Leadership

Pastors & Staff

Rev. Mick Whistler

Lead Pastor

Pastor Mick Whistler and his wife Renee have been married for 34 years and have a 20-year-old daughter named Emma. Renee works for the Mercer County ESC, and Emma works in customer service for Totally Promotional and is pursuing her degree in Social Work at the Wright State Lake Campus. Mick is a second-career pastor. He worked nearly 15 years in marketing before answering the call to ministry in 2006. He graduated from United Theological Seminary in 2009 and was ordained an Elder in the UMC in 2012. He has been a pastor for the last eighteen years. Mick enjoys playing golf, riding his bike, going to the movies, and spending time with his family.

Rev. Matt Overman

Pastor of Discipleship & Outreach

Matt grew up at Grand Lake church and is blessed to continue to serve as the children and family pastor. He graduated from Wright State in 2010 with a Bachelors in Educations and from United Theological Seminary in 2015 with a Masters of Divinity. He is currently working on a Masters in Clinical Counseling at Winebrenner Seminary in Findlay. Matt was ordained a Deacon in the United Methodist Church in June 2017. Matt has been married to his best friend and wife, Beth, since September 2009. They have five children. His hobbies include driving the school bus, martial arts, and being outside. 

Ryan Snyder

Director of Youth Ministry

Ryan grew up at Grand Lake Church attending worship, Sunday School and Youth events.  He graduated from the Rochester Institute of Technology with a Bachelors in Applied Networking and Systems Administration in 2009.  The same year he married his best friend Lisa, returned to Celina, started working at The Daily Standard, and helped start a Boy Scout troop at Grand Lake.  In 2021, he went to Lakeside for Youth as a leader, and then started volunteering as a youth leader.  In the summer of 2025, he was blessed with becoming Grand Lake's Director of Youth Ministry.  Lisa and Ryan have three children.  Ryan enjoys being outside and going on adventures with his family.
Stefanie Davis
Office Manager 
Amber Snyder
Financial Secretary
Megan Miller
Treasurer 
Brad Pennington
Building Manager 
Steve Winans
Lead Media Technician
Ken Wiehe
Lead Sound Technician
Dustin Schwieterman
Praise Team Coordinator
Rev. Kyle Houts
Montezuma Preacher

Sanctus Choir Director
Carol Zimmerman
Organist
Angie Smith
Custodian (A.M.)
Roni Wiehe
Nursery Ministry Coordinator
Roxy Lyon
Nursery Ministry Caregiver
Alicia Teeters
Nursery Ministry Caregiver
Lily Westgerdes
Nursery Ministry Caregiver

CREATIVE DISCOVERY PRESCHOOL STAFF

Stacey Gibbons

Administrative Asst./Teacher

Stacey Gibbons began teaching at Creative Discovery Preschool in 1995. Stacey teaches the MWF AM and PM Pre-K classes and the T-Th AM and P.M. 3-year-old classes. She also is the Administrative Assistant. 

Cassie Sapp

Director/Teacher

Cassie Sapp began teaching at Creative Discovery Preschool in 2017. She teaches the MWF AM Pre-K class and the t-Th PM 4-year-old class. She is currently the Director of the Preschool. 

Jaime Collins

Teacher

Jaime Collins began teaching at Creative Discovery Preschool in 2020. Jaime teaches the MWF AM & PM Pre-K class and the T-Th AM and PM 4-year-old classes. 

Jenelle Gross

Teacher

Jenelle Gross began teaching at Creative Discovery Preschool in 2006. She teaches the MWF AM Pre-K class. 

Ashley Pennington

Teacher

Ashley Pennington began teaching at Creative Discovery Preschool in 2024. She teaches the MWF AM Pre-K class, and the T-Th AM 4-year-old class. 

Emily Weitzel

Teacher

Emily Weitzel began teaching at Creative Discovery Preschool in 2024. She teaches the MWF PM Pre-K class.

Lauren Gudorf

Teacher

Lauren Gudorf began teaching at Creative Discovery Preschool in 2024. She teaches the MWF AM Pre-K class and the T-Th AM 3-year-old class. 

Sara Laux

Teacher

Sara Laux began teaching at Creative Discovery Preschool in 2023. She teaches the MWF PM Pre-K class, and the T-Th PM 3-year-old classes.