meet our
Leadership
Pastor David Ryan
Pastor David T. Ryan was appointed to serve Leola UMC starting July 1, 2022. Pastor Ryan also served as Pastor here from 1996 to 2003. David understands his life mission to helping others delight in the love of God. He has been follower of Jesus all his life, having been raised in the ministry of Siloam UMC in Delaware County. A defining moment of his life was an altar call offered at Brandywine Summit Camp Meeting in the summer between 6th and 7th grade. He attended Asbury College where he majored in Christian Education and minored in drama. David then went on to receive his Master of Divinity Degree
at Wesley Seminary in Washington DC.
He is married to Jeanette, and together they have two adult children – Jonathan ( married to Erin) and Zachary. David loves to engage in creative activities such as weaving, zentangle art, and writing and theater. He plays the Ukulele and is active with the Ukulele Uprising group of Lancaster County and our own Four Strings For Him (4S4H) Gospel Uke group. He is also always trying to increase his count on geocache finds! Together, the Ryan’s have served Washington Crossing UMC, Christ UMC- Fairless Hills, Leola UMC, Quakertown UMC, Hopeland UMC, First and Christ UMCs in Chestertown MD and now again Leola UMC.
David is a person of great joy in the Lord. His preaching is bible based, and his worship leadership seeks to connect the congregation with God. He also posts a daily devotional Monday- Thursday which can be found on the church’s Facebook page. His prayer for Leola UMC is that we would a faith community that shares the love of Jesus Christ every day and exhibit a “holiness that hurts the eyes”.
John Gazsi
Music Director
We are happy to have John Gazsi as our Music Director at LUMC. He is originally from Morgantown, WV, where he received a Music Ed degree from West Virginia University. He later went back to WVU and received a follow up degree in Landscape Architecture. His wife Claudia is a Physical Therapist and a professor of Physical Therapy at Lebanon Valley College. They have 3 grown children - Kristopher, Benjamin and Katrina.
John's background includes teaching string and vocal music in the WV public schools, and later moving to Lititz where he worked as a Landscape Architect. He currently is the Concert Master with the Hershey Symphony.
Jessica Bertolino
Worship Accompanist
Jessica is a graduate of West Virginia Wesleyan College and earned a Master of Arts in Music Therapy & Counseling from Drexel University. In addition to playing multiple instruments including saxophone, guitar, and organ, she is also a singer-songwriter.
She has most recently worked as a Worship Pianist at a Baptist church north of Philadelphia. Jessica is joined by her family at church: Sam, Avery and her husband, Mike.