Rev. Bill Youmans – Interim Senior Pastor
God is Good, All the Time!
Rev. Bill Youmans has served, with pleasure, as the Interim Senior Pastor at Bethany Presbyterian Church since December 2019. He works closely with his church family to love and serve the heart of Jesus.
In 1989, Rev. Youmans was ordained to the Ministry of Word and Sacrament in Green Spring PC. This followed a life-changing experience of God’s grace while serving in the US Navy.
He deepened his bible knowledge while studying for his Bachelor's degree in Bible and Christian education from Columbia International University and found his love of ministry while serving as Christian education staff at North Avenue PC. Rev. Youmans received a Master of Divinity degree from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary a Doctor of Ministry degree from Union Theological Seminary with focus on worship and sacrament and congregational studies. Those experiences along with his time at the Presbytery of Boston equipped him for church ministry.
After two long-term pastorates, Rev. Youmans found his calling to help churches become more adaptive to change and more vital in Christ-centered community. He is grateful to the churches of Charlotte Presbytery and throughout the Carolinas for many years of exciting and fruitful ministry together.
Rev. Youmans participated in an eight-week “pulpit swap” where his family had the tremendous experience of God’s presence in several parishes on the Isle of Skye, Scotland. They also spent three years in Mesquite, NV serving a new church development.
His family is a great source of pride and he is grateful for their support. Nancy has served many churches and two presbyteries and is the best partner in life. Together they have two sons who are grown and happily pursuing careers and family life. Their two granddaughters bring them constant joy and inspiration.
Indeed, God is Good! All the Time!
Rev. Bill Youmans has served, with pleasure, as the Interim Senior Pastor at Bethany Presbyterian Church since December 2019. He works closely with his church family to love and serve the heart of Jesus.
In 1989, Rev. Youmans was ordained to the Ministry of Word and Sacrament in Green Spring PC. This followed a life-changing experience of God’s grace while serving in the US Navy.
He deepened his bible knowledge while studying for his Bachelor's degree in Bible and Christian education from Columbia International University and found his love of ministry while serving as Christian education staff at North Avenue PC. Rev. Youmans received a Master of Divinity degree from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary a Doctor of Ministry degree from Union Theological Seminary with focus on worship and sacrament and congregational studies. Those experiences along with his time at the Presbytery of Boston equipped him for church ministry.
After two long-term pastorates, Rev. Youmans found his calling to help churches become more adaptive to change and more vital in Christ-centered community. He is grateful to the churches of Charlotte Presbytery and throughout the Carolinas for many years of exciting and fruitful ministry together.
Rev. Youmans participated in an eight-week “pulpit swap” where his family had the tremendous experience of God’s presence in several parishes on the Isle of Skye, Scotland. They also spent three years in Mesquite, NV serving a new church development.
His family is a great source of pride and he is grateful for their support. Nancy has served many churches and two presbyteries and is the best partner in life. Together they have two sons who are grown and happily pursuing careers and family life. Their two granddaughters bring them constant joy and inspiration.
Indeed, God is Good! All the Time!
Rev. Jae Cho – Associate Pastor for Youth and Discipleship
Rev. Jae Cho moved to the United States from Seoul, Korea, when he was 3 years old. He grew up in a Christian family and felt called to ministry in his college years. He spent his early years living in Los Angeles and his teen and college years in Seattle. Jae holds a B.A. from University of Washington and a Masters of Divinity from Regent College in Vancouver, British Columbia.
Jae loves to talk to people about his faith journey and has an eye for beauty in all of God’s creation including art, design, and culture. When he has free time, Jae loves watching and playing all kinds of sports from basketball, ping pong, tennis and golf. He also loves watching Netflix shows and connecting with people on Facebook. Jae enjoys a variety of food especially at buffets and hole-in-the-wall restaurants.
He has served youth, college, young adults, and adult ministry for over 10 years.
And also went to many short-term mission trips to Tijuana, Ensenada, Mexico, Hong Kong, Beijing, China, Tibet, South Korea, and Steubenville, Ohio.
He is happily married to his wife, Esther, and has a loving son Luke.
Jae loves to talk to people about his faith journey and has an eye for beauty in all of God’s creation including art, design, and culture. When he has free time, Jae loves watching and playing all kinds of sports from basketball, ping pong, tennis and golf. He also loves watching Netflix shows and connecting with people on Facebook. Jae enjoys a variety of food especially at buffets and hole-in-the-wall restaurants.
He has served youth, college, young adults, and adult ministry for over 10 years.
And also went to many short-term mission trips to Tijuana, Ensenada, Mexico, Hong Kong, Beijing, China, Tibet, South Korea, and Steubenville, Ohio.
He is happily married to his wife, Esther, and has a loving son Luke.
John D. Henninger – Director of Music
John became our Director of Music & Worship in September of 2001. Prior to this John served as Director of Music at Sharon Community Presbyterian Church in Moon Township, PA and as Director of Music for Bethel Presbyterian Church in Bethel Park, PA John earned a B.M. degree in Sacred Music from Duquesne University and a M.M. in Organ from Westminster Choir College in Princeton, NJ. His organ teachers have included Ann Labounsky and William Hays.
Theology: We are called to lift a song to the Lord and to sing God’s praises. Music in the church is intended to support the Word as it is preached each Sunday. Music is not randomly selected, but matched by text and style and integrated into the fabric of our weekly worship. Music of all historic periods and styles has a place in the worship of God. Sharing of our musical gifts and talents is one way we can serve the Lord at Bethany Church!
Theology: We are called to lift a song to the Lord and to sing God’s praises. Music in the church is intended to support the Word as it is preached each Sunday. Music is not randomly selected, but matched by text and style and integrated into the fabric of our weekly worship. Music of all historic periods and styles has a place in the worship of God. Sharing of our musical gifts and talents is one way we can serve the Lord at Bethany Church!