Meet the Staff
Dr. Douglas Van Nest - District Superintendent and Interim Pastor
Mark Atherton - Assistant District Superintendent and Interim Pastor
Xenia Nazarene is in the process of searching for a senior pastor. During the interim, Dr. Van Nest and Mark Atherton have stepped in to lead our church congregation and ministries.
Mack Bottorff~ Outreach & Volunteer Pastor
Favorite Bible Verse: I will sprinkle clean water upon you…I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. Ezekiel 36: 25-26.
Main Responsibilities: Church outreach events and help coordinate volunteers: Xenia Old Fashioned Days, Golf Outing, KIDZ Basketball, Friend Day and other events as they come up. Organize all church work day. Responsible for Sunday Eve. Preaching service
Short Bio: Born in Xenia and have here all of my life. Graduated from XHS in 1961. Joined United States Marine Corps in 1961 and served until 1965. Graduated from Central State University with a B.S. in Education in 1969. Taught @ XHS from 1969 until 1980 then went into the insurance business until 1996. On staff at Xenia Nazarene since 2004. Have coached football since 1969 and currently teach full time at mound Street Military Careers Academy in Dayton, Ohio.
Faith Testimony: I was saved on November 8, 1996, during an Elaine Pettit revival at Xenia Nazarene after nearly 35 years as an atheist. I was called into the ministry in 1999 after a Revival service at Hillsboro Church of the Nazarene with Pastor Mike Dennis. God has been wonderful to me and He protected me, even during those years that I did not even believe He existed. I want to thank my daughter Sonya Baker for getting me to come to the church in 1996 and not giving up on me and my salvation then. My greatest thrill during my short time as a Christian was the opportunity I had to lead my mother to the Lord during her long illness in 1997 that ended in her death and her opportunity to join God’s Kingdom at her death.
Family Life: I am married to my high school sweetheart Sylvia “Ary” Bottorff. We were married after I got out of the Marine Corps and have been married 43 years. We have 2 children: Shawn 42 and Sonya 37. We have 4 Grandchildren: Katie 19, Emma 11, Leah 9 and Brett 8. We have been blessed during our marriage and have loved serving the church for the last 12 years.
Hobbies: Golf, Yard work, cooking, and traveling.
Favorite Vacation: Our 8 week family camping trip to Oregon and back in 1977. It was a great family time and we got to see much of this beautiful country that God has blessed so much.
If I Could Ask God One Question: Could you please tell me when our son Shawn will receive his salvation. We know someday he will because you have promised that to us. I would just like to know when so I can be prepared to celebrate.
Jessica Byler ~ Children's Pastor
Life Passage: “I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength.” Philippians 4:13
Short Bio: I was born in
Family Life: I am married to a wonderful man, Jeremy. God brought us together at Children’s Camp in 2002, we were married the following May and have been married for 6 years. In June of 2005, we had our first beautiful girl, Aubree and who would have thought that we could have been blessed with another beautiful girl,
Favorite Foodt: Italian
Hobbies: Sports-playing and watching; reading-if I find the time and hanging out with my family
Faith Testimony: Being saved as a child, I have a deep concern for children understanding what it means to follow Christ. I love Him and want nothing more than to be in the center of his will.
Favorite Sports Team: The Ohio State University-Go Bucks!!
Jeremy Byler ~ Children's Pastor
Favorite Bible Verse: Psalm 86: 11-13 - "Teach me Your ways, O Lord, so I may walk according to Your truth. Grant me purity of heart that I may honor You. With all of my heart I will praise you, O Lord my God. I will glorify Your name forever. For Your love for me is very great, and You have rescued me from the depths of hell."
Main Responsibilities: I am the pastor to families with children in 1st-6th grade. I plan Sunday morning worship experiences as well as Wednesday night activities, special events, and all sorts of things. I love having fun & seeing kids come to Christ.
