Staff & Leaders
The Rev Matthew Best
Pastor
Email: pastor@StStephenLC.org
Pastor Matthew Best has served as pastor of St. Stephen since Summer 2017. He graduated from Lutheran Theological Seminary at Gettysburg (now United Lutheran Seminary), in May 2017. During seminary, the Best family had the opportunity to do an exchange year of studies in Finland where Pastor Matthew took classes at the University of Helsinki and researched the Lutheran Church in Finland.
Before being called into ministry, Pastor Matthew worked for Project SHARE in Carlisle, did entrepreneurial coaching for a number of years, and had an extensive background in government and campaign politics--having worked for a state representative, a US Member of Congress in Washington, DC, as well as providing strategy and management of several political campaigns. He graduated from Grove City College in 1998 with a degree in Political Science.
Outside of church, Pastor Matthew loves to read, write (his blog is linked here), and run. And of course, spending time with his family is "always a great time." He and his wife Abby reside in Carlisle with their four wonderful children and a family dog.
Abby Best
Director of Music & Organist
Email: organist@StStephenLC.org
Abby Best has been the Director of Music at St. Stephen since the fall of 2017. Previously, she served as organist at Zion Lutheran, Etters for 15 years. As Director of Music, I have enjoyed directing the choir and providing music for worship services. When not serving at the church, she works as a classroom aide in a local school. She enjoys spending time with her husband and children, especially when they travel and explore new places.
Jennifer Batcheler
Youth and Family Ministry Director
Email: yfmd@ststephenlc.org
Jennifer loves having the freedom and ability to do a wide variety of activities and programs, with youth at St. Stephen. "I also love getting to know a new generation of spirited youths and their families, being a source of support and friendship for those that want or need it, and working in God’s house for my career," she says. Jennifer is the mother of a teenage son, three cats, and six chickens--and she notes that all of her animals are special family members.
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