Chad & Heidi Elser
Where are you from?
We live in Wooster, kids attend Northwestern Schools. Both of us are originally from the Wayne County area.
What do you appreciate most about our church community?
Chad: What I appreciate most is being part of a community where people genuinely care.
Heidi: What I love most about our church community is the honest, straightforward teaching of God’s Word and messages that consistently challenge me to grow deeper in my faith.
What are your hobbies or interests?
Chad: Hunting and Farming
Heidi: No hobbies
Favorite family tradition or favorite thing to do as a family?
Family vacation each year.
What is a fun fact about you the most people don’t know?
We met on a blind date and were setup by our aunts who worked together at the time.
What’s your go-to comfort food?
Chad: Ice Cream
Heidi: Tacos
Morning person or night owl?
Chad: Morning person
Heidi: Night owl
Strangest thing you’ve ever done?
Chad: ??
Heidi: Went snowboarding and to the beach in the same day near the same location.
What excites you right now?
Watching our kids grow into who they’re meant to be and being involved in all their activities.
Michelle Young
Where are you from?
Born in Orrville. Grew up in rural Wayne County between Smithville & Orrville. Graduated from Smithville HS. Currently reside near Glenmont, Ohio.
What do you appreciate most about our church community?
Our church community feels very family like.
What are your hobbies or interests?
Enjoy walking around our property and taking photos of the country scenery, plant and animal life.
Favorite family tradition or favorite thing to do as a family?
Going to amusement parks (Cedar Point especially) with my children and grandchildren. Also, just family time in general.
What is a fun fact about you the most people don’t know?
At one time I wanted to be a motivational speaker.
What’s your go-to comfort food?
Tacos or anything Mexican
Morning person or night owl?
Used to be a night owl. Now neither.
Strangest thing you’ve ever done?
Not a clue
What excites you right now?
Watching the grandchildren learn and grow. Watching God work in my life and the lives of those that surround me.
Tim & Teri Johnson
Where are you from?
Tim: Ashland
Teri: Ashland
What do you appreciate most about our church community?
Tim: Their heart for the Gospel
Teri: Friendly faces
What are your hobbies or interests?
Tim: Music, drones, computers
Teri: Crochet, sewing, making cards
Favorite family tradition or favorite thing to do as a family?
Tim: Cookouts
Teri: Putting up the Christmas tree on Halloween
What is a fun fact about you the most people don’t know?
Tim: Missing part of a finger
Teri: I homeschooled our children
What’s your go-to comfort food?
Tim: Cheese and crackers
Teri: Apples with almond butter
Morning person or night owl?
Tim: Morning person
Teri: Night owl
Strangest thing you’ve ever done?
Tim: Played a concert at a youth detention center
Teri: As a teen rode home from New York with strangers
What excites you right now?
Tim: Serving on the worship team
Teri: Seeing my grandchildren learn about Jesus
Don & Kathy Sowash
Where are you from?
Don: Strongville
Kathy: California
What do you appreciate most about our church community?
Don: Friendly and easy to get along with
Kathy: The down-to-earth friendliness of our church family
What are your hobbies or interests?
Don: Restoring and driving classic cars
Kathy: Quilting & hand-embroidery, folk music and birds
Favorite family tradition or favorite thing to do as a family?
Don: Travel and camping
Kathy: The same!
What is a fun fact about you the most people don’t know?
Don: Have visited 50 states and most Canadian provinces
Kathy: I volunteered at a raptor center and handled owls, hawks and vultures
What’s your go-to comfort food?
Don: Popcorn
Kathy: Pasta and anything involving chocolate
Morning person or night owl?
Don: Mid-day
Kathy: I’m retired – 10 to 2!
Strangest thing you’ve ever done?
Don: Demolition derbies
Kathy: I have gutted rats and castrated baby goats
What excites you right now?
Don: Watching to see how God blesses me every day
Kathy: My hummingbirds are back!
Don & Erica Wilder
Where are you from?
Don: Montpelier, Ohio
Erica: I’m from Washington State.
What do you appreciate most about our church community?
Don: Friendships
Erika: The thing I appreciate most about our church community is the friendships I’ve made.
What are your hobbies or interests?
Don: Hiking/Walking
Erika: I enjoy gardening and reading.
Favorite family tradition or favorite thing to do as a family?
Don: Picking and cutting our Christmas tree
Erika: One of my favorite things to do is travel with Don.