Short Bio: I moved around a lot as a child and eventually found home in Amarillo, Texas, where i played football, sang in choirs, developed my love for church and grauduated from High school. I went on to Southern Nazarene University where i majored in Music Business, sang in the Men's Chorus, SNU Chorale, and traveled with The Messengers. While serving as a counselor at Children's Camp one summer, I met my wife and now Co-Children's Pastor, Jessica, who couldn't help but love me. We have 3 beautiful daughters and love serving the Lord as a family. Before moving to Xenia, I served as Music and Worship Pastor at Bon Air Church of the Nazarene in Kokomo, IN.
Faith Testimony: I grew up in the church and was saved around age 7 on the rock wall in front of a church in Chico, California. I took the step to sanctification as a freshman in college at a campground in Oklahoma, and have strived to live a life worthy of the call God has placed on my life. I am not finished growing and I enjoy learning new aspects of God's character all the time. I am thrilled that He chose me!
Hobbies: I like playing hacky-sack and disc golf, hunting, fishing, playing every kind of sport, and music.
Favorite Bible Character & why: Ehud - look it up!!
Favorite Sports Team: TEXAS LONGHORNS!
Favorite Season: Fall - football season, deer season coming, golf & camping!
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it ~ Associate Pastor
Favorite Bible Verse: Romans Chapter 8.
Main Responsibiities: Associate Pastor, small groups and discipleship.
Short Bio: Jerry was raised in Kansas and moved to Florida as a young man. After attending Trevecca Nazarene University, he has spent the last 26 years in student ministries. Jerry and his wife, Nancy, are coming from a position in Sarasota, FL, where he served as Student Ministries Pastor of Suncoast Community Church.
Faith Testimony: I love Jesus and desire to grow in a deeper relationship with Him.
Family Life: After my relationship with God, the dearest and most important is with my family. I love my wife and daughters and want to spend as much time as possible with them. They are my greatest joy and biggest blessing.
Hobbies: I like all sports but my favorites are running and racquetball.
Dream Vacation: Travel to all the national parks of the west.
Favorite Sports Team: Florida Gators (GO GATERS!!)
Brannon Hancock~ Worship Pastor
Life Passage: Colossians 3:12-15 (The Message) “So, chosen by God for this new life of love, dress in the wardrobe God picked out for you: compassion, kindness, humility, quiet strength, discipline. Be even-tempered, content with second place, quick to forgive an offense. Forgive as quickly and completely as the Master forgave you. And regardless of what else you put on, wear love. It's your basic, all-purpose garment. Never be without it. Let the peace of Christ keep you in tune with each other, in step with each other. None of this going off and doing your own thing. And cultivate thankfulness.”
Short Bio: I’m a Nazarene PK (pastor’s kid) and DSGK (district superintendent’s grand-kid) from Nashville, TN. Well, I was actually born at Miami Valley hospital while my dad was serving as a youth pastor in Dayton, so I guess I’m originally from this area! My mom grew up in Xenia, and so I’ve been coming here to visit grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins for many years. I studied English Literature and Music at Trevecca Nazarene University (Nashville, TN – B.A. 2002) and then became a student of the Centre for Literature, Theology and the Arts at the University of Glasgow (Scotland, UK – M.Th. 2005, Ph.D. expected in June 2010). Although I have had the privilege of leading worship in many different churches in several different countries, this is my first full-time ministry assignment with a local church.
Family Life: In a demonstration of God’s redemptive work in my life, Gloria graciously took me as her husband on December 8, 2001. We left Nashville and set off for an adventure in Scotland in 2003. In March 2007, while we were still living abroad, God gave us our first child, Andrew (named for St. Andrew, patron of Scotland and the first-called of Jesus’ disciples). Our second baby boy Joseph was born in November 2009.
Fun Facts:
I’d never seen the inside of a movie theater until my senior year of high school – now I’m a regular film-aholic (blame my parents!).
