Pastor
Rev. Dr. John G. Smith
Rev. Dr. John Gordon Smith is our lead pastor. ‘PJ’ as he is affectionately known, provides administrative and pastoral leadership for our church. The special focus of his work is on visioning, outreach and missions, church growth, and lay training and empowerment.
Appointed to Lampeter since July 2017, PJ has been serving in the Eastern Pennsylvania Conference since July 2001. Previously, he served the Methodist Church in the Caribbean and the Americas from May 1983 to June 2001. He is a graduate of United Theological College of the West Indies, Christian Theological Seminary, and the Graduate Theological Foundation.
‘PJ’ is married to Claudia, a hospital chaplain, and they are the parents of three children: Dwayne, Gavin and Sheriece, and grandparents of Elaina, Johnathan and Selah.
secretary
Sarah Short
A lifelong member of Lampeter United Methodist Church, Sarah began working as our Church Secretary in September, 2019. She holds a Bachelor’s of Communications from Millersville University and has experience working in healthcare and corporate settings. Sarah lives in Strasburg with her husband and son.
Worship Coordinator
Genevieve Karki
Genevieve Karki has degrees in Music Education from Penn State University and Duquesne University and she is currently attending Boston University. She has been active in church music her entire life and has been making music at LUMC for 15 years. Her first job was as a church organist and choir accompanist at the age of 16. She believes that God has given her musical ability and it is her calling to use that ability to serve and help others grow closer to Him. She is passionate about incorporating children and youth into worship and helping them grow as active members of the church body. When she isn't working at LUMC she is an instructor at Penn State Harrisburg and HACC. She lives just outside of Lampeter with her husband and two sons.
Sexton
Scott Moore
Scott moved to the area in 2005 from Richmond, VA and resides in Willow Street. He was lucky to find Lampeter church within the first 6 months of living here and has been attending ever since. He is married and has 3 children of his own and a step daughter. Scott works full time for Sealed Air Corporation as a Field Service Engineer for the Automation Division. He enjoys spending his free time with the love of his life and getting a few rounds of golf in.
children & youth director
Jeff Engroff
Jeff is our director of Children and Youth Ministries. He has been in youth ministry leadership since 1984 and has served several local congregations over those years. Jeff served as an instructor and coach of youth ministry certification school and then children youth & family ministry at United Lutheran Seminary from 2008-2020. Jeff was also a part time seminary student at ULS from 2018-2020.
Jeff enjoys building trusting relationships with both adults and students. "Going on retreat," whether it's the beach or the mountains, is one of the many perks of the job! Walking alongside today's young people as they venture through life with questions about their faith, their importance and place in the world, and recognizing that they are children of a loving God is the biggest reward for any youth pastor!
Jeff is married to his best friend, Anita, and together they share 4 adult children and three grandchildren.