What is a fun fact about you the most people don’t know?
Don: That I ride a Harley and do leather-crafting
Erika: A fun fact about me is that I have lived in 6 different states.
What’s your go-to comfort food?
Don: Pizza
Erika: I do love a bowl of cold cereal!
Morning person or night owl?
Don: Night owl!
Erika: I would consider myself more of a morning person.
Strangest thing you’ve ever done?
Don: Marrying Erika!
Erika: One of the strangest things I’ve ever experienced is being in the air on the morning of 9-11.
What excites you right now?
Don: Retirement
Erika: Right now I’m excited most about going on vacation in August.
Adam & Jenny Whitney
Where are you from?
Adam: West Salem
Jenny: West Salem
What do you appreciate most about our church community?
Adam: It’s friendly atmosphere and real life sermons
Jenny: Real people, with real lives. No judgement.
What are your hobbies or interests?
Adam: Hunting and fishing and spending time with my family
Jenny: Being creative with homestead stuff
Favorite family tradition or favorite thing to do as a family?
Adam: Hiking
Jenny: Enjoying the outdoors together, family movie nights, doing life together
What is a fun fact about you the most people don’t know?
Adam: I have a non-profit that takes kids and young people with life altering circumstances deer hunting.
Jenny: I like to spin my own yarn from my fiber animals.
What’s your go-to comfort food?
Adam: Good old juicy steak!!!!
Jenny: Gluten-free pizza
Morning person or night owl?
Adam: Night owl for sure.
Jenny: Both, it’s the only quiet time for me
Strangest thing you’ve ever done?
Adam: Traveled overseas to adopt two of my three kids.
Jenny: Rode a camel or accidentally crunched down on one of those huge big black ants
What excites you right now?
Adam: Seeing my kids graduating and starting a life of their own.
Jenny: Life if full right now, my kids being at all different stages of life, it’s exciting and nerve wracking at the same time!
Mike & Branon Workman
Where are you from?
Mike: I grew up in Wayne County and currently live in the Congress/Burbank area
Branon: Live in Burbank
What do you appreciate most about our church community?
Mike: The authenticity and friendliness of the people.
Branon: The people! I love the community here.
What are your hobbies or interests?
Mike: Watching my kids play sports and fishing
Branon: Baking & gardening
Favorite family tradition or favorite thing to do as a family?
Mike: Traveling
Branon: We love to travel when we have the opportunity – even just day adventures!
What is a fun fact about you the most people don’t know?
Mike: My first car was a Mustang…Now as a parent I have questions LoL
Branon: I graduated fro culinary school – technically I am a chef!
What’s your go-to comfort food?
Mike: Ice cream
Branon: Ice cream or popcorn…although not picky…LoL
Morning person or night owl?
Mike: Neither – I’m an afternoon kinda guy!
Branon: Morning
Strangest thing you’ve ever done?
Mike: Went to a seafood restaurant and ordered a steak – not recommended by the way
Branon: Mason talked me into buying and eating shark jerky. 0 of 5 stars. Do not recommend. LoL
What excites you right now?
Mike: Summer break for my wife and kids! Which means traveling and doing fun activities together!
Branon: Sourdough. Thanks Northwinds Homesteaders!
Mike and Meredith Young
Where are you from?
Mike & Meredith: We’re from Wooster but both graduated from Smithville high school
What do you appreciate most about our church community?
Mike & Meredith: We love how the church feels like one big family.
What are your hobbies or interests?
Mike & Meredith: We like to watch movies and sports – especially basketball and football.
We also like to travel and explore new places – including great food spots!!
Favorite family tradition or favorite thing to do as a family?
Mike & Meredith: We like to find a great vacation spot and spend the time there with our family.
Morning person or night owl?
Mike & Meredith: We’re from Wooster but both graduated from Smithville high school
What excites you right now?
Mike & Meredith: We are excited to see all of the new faces at church and watching it to continue to grow.
We’re excited to add a new family member (son-in-law, Caelan) in November!
Matt & Amy Martin
Where are you from?
Matt: Wayne County
Amy: Born and raised in Indianapolis, IN
What do you appreciate most about our church community?
Matt & Amy: We appreciate the varied ages of the membership
What are your hobbies or interests?
We have a small hobby farm.
Matt: Enjoys history
Amy: Enjoys decoration cookies
Favorite family tradition or favorite thing to do as a family?
Matt & Amy: We enjoy playing kickball, going to local Ohio sporting events, making apple cider, going to the fair.