When I was a kid, I wanted to grow up to be a magician.
In Scotland, Gloria and I were part of a choir that sang songs in Latin, Italian, French, German and ICELANDIC...and English, of course!
I had a pet turtle for 13 years, a red-eared slider named Leonardo. He was named after the teenage mutant ninja turtle, who was in turn
named for the Renaissance artist/inventor.
Hobbies: Reading, theologizing, writing, watching movies, discussing movies, making food, eating food, drinking coffee – since I now make my living as a music pastor, I guess it’s more than a “hobby,” but yeah, as you might imagine, I’m a bit of a music nut, too.
Faith Testimony: I was brought up in the Nazarene church, and came to know Jesus as my only hope for salvation as a young child. I was baptized into Christ’s death and resurrection and received into the fellowship of His Body the Church when I was 12 years old. My early teen years were tumultuous as I struggled with depression and thoughts of suicide, but the Lord freed me from my anger and filled me with His love at a campmeeting altar when I was 15. I consecrated myself to His service then and there, and the journey with Him has been incredible. The only life worth living is a life lived for Him!
Click here to read the full story of my faith journey.
Kyle Lanham~ Youth Pastor
Favorite Bible Verse: Matthew 6:33 - But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be provided for you.
My Responsibilities: I provide opportunities for teens to become involved within the body of Christ at Xenia Church of the Nazarene and within the community of Xenia. I provide devotionals and discussions to assist teens in becoming passionate followers of Christ.
Short Bio: I lived in New Lexington, Ohio until I was 11 years old. My family then moved to West Virginia in 1997 where I lived in Charleston until I was 18. I attended Mount Vernon Nazarene University from 2004-2008 where I graduated with a Bachelors Degree in Pastoral Ministry. I married my beautiful wife Stephanie on May 31, 2008, which was 2 weeks after we graduated from college. On August 3, 2008, Stephanie and I accepted God’s call to minister in the community of Xenia.
Faith Testimony: I desire God’s will for my life. I have no doubt that Xenia Church of the Nazarene is exactly where God wants me to be. I desire to grow closer to Christ each and every day…to be effective in serving my savior.
My Favorite Hobby: My favorite hobby (other than hanging out with my wife) is golfing.
If I Could Ask God One Question, It Would Be: “How many hairs do I have on my head?”
My Favorite Sports Team: West Virginia University Mountaineers!!!
My Favorite Season: I have two favorite seasons…fall and spring. I like them because they are the balance of the two extremes of winter and summer.
Gregg Parkman~ Associate Pastor
Favorite Bible Verse: 2 Corinthians 5:17 (Amplified Bible) Therefore if any person is ingrafted in Christ [the Messiah] he is a new creation [a new creature altogether]; the old [previous moral and spiritual condition] has passed away. Behold, the fresh and new has come!
Main Responsibilities at Xenia Naz: My current assignment here at Xenia Nazarene is caring for our young adults. Our young adults here are amazing. I help facilitate all events and extend many opportunities for our young adults to grow spiritually. My wife and I are so blessed to have such an awesome group. I try to challenge them and construct times together to help them become strong men and women of God. I challenge them by bringing them out of their comfort zones and helping them to serve others versus always being served. Together we have done some incredible things for God. Helping others outside of the church with needs and also sharing the Gospel with them as been a real privilege. We are building a great young adult ministry together and making a difference in our community at the same time. I love sharing the Gospel with others and helping them mature in their relationship with Christ. God continues to use me and it has been an awesome ride.
I am also responsible for our compassionate/special needs ministry. This ministry allows us to help our community by supporting local agencies offering help for many needs. We are also able to help our parishioners in times of need in many special ways.
Short Bio: I was born and raised here in Xenia, so I'm just a small-town kid. I have a remarkable wife, Wendi - we were married on November 5th, 2000, here at the church. We have three wonderful daughters- Savanna, Shelbi, and Selah - who keep me on my toes. They are all great sources of inspiration in my life. I have been on staff at Xenia Nazarene Church since September of 2005. I love being a part of a great church and a caring community such as Xenia, Ohio. Life is good, and I am enjoying all the blessings that God is giving me.
