has studied at the Metropolitan Opera House in New York and led children in the Maryland Summer Centers for Critical and Creative Thinking. Lisa is a current mother of three, private music teacher, and finishing her Masters in Religious Education.

Have a heart for children? Please see Lisa to get involved in the fun and excitement of faith development.