What is a fun fact about you the most people don’t know?
Matt: Has a scuba license
Amy: I can do a headstand
What’s your go-to comfort food?
Matt: Meatloaf and lasagna
Amy: Pepsi with chips and salsa
Morning person or night owl?
Matt: Morning
Amy: Night Owl
Matt & Haley Cherry
Where are you from?
Matt: Wayne County
Haley: West Salem
What do you appreciate most about our church community?
Matt: The desire to learn Gods word
Haley: The teaching of the Word as it stand
What are your hobbies or interests?
Matt: Spending time with my family, golf
Haley: Learning and growing as a teacher, shopping, chauffeuring my kids, doing literally anything with my husband
Favorite family tradition or favorite thing to do as a family?
Matt: Trips to myrtle beach, random unplanned days together
Haley: Our Myrtle Beach trips
What is a fun fact about you the most people don’t know?
Matt: That my wife and I have been together for 20 years
Haley: I’m an only child
What’s your go-to comfort food?
Matt: Chinese food
Haley: No comfort food, just a comfort drink – COFFEE!
Morning person or night owl?
Matt: Morning
Haley: Neither!
Strangest thing you’ve ever done?
Matt: Obtained a degree in Accounting but became a plant manager at a Box plant
Haley: When you teach Kindergarten, you do and say a lot of strange things everyday!
What excites you right now?
Matt: Continuing to watch the family and life that my wife and I built together
Haley: Summer break with my kids is almost here, vacation, and I’m moving schools!
Ryan & April Stinemetz
Where are you from?
Ryan & April: Wooster
What do you appreciate most about our church community?
Ryan & April: How loving and compassionate everyone is and everyone’s a big family
What are your hobbies or interests?
Ryan & April: Going to Rodeo’s with our daughter and spending time with our family, especially our grandchild
Favorite family tradition or favorite thing to do as a family?
Ryan & April: Rodeo and spending time outdoors
What is a fun fact about you the most people don’t know?
Ryan: Collect old bottles
April: Collect bird houses
What’s your go-to comfort food?
Ryan: Biscuits and sausage gravy
April: Hamburgers, french fries cottage cheese, and beans
Morning person or night owl?
Ryan: Both
April: Morning
Strangest thing you’ve ever done?
Ryan & April: When we first got married, we drove our truck onto the beach at Kelly’s Island. I don’t think that we were supposed to do that, but it was really fun!!
What excites you right now?
Ryan & April: How God is taking us through all these storms and He is making us stronger. We are so blessed!
Michael & Anna Ammon
Where are you from?
Michael: West Salem
Anna: Wooster
What do you appreciate most about our church community?
Michael: I appreciate that our church is a tight nit community that genuinely cares about one another
Anna: That we are all family and there for each other
What are your hobbies or interests?
Michael: Spending time with family, hunting, fishing, hiking, anything outdoors
Anna: Hiking, taking walks, spending time with family
Favorite family tradition or favorite thing to do as a family?
Michael: Spending holidays with family
Anna: Going on vacation, baking Christmas cookies
What is a fun fact about you the most people don’t know?
Michael: I like to run in 5k’s
Anna: I like to ride all roller coasters
What’s your go-to comfort food?
Michael: Meat ( any kind)
Anna: Fruit
Morning person or night owl?
Michael: Morning
Anna: Morning
Strangest thing you’ve ever done?
Michael: No clue
Anna: No clue
(or they could be arrested if they tell us!!! hee hee)
What excites you right now?
Michael: Summer
Anna: Summer coming and being able to be outside
Brett & Jackie Ward
Where are you from?
Brett: Wooster
Jackie: Wooster
What do you appreciate most about our church community?
Brett: It’s like a close family and it’s incredible to see it growing
Jackie: The people!
What are your hobbies or interests?
Brett: Sports, music, reading
Jackie: Going to sporting events, swimming, anything that includes my boys!
Favorite family tradition or favorite thing to do as a family?
Brett: Family vacations
Jackie: We love to go on cruises (snorkeling is our favorite!)
What is a fun fact about you the most people don’t know?
Brett: Growing up I wanted to be a meteorologist or radio DJ!
Jackie: I would love to go on The Wheel of Fortune!
What’s your go-to comfort food?
Brett: Breakfast foods
Jackie: Anything with mashed potatoes!
Morning person or night owl?
Brett: Night Owl!
