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

Pastor Brian Hughes has been serving as our Lead Pastor 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 hopes 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 an Assistant to the Bishop in Northern California and Nevada.

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 he helped to create a thriving Korean/Anglo congregation. 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 many years of leadership experience from business, non-profit, and lay ministry to her role as Executive Administrator. In 2009, she graduated from Rockbridge Seminary with a Master's of Ministry Leadership. Her primary responsibilities include ministry planning and implementation, staff supervision, and leadership development. She's passionate about encourageing others in their journey of discipleship and taking the ministry of St. John out into our local and global community. Karen spearheads our relationship with Good Samaratin Orphanage in Mbeya, Tanzania, and coordinates support to GSO from other congregations and organizations. On ministry staff since 2001, she previously held executive and consulting positions in the health care field, having a Master's Degree in Nursing. She loves to watch the Holy Spirit at work transforming lives as people apply God's Word in everyday life. Karen and husband, Jim, live in Ellicott City, MD. For fun she especially enjoys mentoring teens with her horse.