Caring for the Flock
We are a Presbyterian church, which means that we have elders who are called, elected, ordained and installed to lead the congregation and shepherd the flock of God under their care. We also have deacons who serve the practical needs of the congregation and our community. As a member of the Chesapeake Presbytery of the Presbyterian Church of America, we are connected and accountable to other churches in our presbytery and to the wider denomination.
Our Elders
Forest Hill Presbyterian Church is lovingly cared for by elders (the Session). In the PCA, the Session is responsible for government and spiritual oversight of the church. Scripture outlines the qualifications for elders (1 Tim 3: 1-7) emphasizing the importance of moral character and leadership abilities. Ruling elders lead, pray with and for church members and serve as shepherds. Teaching elders are ordained ministers who shepherd, teach, preach and administer the sacraments.
(left to right)- Jonathan Hansen, Jason VanBemmel, Shawn Trautman
Jonathan became a ruling elder for Forest Hill in 2024. He is an emergency physician, is emergency department clinical director at the Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center and is on the faculty of the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. He and his wife, Erin, have three children: Linnea, Jonas, and Kiersten. Jonathan and Erin came to Forest Hill in 2016, transferring from Faith Christian Fellowship, a PCA church in Baltimore, where Jonathan served as a ruling elder for 6 years.
Jason has served as the pastor and teaching elder of Forest Hill since our launch in July of 2015. He is a 2009 graduate of Reformed Theological Seminary and previously served as the pastor of Faith Presbyterian Church in Cheraw, SC, and as a Christian school administrator. Jason and his wife, Beth, have three children: Andrew, Jeremiah, and Kathryn. He loves teaching, good books and good coffee and is slightly obsessed with Lord of the Rings and Star Wars.
Shawn Trautman is an Assistant Director of Nursing at Johns Hopkins Hospital. He and his wife (Andi) have two children: Jackson and Kinsley. Shawn and his family moved from a local non-denominational church to join Forest Hill in 2016, happy to find a Reformed Church with biblical expository teaching. He was installed as an elder in 2019. Shawn's passion for teaching is used teaching youth group, adult Sunday school, and pastoral training in Northern Uganda.
(left to right) Jason Wood, Kevin King, Joel Raiber, Adam MacDonald
Our Deacons
The Deacons at Forest Hill Presbyterian Church lead the mercy ministry of the church. They see to the physical needs of our congregation, care for the church building and help Forest Hill PCA serve the needs of our community. They are men who exhibit spiritual character, honest repute and sound judgement.
Jason Wood
Jason and his wife Kerry came to Forest Hill in 2015. He was first installed as a deacon in 2022. Jason works in government sales for Verizon. He and Kerry enjoy their blended family of three daughters: Caitlyn, Kamryn, and Corinne, and their two grandchildren and son-in-law. Jason runs the soundboard and handles streaming for our worship service and Sunday School. Their home is offered for many church activities. Jason says "Our door is always open and our service is always available."
Kevin King
Kevin was installed as a deacon in 2024. He is a machine learning engineer at DCS Corp. Kevin and his wife Elizabeth were both covenant children who took their first membership vows at New Covenant Presbyterian Church. They moved away after college and ultimately resettled in Harford County, transferring their membership from City Reformed Presbyterian Church in Pittsburgh. They have four children: Levi, Jane, McKenzie and Cassidy.
Joel Raiber
Joel serves as the chair of our deacons and as our church treasurer. He is the head of sales for AKKO, an insurtech start up for business electronics insurance. He and his wife, Dawn, have four children: Gabriel and his wife Kait, Kylie, Jacob, and Abigail. They use their gift of hospitality for congregational get-togethers and hymn sings. Joel is a founding member of Forest Hill, coming from New Covenant PCA as part of the church plant in July 2015.
Adam MacDonald
Adam and his wife Amber came to Forest Hill in 2016, transferring from Valley Presbyterian, a PCA church in Baltimore. Adam was installed as a deacon in 2017. He is an architect in the education market sector with Hord Copeland Macht. He and Amber, have two children: Evelyn and Elias. Adam serves in a major role on our building committee and was our first Care Food Night chef.
Elders Emeriti
Still serving
After years of faithful service, elders who have asked to be released from active service are given the title of "Elder Emeritus". We are blessed to have three who have served our church with distinction for many years. All three were officers installed at New Covenant and were charter members of Forest Hill as part of the church plant in 2015. We praise the Lord for these willing servant leaders.
Ernie is a charter member of Forest Hill. He retired from the federal government as a Computer Engineering Specialist. Ernie moved to “Elder Emeritus” status in 2020 and now serves on the offeratory team, sets up for communion service and assists the treasurer. His natural gift of working with his hands is a special blessing as he helps with numerous projects within our congregation.
Bob and his wife Judy are charter members of Forest Hill. He retired as a sales manager for Norris Ford. Ask him about cars or motorcycles! He moved to Elder Emeritus in 2021 and now works on the offeratory team and assists the treasurer. He also does his best to teach all of us how to play pickle ball!
Our Staff
Meredith Kalambihis is our amazing office administrator. She and her husband Stavros came to Forest Hill in 2016. Meredith home-schools their 3 children (Jackson, Sophia and Loreli.) She enjoys gardening, crocheting and baking. Proverbs 31:27 helps to describe Meredith: "She looks well to the ways of her household" (and her church) "and does not eat the bread of idleness." We are blessed to have her on our staff.
Jason VanBemmel is our Pastor and teaching elder. He leads several bible studies each week, teaches a class at our home-school co-op, does a weekly segment on Christian Radio and records daily devotionals every weekday. He just completed a three year devotional series where he read through the bible one chapter a day (1096 daily recordings!)
Jason is on our staff but his family is an important part of Forest Hill Church. Beth is the consummate minister's wife; involved in church activities, a good listener ... "She opens her mouth with wisdom, and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue." Proverbs 31:26.
Their children help with the sound board, in the nursery and in many, many other ways. We are blessed by Jason and his family.