Jackie: Definitely morning!
Strangest thing you’ve ever done?
Brett: ????
Jackie: Been woken up by an earthquake in Montana! (while my son, Tyler, slept right through it!)
What excites you right now?
Brett: Seeing what God has in store for my life
Jackie: Spring is here!
Ben & Joelyn Allshouse
Where are you from?
Ben: Originally Lancaster County, PA
Joelyn: Wayne County, Ohio Northwestern local school district
What do you appreciate most about our church community?
Ben: Willingness to get involved
Joelyn: The people
What are your hobbies or interests?
Ben: Hunting, camping, being outdoors
Joelyn: Walking, hiking, playing games with family and friends, camping
Favorite family tradition or favorite thing to do as a family?
Ben: RV camping, golfing with my sons & paddleboarding with my daughter
Joelyn: Games, camp
What is a fun fact about you the most people don’t know?
Ben: Spent a summer in California on a mission trip
Joelyn: Ziplined across mountains in Montana
What’s your go-to comfort food?
Ben: Cheesecake
Joelyn: Fruit
Morning person or night owl?
Ben: Morning person!
Joelyn: Used to be a night owl. Neither now!
Strangest thing you’ve ever done?
Ben: Climbed a 65 ft. telephone pole in Alaska like a lumberjack because my wife said I could do it
Joelyn: Worked with insects for a summer job in entomology at OARDC
What excites you right now?
Ben: Sleep!
Joelyn: Going on a date with my husband Ben
Brent & Tiffany Cherry
Where are you from?
Brent: West Salem
Tiffany: West Salem
What do you appreciate most about our church community?
Brent: Smaller group, able to know almost everyone that goes to church and be involved
Tiffany: The welcoming and judgement free atmosphere regardless of your past
What are your hobbies or interests?
Brent: Coaching, all sports, demolition derby/racing
Tiffany: Watching my children play sports (so many sports). Lifting weights with friends
Favorite family tradition or favorite thing to do as a family?
Brent: Christmas time – always do pj picture and also a picture of me lifting the kids to put star on tree from when they were young till now
Tiffany: Decorating the Christmas tree and taking pictures of each child placing the star
What is a fun fact about you the most people don’t know?
Brent: Won the demolition derby in Wayne county two times, have participated and coached wrestling since I was 7…. So been involved in the sport for over 35 years.
Tiffany: I can play the saxophone
What’s your go-to comfort food?
Brent: Oatmeal crème pie
Tiffany: Chocolate or cereal
Morning person or night owl?
Brent: Morning person
Tiffany: Morning person
Strangest thing you’ve ever done?
Brent: Not sure of anything really strange, pending how you look at things. I guess one would be starting a girls wrestling program and coaching it at northwestern. Or in high school, are one class all slept on our teacher lawn before graduation.
Tiffany: No clue!
What excites you right now?
Brent: Living for God, being involved in the church and watching our kids grow in all aspects of life
Tiffany: Spring! All things new and fresh
Doug & Stacie Markley
Where are you from?
Doug: Wooster
Stacie: Wooster
What do you appreciate most about our church community?
Doug: Pastor Dave and what he does for our church and community
Stacie: The way they live life right beside us!
What are your hobbies or interests?
Doug: Raising and showing show pigs
Stacie: Our granddaughter Elsie, and showing pigs
Favorite family tradition or favorite thing to do as a family?
Doug: Showing pigs
Stacie: Showing pigs all over the state and country! r
What is a fun fact about you the most people don’t know?
Doug: Raising show pigs
Stacie: We raise show pigs!
What’s your go-to comfort food?
Doug: Snickers
Stacie: Pizza and wings
Morning person or night owl?
Doug: Morning person
Stacie: Morning person
Strangest thing you’ve ever done?
Doug: Bungee cord jumped
Stacie: My entire life is strange!
What excites you right now?
Doug: Show pigs season!
Stacie: 2nd Granddaughter is coming April 10th
Jeremy & Melissa Chupp
Where are you from?
Jeremy: Wooster
Melissa: Wooster
What do you appreciate most about our church community?
Jeremy: I appreciate the biblical preaching and teaching of our pastors as well as the genuineness and authenticity of our church family
Melissa: I appreciate the smaller church family and the relationships I’ve developed
What are your hobbies or interests?
Jeremy: I enjoy playing music, especially the drums, and being on the water. I enjoy water and snow skiing when I get the chance
Melissa: I enjoy gardening, photography, and skiing with Jeremy
Favorite family tradition or favorite thing to do as a family?
