About
Learn more about our people, our story, and our beliefs.
WHO WE ARE
Our Staff
Lynn Shertzer
Lead Pastor
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Lynn has been leading and serving our congregation since 2001. He’s passionate about preaching the truth of God in a compelling way and believes that storytelling is an important part of that. Prior to his call to full-time ministry, Lynn spent 11 years in the business world as a sales manager.
He is a graduate of both Eastern Mennonite University and Gordon Conwell Theological Seminary, where he received his Master of Divinity degree. In 2009, Lynn received his Doctor of Ministry with a concentration in preaching the different genres of the bible.
Lynn and his wife, Dawn, have three children and recently became grandparents. He is a passionate Buckeyes fan and also enjoys golfing and spending time in the mountains.
Joy Fasick
Associate Pastor of Community Life
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Joy has been part of Slate Hill for nearly 20 years, officially joining the ministry team in 2012. Coordination of care, counseling, occasional preaching and children’s ministry are all part of Joy’s role. She works to empower our church family to join in the work of ministry and to live their faith.
Joy holds a certificate in Pastoral Ministry from Eastern Mennonite University and a Master’s Degree in Marriage, Couple, and Family Counseling from Messiah College.
Joy and her husband, Mike, have three children. She enjoys running and hiking, music, playing board and card games and spending time with family and friends.
Lisa Zerby
Administrative Assistant
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Lisa has been an active part of the congregation since 2018 and recently started serving in this role in 2025. She enjoys using her gifts of communication and organization to serve God, our pastors, our church family, and our community.
Lisa holds an Administrative Secretary degree and spent over 36 years working as a legal secretary and administrator in a federal law office prior to retiring at the end of 2022.
In her free time, she loves to spend time with her husband, Steve, and twin daughters, Taryn and Ashley. She is also a devoted reader, enjoys cooking and baking, and serving in other capacities at the church that all involve food.
Johnny Zook
Junior High Youth Director
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Johnny has been active in ministering to our youth for nearly 20 years and officially joined the ministry team in 2019.
He’s passionate about helping youth understand their identity in Christ and know that they are loved eternally. He also believes in reinforcing the importance of valuing everyone and serving everyone. In his role, Johnny equips youth to become confident in their faith and to further develop their personal faith.
Johnny loves to spend time with his wife, Julie, and their three children. He also enjoys reading, Sudoku and biochar (be sure to ask him about it)!
Jen Fredrick
Care Minister
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Coming soon!
Ministry Teams
Our Lay Elders, Church Board, commissions, and committees help lead, support, and guide the ministry of Slate Hill Mennonite Church.
OUR STORY
Living our Faith
We’ve been a part of the community for over 200 years. Seriously! The first Slate Hill church building was built in 1816. God has blessed our congregation with a growing sense of mission.
In the 1970s, our church reached out to assist with the Southeast Asian refugee crisis. This original ministry has grown into what is now our current Lao Fellowship, a gathering that meets at Slate Hill at 11 am. In 2006, Slate Hill expanded its facilities. This created space for our growing congregation, and created the possibility for new partners in ministry. In 2020, Canaan Bethel Church, a Nepali-speaking congregation, began worshipping in our sanctuary each Sunday at noon.
Through all the changes of the past two centuries, some things have remained constant. We remain part of a wider family of churches now called LMC: A Fellowship of Anabaptist Churches, a group of 300 congregations across the United States and around the world.
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We are part of the Anabaptist tradition, which emerged in sixteenth century Europe. This group of Christians had a passion to study the Bible had to return to the simple teachings of Jesus.
When you hear the word "Mennonite," you might think of a horse-and-buggy on a quiet country road. We share historical roots with those communities, but we seek to follow Jesus as an active, engaged presence in our community.
The people of Slate Hill have diverse backgrounds and life experiences. Some of us grew up attending a Mennonite church. Many others have other denominational backgrounds, drawn by the Anabaptist emphasis on peace, discipleship, and community.
OUR FOUNDATION
What We Believe
The Confession of Faith in a Mennonite Perspective serves as our teaching position. Our Core Beliefs, as articulated by LMC, reflect this Anabaptist understanding of following Jesus.
Core Beliefs
Because our faith and life are centered in Jesus Christ, we value…
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Radical allegiance to the reign of God above all other powers.
Believers baptism as a sign of new life in Christ that includes a vital commitment to a local congregation.
The rich and varied expressions of culture, race, language, and worship emerging through the work of the Holy Spirit.
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The reading of Scripture that leads to authentic obedience to Jesus Christ. We understand Scripture through Christ, discerned in community, and guided by the Holy Spirit.
Anabaptist expressions of this way of reading such as the Confession of Faith in a Mennonite Perspective. We encourage disciples to engage in theological reflection.
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God’s mission of reconciliation to the world and participate as sent disciples by sharing the good news of Jesus Christ through worship, witness, and service.
Peace as a way of living that is deeply rooted in the Gospel and expresses Christ’s love in all human relationships, even with our enemies.
A congregation of disciples who live intentionally as a culturally-relevant contrast to the world where mutual care, accountability and discernment are Christ-centered and Spirit-led.
The Christian home as a primary setting for nurturing faith and healthy relationships.
Simplicity, integrity, justice, and personal and global stewardship that reflect Christ and honor God.