Hobbies: Just chillin’ out and watching boxing.
Dream Vacation: Hawaii or Jamaica
Faith Testimony: I was saved at the age of 21 from a very dark and sin filled life. A Christian man by the name of Dick Katzenbach, whom I worked with, used to witness to me. God started to really work on my cold heart. Dick used to invite me to Friend Day at the church. I came one year and when the next year rolled around, and he asked me to come again, I said yes. I never made it that Sunday because I was in jail for hitting a police officer. While I was in jail, God really worked on my heart. I decided I needed to change but didn’t really know how, so I started coming to Xenia Nazarene regularly. One night at home, I was watching Christian television and a preacher said, "If you need Jesus, pray this prayer." I did and God met me in a powerful way. He changed my life forever and is still changing me. Shortly after being saved, God called me into the ministry. Christ has truly brought me from death to life. If you ever assume someone is too far gone, please do not give up. I am evidence that God can change the worst of sinners and give them hope and purpose in life. PRAISE THE LORD!
C. Joe Saunders, Ph.D.~ Visitation & Sr. Adult Pastor
Favorite Bible Verse: He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the LORD, "He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust." Psalm 91:1-2
My Main Responsibilities at Xenia Nazarene Church: Senior adult ministry and visitation
Short Bio:
- Homebuilder & plumber
- Public school teacher
- Minister of music, youth, education & visitation
- Commissioned song evangelist
- Ordained deacon
- Clinical mental health counselor
- Professor of counseling
- Professor of forensic psychology
Faith Testimony: God has proven His faithfulness to me throughout my career and during health problems encountered after my retirement. He has given me new inspiration as He leads me in ministry to senior adults and the church as a whole.
Family Life: Leola has been my wife and partner in ministry for 47 years. We have two sons and a daughter, and two grandchildren.
Hobbies: We like to fish and enjoy outdoor activities.
Favorite Vacation: Cruising to Mexico or the Bahamas.
Favorite Season of the Year: Fall is my favorite season, with the colorful leaves and Buckeye football.
Fun Facts: I play trumpet, mandolin, banjo uke, dulcimer, piano, bass guitar, and Indian flute. I can also “pick” a violin.
Trent J. Lemle~ Executive Administrator
Favorite Bible Verses: “For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength” Philippians 4:13
“Don't worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:6-7 NLT
Main Responsibilities as Executive Administrator:
Short Bio: I graduated from Ohio Northern University with a B.S.B.A degree in Accounting. I previously worked as a Financial Auditor with the Ohio Auditor of State’s Office before being called into this position as Executive Administrator for such an awesome church. I am so blessed to have such an amazing opportunity where I can combine what I do (accounting and finance) with who I love (God).
Faith Testimony: I grew up going to church with my family and have many memories of going to vacation bible school and Sunday school classes regularly as a child. However as I grew older I started to grow more distant from God. As the years went I continued to struggle spiritually and made decisions that were not always the right ones. When I started college I noticed that spending time with God was almost nonexistent, and I knew something had to change. It wasn’t until late in my sophomore year and an invitation by a beautiful girl to attend a Saturday evening church service that I realized what my life was missing. I knew I needed God in my life and after months of trials and the continued support, prayer, and encouragement of that same beautiful girl, God spoke to me and I knew it was time to devote my entire life back to the Lord. Since then God has changed my heart completely. I have been blessed in so many ways and I continue to grow spiritually and live for Jesus every day. I praise God each day for that beautiful girl who never gave up on me because on June 9th, 2007 she became my wife.