Jeremy: We enjoy Friday nights making homemade pizza, popcorn, and watching a movie, especially anything Lord of the Rings or Star Wars!
Melissa: Everything Jeremy said, and I would also include going boating and skiing as a family
What is a fun fact about you the most people don’t know?
Jeremy: Most people may not know that I can play the keyboard, guitar, and bass and played in a band with my high school buddies
Melissa: Most people may not know that I enjoy cooking from scratch and using things from my garden
What’s your go-to comfort food?
Jeremy: Pizza
Melissa: Dark chocolate
Morning person or night owl?
Jeremy: Morning person
Melissa: Night owl
Strangest thing you’ve ever done?
Jeremy: I zip-lined over Fremont Street “Superman” style in Las Vegas while at a business conference for work
Melissa: I plant vegetables in my garden that I don’t eat
What excites you right now?
Jeremy: I am excited about being empty nesters and beginning a new season of life. I am also excited about what God is doing at NorthWinds!
Melissa: I am excited about the summer sun and being able to be outside
Steve & Jackie Metz
Where are you from?
Steven: Originally from Elyria, OH
Jackie: Originally from Newfield, NJ
Our family now lives in Mansfield, OH
What do you appreciate most about our church community?
Steven: The love of God and the love of people.
Jackie: The people. From the moment we stepped foot into the building, during a trunk or treat years ago, it has felt like a family, it felt like home.
What are your hobbies or interests?
Steven: Reading
Jackie: I’m such a Millennial, I enjoy video games. I have also enjoyed drawing, crocheting, and baking.
Favorite family tradition or favorite thing to do as a family?
Steven: Vacations and movie nights
Jackie: Movie nights, when we can actually agree on 1 movie
What is a fun fact about you the most people don’t know?
Steven: Once opened up for Montgomery Gentry.
Jackie: We had the chance to hang out with the band DownHere while they set up for a concert. The singer/keyboardist, Jason Germain, didn’t know Steve and I were married (still newlyweds) and tried to set us up with each other.
What’s your go-to comfort food?
Steven: Burrito bowls from Chipotle
Jackie: I love soups, not too picky. Also, spicy cheesy ramen and fresh fruit
Morning person or night owl?
Steven: Morning person, when I am not going to work
Jackie: Night owl
Strangest thing you’ve ever done?
Steven: Purposely make the house colder so I can use my mini heater
Jackie: Set up a booth in the middle of a Snap Fitness to sell jewelry
What excites you right now?
Steven: My relationship with God, my family, ministry, and future plans.
Jackie: Watching God’s great work as our church grows with new families. My family.
Ron & Lynn West
We have been with NorthWinds since the very first worship service here in 2013 as a campus of New Hope Church. We were part of the group helping to reorganize when we became NorthWinds and have been primarily involved in the financial areas. We appreciate the welcoming culture, the amazing music, and the weekly preaching of the gospel.
We grew up near Lexington and after marriage lived in Columbus before Ron was transferred to this area (Westfield Insurance) in 1995. We have two grown kids, our daughter Jana (Mark) with her family of 5, and son Jeffrey (Grace). We love spending time with family.
We are retired. We are longtime Bruce Springsteen fans and enjoyed attending many concerts over the years but more recently love contemporary Christian music and concerts. Ron likes being outdoors golfing, walking or bike riding. Lynn likes reading, serving, and snuggling with our cats Misty and Magic.
Jim & Julie Stephens
Where are you from?
Jim: Garden city Kansas
Julie: Lodi Ohio
We currently live in West Salem, Ohio
What do you appreciate most about our church community?
Jim: The closeness of the church family
Julie: The relationships we have with each other
What are your hobbies or interests?
Jim: Video games
Julie: Amateur Detective
Favorite family tradition or favorite thing to do as a family?
Jim: Traveling
Julie: Go on small trips together
What is a fun fact about you the most people don’t know?
Jim: Visited all 48 states
Julie: I drove semi truck with Jim across the country
What’s your go-to comfort food?
Jim: Pizza rolls
Julie: Pizza
Morning person or night owl?
Jim: Morning
Julie: Morning
Strangest thing you’ve ever done?
Jim: Hiked 50 miles on the Santa Fe trail
Julie: I stopped a run away horse going down state route 42
What excites you right now?
Jim: Work
Julie: Summer is near!!