The Reverend Mark Combs, Pastor
The Reverend Mark Combs has been the pastor of St. John’s Lutheran Church since February 2007. Ordained by the Evangelical Church in America, Pastor Mark grew up in the Charleston, West Virginia area and has been active in Lutheran Outdoor Ministries for many years, working with high-school and middle-school youth.
Prior to coming to St. John’s, he served parishes in West Virginia, Pennsylvania and Ohio. Pastor and wife, Becky, are blessed with two young sons who keep them very busy in addition to their professional careers. And he also volunteers as an EMT and fire fighter with a National Trails Volunteer Fire Department, employing professional skills that he developed prior to joining the ministry. Pastor Mark enjoys preaching, singing, teaching and leading the congregation in worship.
Amanda Highben, Vicar
Amanda Highben is serving as the new Vicar and Youth and Parish Ministry Director.
Amanda is a native of Pittsburgh. She attended John Carroll University in Cleveland. Her husband, Zeb, is from Massillon. She received a Master of Arts in Christian Education at Luther Seminary in Minnesota and served six years as a youth and family minister at two Lutheran Churches – one in downtown Minneapolis and another in a neighborhood just outside the city.
She re-enrolled in the Master of Divinity program at Luther and became me a candidate for ordination. For the last two-and-a-half years, she served as the pastoral intern at University Lutheran Church at Michigan State and also worked for the North/West Lower Michigan Synod, planning synod assemblies and overseeing the Synod’s various publications.
Renee Thorn, Parish Administrator/Church Secretary
Colleena Johnson, Sexton
Taffy Tippett, Accountant
Mary Ellen Strahm, Director of Music
Chuck Archer, Handbell Choir Director
Barbara Robertson, Missionary
