elder-nominations
In February, the elders received nominations from the congregation identifying people to undergo training to discern if they were called to be an elder in the church. The presiding elders approved four candidates – all previously serving elders, J.J. Farley, Brad Marson, George Reede, and Dave Zuidema. Todd Guntner is currently an elder and has been nominated for a second term. A Congregational Meeting will be held between the services on August 23rd to formally elect (or reelect) them to the office of elder. Get to know the elder candidates below.
J.J. Farley
J.J. has spent most of his life in Maryland after moving around a bit in his early childhood. He attended the University of Delaware and has spent his entire career in structural engineering for RK&K, where he is currently the Executive Director overseeing the Structures Department in the Mid-Atlantic.
The Farley family, including J.J., Stacie and their three adult children have been at HVC since 2011. Over the years, J.J. has served as a core group leader, scripture reader, Point host, elder and on the pastoral search committee. He has also gone on two international serving trips with the high school ministry.
As we look to the future, J.J.’s desire is to see everyone at HVC grow in God’s Word and see the church as more than a weekly gathering but as a place of nourishment, renewal, and safety that equips us to reach our communities.
Todd Guntner
Todd is a native Baltimorean who grew up in Loch Raven Village. He graduated from Towson University where he was a two-sport athlete and studied business and communications. Todd operates his own business as an independent manufacturer representative specializing in high-performance technical coatings.
A part of the original launch of HVC, Todd and his wife Linda have served in many different ministry roles over the years. Currently he serves as an elder and leads a core group. They have one adult daughter who lives in Manhattan. Todd enjoys spending his free time on the golf course.
Todd’s hope and prayer for HVC is to see more lives transformed into the image of Christ and that God would use the building expansion as a tool to support and advance that mission.
Brad Marson
Brad grew up on the West Coast and attended college in Texas. His family moved to Alaska and he lived in Anchorage. After a road trip across Canada to Delaware, Brad eventually took a job in Baltimore. He is the executive vice president for an architectural firm in D.C.
Brad and his wife Aimee became members in 2001. They and their three children have been very involved in the life of HVC over the years. Brad has served as an elder, core group leader, Sunday service host, and on the building team and pastoral search committee. Outside of HVC, he enjoys playing golf, trips to the beach, and watching his kids compete in college athletics.
With a new pastor finally in place, Brad hopes to see the church develop closer relationships with each other and the community. He believes the time is here for us to grow deeper in our faith by building upon the spiritual practices we have been prioritizing over the past few years. With the new building, Brad is eager to see how we will be impacted by being under one roof again.
George Reede
George lived in various states before settling in Baltimore after law school. He attended Cedarville College and then Washington & Lee for law school. He has worked for a firm in Baltimore for most of his career but is currently a partner in a D.C. law firm.
George and his wife Sharon have been at HVC since 2000. They have four adult children, currently spread across the country. George has served as an elder, elementary large group teacher, and preschool puppeteer. In his free time, George’s hobbies include running and spending time on his classic Buicks.
In this next season of ministry, George is hopeful for the development of real Christian community for young adults in the space between college and having their own families.
Dave Zuidema
Dave was born in the Midwest but moved to Maryland in elementary school. He attended college at Franklin & Marshall and completed his MBA at Duke University. In 2023 he retired from Danfoss, a manufacturing company, after a long corporate career serving in multiple roles.
Dave is married to Sue and they have two adult children and seven entertaining grandchildren. Together, Dave and Sue have been at HVC since the beginning. Dave has served as an elder, on the management team, and as an occasional set hand building and installing stage pieces. In his spare time, Dave enjoys golfing, watching his grandchildren compete, acrylic painting, and travel.
Dave is excited about the new building and how God is leading us and providing. His prayer is for a revival in this church and this area that will spread to the mid-Atlantic and throughout the US.