Leadership at Emmaus

Pastor Charles Althoff

Rev. Charles E. Althoff has been Pastor at Emmaus since February 19, 2006.  Prior to his ministry at Emmaus, he served churches in Geneva, Ohio and in Cleveland, Ohio.  Pastor Althoff also served as evangelistic missionary to the Philippines, highlighted by a fascination with cultural understandings for effective ministry.

Pastor Althoff was born within the shadow of Ohio State’s famous horseshoe and is still a loyal Buckeye!  His choice for college was the University of Kentucky.  While attending classes at UK he met and married his soul-mate, Rosemary Barnes Bergman on September 1, 1974.  He earned his Master of Divinity Degree from Concordia Theological Seminary in Ft. Wayne, Indiana, while Rosemary received her PHT (“Putting Hubby Through”).  Their union has been blessed with three children, who are now all grown and making their own way.  Pastor says, “Memorizing Titus 3:3-5 was undoubtedly my first ‘Emmaus moment.’  Interestingly, this was part of an evangelism training course—and the prospective evangelizer was himself evangelized!  I hope to be a mid-wife for the Holy Spirit in this congregation named, so appropriately, after the Easter experience described in Luke 24.”

Pastor Althoff is very excited to be serving the people of Emmaus and the greater Wauseon community, in the name of Jesus.  “May the Lord bless us with many ‘Emmaus Moments’.”

 

President Mark Schlueter

Mark Schlueter currently serves Emmaus as President of the congregation.  Mark fills many servant roles here at Emmaus.  On Sunday mornings you may find him manning the sound booth to make sure the services flow smoothly.  He is also johnny-on-the-spot whenever the computer system hits a bump in the road.

Mark grew up in the Lutheran church at St. James, Burlington with his mom and dad, Richard and Dianne, brothers Tim and Joe, and sister Rebecca.  He is married to Chris Cain Schlueter and they have a son and daughter.

When Mark is not at Emmaus, you can usually find him fishing or sailing.  He is also a licensed amateur radio operator. 

 

Vice President Loren Pennington

Loren Pennington is Vice-President of Emmaus’ congregation.  He has served Emmaus for many years on various boards and different congregational positions.  Though formally “retired”, Loren believes you are never too old to “step up and do something” for your Lord.

When he was first out of school, Loren worked for a short time at the GM Tech Center, but his heart was in farming and he farmed for 50+ years.  You can still find him manning the pork stand at the Fulton County Fair.  He particularly likes woodworking and spending time relaxing at the lake.

Loren is married to Arlene and they have 5 married children, 18 grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren.  That’s enough to keep any Grandpa hopping!

 

Recording Secretary Kay Heilman

Kay Heilman is Recording Secretary for Emmaus.  She was raised at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church with Pastor Bertram.  When Kay was confirmed, they were holding services in Monac School and their Walther League youth were very proud to clear the underbrush and prepare the lot for the church building which now stands at Laskey & Clover in West Toledo.

After 30+ years in the health care industry, Kay retired in 2007.  Later that year, she accepted the position as Administrator for Emmaus, retiring again after 2-1/2 years.  She enjoys being active in the Lutheran Women’s Missionary League and singing in the choir.

Kay has been married to Don for 46 years and they have a grown son and daughter.  Their daughter and son-in-law, who live in Missouri, have blessed them with two boys. Their son, Rev. Jeremy Heilman, is an LCMS pastor at Trinity Lutheran, Genoa, Illinois.  He had the good sense to marry a Wauseon girl, the former Heather Miller, and they added to the grandchild pool with two boys and two girls.

 

Administrator Rebecca Zehr

Rebecca grew up in the Mennonite Church in various Midwestern states, as her father was a pastor in several different locations during her childhood.  Rebecca and her family attend North Clinton Mennonite Church in Wauseon, where they have been members for 14 years.

Rebecca is an almost-graduate of Goshen College, where she is currently finishing her B.S. degree in Organizational Management.  She has been an office worker and supervisor for many years, and also owns her own Virtual Assistant business, where she assists clients with desktop publishing, bookkeeping, minor computer issues, web sites, etc. 

Rebecca joined the Emmaus family as Administrator and Assistant Treasurer in 2010 and she enjoys helping things run smoothly at Emmaus.