Family Life: I lost my dad at the age of 1, my brother was 2, my mom remarried and our new dad took us in as his own and has given us more than we could have ever asked for in a Father. He provided my brother and I with everything we needed, and made my mom so happy. He was a blessing from God. He has taught me all I know today and has been a role model of mine for so many years. I am a middle child with an older brother (Craig) and two younger siblings (Jodi + Paul). I miss them and my parents very much since they do not live near Xenia.
On June 9th, 2007 I married my best friend and the love of my life (Melissa). She received her Doctorate of Pharmacy degree from Ohio Northern University and is currently working as a Clinical Pharmacist at Fayette County Memorial Hospital.
Hobbies: I enjoy fishing, boating, golfing, football, bowling, working out, and spending time with my wife and our two dogs!
Favorite Sport Team: The University of Florida Gators; Welcome to the SWAMP!
Favorite Season of the Year: I Love the transition from fall into winter. I enjoy the fall for football and I enjoy the winter for Thanksgiving, snow, and Christmas. The holidays always bring together family, fun, and fellowship.
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
~ Learning Center Director
Life Passage: The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid. Psalm 27:1
Short Bio:
1981 - 1983 - Mount Vernon Nazarene University, Early Childhood Education
1984 - 1985 - Preschool Teacher, Nazarene Kiddie Kampus
1987 - 1991 - Preschool Teacher/ Co-Director, Play and Learn Early Learning Center
1991 - 1995- Preschool Teacher/Director, Edgewood Nazarene Christian Daycare/Preschool
1995 - 2003 - Preschool Teacher/Co-Director, Wesley Center
2005 - 2006 - Preschool Teacher, Memorial Presbyterian Preschool
2006 - Present - Director, Nazarene Learning Center
Family Life: I married Russ, also known as Pastor Gumm, in 1982 . God has given us two incredible children. Zack was born in 1999 and Julianne was born in 2003. Both of them attend Nazarene Christian School.
Hobbies: I enjoy spending time with family and friends, playing the piano, and shopping.
Faith Testimony: I grew up in a Christian home and was saved at an early age. Over the years I have tried to seek God's perfect will for my life. God has been so faithful to reveal Himself and His plans to me as I seek Him. He has recently been teaching me about faith, trust, and patience. I’m learning to wait on God for His perfect timing in all things!
Favorite Vacation: My favorite vacation is ANYWHERE that is sunny, warm, and near the ocean - with my family!
Main Responsibilities: It is my responsibility to oversee the daily operations of the Learning Center. I do my best to keep the center in compliance with the Ohio Child Care Licensing Rules and the Health Department regulations. It is my privilege to work with an awesome staff of 25 people and an enrollment of approximately 100 children.
Karen Cummings~ Administrative Assistant/Secretary
Favorite Bible verse: O Lord, you have searched me and you know me. You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar. You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways. Before a word is on my tongue you know it completely, O LORD. You hem me in—behind and before; you have laid your hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too lofty for me to attain…How precious to me are your thoughts, O God! How vast is the sum of them! Were I to count them, they would outnumber the grains of sand…Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting. Psalm 139:1-6; 17-18; 23-24
My main responsibilities: To provide administrative support to the senior pastor and manage the Xenia Naz facilities calendar.
Short Bio:
1977 - Graduated from Mount Vernon Nazarene College with an A.A.S. degree
1977-80 - Secretary, MVNC Financial Aid Office
1980-89 - Secretary to the vice president for development, Wilberforce University
1989 - present - Administrative Assistant/Secretary to Senior Pastor, Xenia Nazarene Church
Faith Testimony: I was raised in a Christian home in Michigan. I realized my need for forgiveness at age five and still remember the place at the altar in my home church where I knelt to pray. With training from godly parents at home and an awesome teen group at church, my faith continued to grow. As an adult, I have gone through some difficult times that really rocked my faith. But even when my faith was weak and I was full of doubts and questions, God was faithful. With patience, love, and truth, He walked me through those difficulties to a stronger faith. Praise God! But there is still so much more to learn; so many areas in which I still need to grow. My desire is to walk in obedience every day as God continues to change me from the inside out (Romans 12:1-2).
