We warmly welcome "Pastor D" to First Reformed Church as our new Pastor! Pastor Devin B. Jeffers, affectionately known as Pastor D., is a life coach, ordained minister, motivational speaker, and spiritual advisor. He has served in ministry for almost 20 years. Devin was licensed to preach the gospel at the age of 14 and was ordained an Elder in the Lord’s church at the age of 20. He has humbly served in the capacities of Praise and Worship Leader, Youth and Young Adult Pastor, Executive Pastor, Pastoral Assistant, and most recent Interim Pastor. Under his leadership as Interim Pastor to an inner city church in the city of York, Pennsylvania, in two years the church welcomed over 300 new disciples and baptized over 200 people. Before relocating to Pennsylvania, he served on the staff of the Department of Pastoral Care at Georgetown University in Washington, DC as an Administrator/Protestant Chaplain Assistant. At Georgetown, Devin received training in Clinical Pastoral Education and Grief Counseling. During his tenure, he was the recipient of the Service Professional of the Year Award for his remarkable service in the hospital providing emotional and spiritual support to patients and staff alike. Currently, he is humbled to be a servant leader at Lancaster Bible College | Capital Seminary in Lancaster, Pennsylvania as the Executive Department Assistant for the Church and Ministry Leadership Department. Recently, he was accepted into the Master of Arts in Ministry Program with a concentration in Pastoral Studies at Capital Seminary. He is the founder and president of DBJ Enterprises with a mandate that is “Changing Generations, Impacting the World, Through God’s Love.” Under DBJ Enterprises, there is a mentoring program, virtual assistant company, and the WORD catalog housing DVDs and CDs ministered by Devin. He currently hosts a weekly prayer call providing early morning devotion and prayer on Thursdays entitled “Thirsty Thursdays” to over 200 callers that are hungry and thirsty after God. His bold, energetic, humorous, unique style is capable of impacting individuals from all walks all life. An anointed preacher and teacher, and soon to be author he draws on his own failures and shortcomings to deliver God’s Word. Devin embraces technology and other avenues to illustrate teachings with real-life application. He travels both nationally and internationally showing, sharing, and speaking God’s message of love and power to all people. Get ready to be empowered for success, victory, and transformation in your life through the preaching and teaching ministry of Pastor D.B. Jeffers. TO GOD BE THE GLORY!!

PHOTO by Linda Esbenshade. Pastor-elect Devin Jeffers (seated), with Church President Bill Groff, and Church Secretary Nancy Crawford.

Rev. Dana Schlegel is a native of Berks County and graduated from Albright College and Lancaster Theological Seminary. He has served several pastorates in PA Southeast and Penn Central Conferences and taught on the faculty of Lancaster Seminary where he also directed the Arts In Ministry Program. Dana also served on the staff of Penn Central Conference as the Conference Coordinator of Program Ministries and most recently was a Chaplain for Hospice of Lancaster County for 15 years. Dana joined the staff at First Reformed in February 2014 as Minister to the Home Bound and Elderly. This staff position is funded by the Diffenbach Trust. His responsibility is to provide pastoral care for home bound members of First Reformed and to assess educational needs in the congregation related to aging, such as spiritual issues, personal care needs, housing needs, health care issues, legal issues.

Our new Administrative Assistant, Vicki von Schaaf, was born in Washington, DC and spent her childhood traveling the world, having lived in such diverse places as Newfoundland (Canada), Hawaii, Japan and Georgia. She returned to Lancaster in her late teens when her dad retired from the Air Force. Both her parents were graduates of McCaskey High School. In 2001 Vicki moved to Saratoga Springs, New York where she met her husband Albie. She worked as a certified Activity and Event Director at a Nursing Home and Dementia facility run by the Carmelite Sisters. In 2013 Vicki and her husband returned to the Lancaster area to be near her family and her father who was seriously ill. She then worked part-time for a Lutheran Church in the Columbia area for two years, until August 2018. Her 5 grandchildren also keep her busy and are a lot of fun! Vicki’s husband, Albie, is the Contemporary Music Director at Lancaster Church of the Brethren. Their life is filled with music and art, as Vicki is also a self-taught artist. Most weekends find them actively involved in some sort of creative endeavor. Vicki is looking forward to working at First Reformed Church and getting to know each and every one of you!

Mr. Larry Hershey, Organist/Choirmaster, has been Organist and Choirmaster at First Reformed Church since 1989. His position is part-time, and he directs The Choir of sixteen members. He is a 1988 music honors graduate from Millersville University. Larry is also an active local piano and organ recitalist and has performed often with The Lancaster Summer Arts Concert Series and The Lancaster Chapter of The American Guild of Organists.

We welcome Juan to First Reformed Church of Lancaster. Juan was previously employed as Assistant Manager of the Family Dollar Store in Columbia. Prior to that he co-owned a commercial cleaning business with over 70 accounts and 40 employees covering an area from Philadelphia to South Carolina. He was also the Maintenance Superintendent at the King of Prussia Mall and the Bensalem Mall. Juan is engaged to Eileen Figueroa and has three grown children. His sister and brother-in-law are ministers at a Spanish Church in Reading. Juan is looking forward to the challenge of working at First Reformed Church and with the Congregation.

Ms. Micki Roth, Nursery Attendant, has a beautiful 4 year old daughter and 8 year old step daughter. During the week, she is a full time nanny. In her spare time, she enjoys being outside at the pool, hiking, and spending time with her children. Her favorite color is green and loves everything and anything cows. She is a huge Pittsburgh Steeler’s fan, as well. She invites you to stop by, and say hello!