Family Life: Mark and I met at college and were married June 18, 1977. Our oldest son, Andy, is married to Stephanie and they have a beautiful little girl named Kayla. Andy is in the U.S. Army stationed in Baghdad, Iraq. Our youngest son, Scott, recently joined the Army going through basic training in Missouri.
Hobbies: Sewing, gardening, hiking, biking.
Favorite Season of the Year: Spring…It’s exciting to see all the signs of new life as the grass gets green and buds come out on plants and trees.
Fun Facts: I almost drowned on a white water rafting trip that Mark and I took shortly after Andy was born. The only one of the group who couldn't swim, I fell out of the raft at the "Bloody Nose" rapid. Caught in a current, I did underwater somersaults for quite a distance. I still had my glasses on when I finally surfaced a good ways downstream. Everyone was so worried and the ladies were crying, but I was fine. The guides threw me the lifeline, got me back into the raft, and on we went. Although everything turned out well, that was my last white water rafting trip.
Rita Glaser~ Bookkeeper/Secretary
Favorite Bible Verse: I Corinthians 10:13 “There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.”
Role at Xenia Nazarene: I am the church bookkeeper and secretary working for both Trent Lemle and Karen Cummings. I also answer incoming calls and do whatever is generally needed around the church office.
Short Bio: I am married to my wonderful husband, Bob. We have three grown daughters and two grandchildren. Our oldest daughter is married. She and her husband have two children and are expecting again. Our middle daughter is a high school math teacher and our youngest daughter just started her career job in criminal justice working with troubled girls at a group home.
Faith Testimony: I was saved at the age of eight and have a godly mother who taught me about Jesus at a very young age and took me to church all my life. I am so thankful to Him who supplies all my needs!
Gloria Hancock~ Communications Secretary
Favorite Bible Verse: Zephaniah 3:17
The LORD your God is with you,
He is mighty to save.
He will take great delight in you,
He will quiet you with his love,
He will rejoice over you with singing."
Role at Xenia Naz: As the Communications Secretary, my main responsibility is the upkeep of this website. I also prepare the Sunday bulletin and other in-house publications as I work as our office receptionist in the afternoons.
Short Bio: I'm a PK (pastor's kid) from the South - I moved around a bit! Born in Jackson, Mississippi, I also lived in Louisiana, Alabama, Florida, Georgia, and North Carolina all by the time I was 14. I am very blessed to have grown up in a Christian home. In 1997, I went to Trevecca Nazarene University in Nashville, Tennessee, and majored in Music (music business) with a concentration in vocal performance. At freshman orientation, I met Brannon Hancock who became a close friend... FINALLY becoming my boyfriend during my senior year. We were married December 8, 2001. I worked as analyst in Marketing Research Services at the United Methodist Publishing House until we moved to Glasgow, Scotland, in 2003, where Brannon had been accepted to begin postgrad studies. We lived there for almost 4 years and came home with the coolest Scottish souvenir ever: our firsr-born son, Andrew! (born March, 2007) I stayed home with him full-time until December '08 when I took this practically-perfect position at Xenia Naz. Our second baby boy Joseph was born in November 2009. My boys (all 3!) are the light of my life!
Faith Testimony: Most of my testimony can be summed up in the song, "I came to know You early".... because I was 4 years old when I felt the Lord move in my life. I raised my hand when my K-4 teacher Mrs Bristol asked who wanted to ask Jesus into their heart after our Bible lesson. I dedicated my life to His service as a teenager and am still excited as I think about the surprising ways in which He calls us to "work in His fields." I don't remember a time in my life when I couldn't call on God as my Creator, Redeemer, and Comforter; He is so faithful and continues to mold and shape my life through good and trying times. I want my life to be a reflection of His Love as I seek His ever-opening will.