board of ministry
& conference delegate Candidates

The Board of Ministry (BOM) at The Arbor Church is currently a group of nine men and women chosen by the vote of our members and entrusted with leadership oversight of the church. As a governing board, they collaboratively work alongside of the appointed lead pastor offering wise counsel to ensure we are being faithful to our disciple-making mission. In addition, they give fiduciary oversight to the church and see that we adhere to best practices that honor Jesus.

Current Elected Board of Ministry

Christy Cottingham 2024

Bob Ganton 2024

Joel Miller 2024

Faith Holton 2023
Jann Kilgore 2023
Steve Rick 2023
Stan Garn 2022
Miriam Gin 2022
Kendra St. John 2022

The Nominating Committee proposes the following slate of candidates for the three open Board of Ministry positions in 2022. These individuals have met criteria for service and are willing to be on the ballot.

Stan Garn

Miriam Gin

Misty Jones

Drew Raines

Jon Schaible

Jake Sondergard

Deb Varland

Board of ministry 2021 Nominees

Kevin Anderson

Kevin and his family have attended SAFMC for the past five years. Kevin serves in the Children’s Ministry and Upward basketball program. Professionally, Kevin has enjoyed 17 years in the Energy industry, most recently as a Senior Project Manager with Development Solutions Midwest. Kevin and his wife Sarah have been married 15 years, and reside with their two children in Jackson, MI. Kevin’s life has been one of redemption, grace and renewal from sin, pride, brokenness, guilt, and anxiety. It is by humbling growth through these experiences that he feels led to serve others in his church and community further and try to help use his past to help others.

Christy Cottingham

Christy and her husband, Ryan, have 3 children, Connor, Ryleigh and Trey. Christy taught Special Education and worked as a Career Counselor for Western Schools for many years. Since recently retiring from this career, she has loved growing her real estate business. Christy and her family have been active in our church for many years. Christy and Ryan have served in hospitality and the children’s ministry. Most recently, they loved every minute of their “Rooted” experience. Christy enjoys volunteering, cheering on the SAU Men’s Basketball Team, growing in her faith, and exercising!

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Libby Cross

Office Manager

Steve Davenport

Steve is a pediatric dentist, and has been practicing in Jackson for 21 years. He and his wife Laura have been married for 27 years, and have five children, ages 16 to 23. Steve has attended SAFMC for over thirty years. For about 18 years, he served on the Finance Committee at SAFMC, most of those as the secretary of the committee. Steve believes in the mission of our church, and in the people of our church. He has been blessed throughout the years by so many in our congregation who have prayed for him, encouraged him, and directed and helped his children develop into young adults. He is thankful for the honor of being considered for the Board of Ministry.

Marty Fortress

HR Lead

Joel Miller

Joel and his family have attended Spring Arbor church for the last 5 years. Joel and his wife, Janette, have four teenagers. He is a family physician with Henry Ford Allegiance, and has
served on our Board of Ministry for last 3 years.
Joel is looking forward to seeing how our church will grow deeper and impact our community in the next season. He would be glad to serve alongside others on the Board to prayerfully put the Spirit’s leading into practice.

Conference delegate

2021 Nominees

The Conference Delegates represent the people at the Annual Conference, etc.

Current Elected Conference Delegates
?

The Nominating Committee proposes the following slate of candidates for the three(?) open Conference Delegate positions in 2021. These individuals have met criteria for service and are willing to be on the ballot.

Steve Castle

Matt Gin

Todd Holton

Gerrilee Lacy

Betty Walrath

Board of ministry 2021 Nominees

Stan Garn

Stan Garn is a retired military officer who is now living in Spring Arbor. He and Jan have been married for 53 years & they have 3 adult sons. He currently teaches the Vine Life Class at The Arbor Church.

Miriam Gin

Miriam was born and raised in Spring Arbor but moved away for college. She and her husband Matt moved back to the area in 2013. Currently, she is loving this stage of staying at home to homeschool her six kids, ages 5 months to 12 years. When she's not doing school or picking up her house you can find her running, reading or playing with her kids.

Misty Jones

Misty Jones started attending The Arbor church as a Spring Abor (College) University student in 1994. For several years, she has actively volunteered with the Edge Youth Ministry program. Misty currently serves on the security team, is a mentor for Love the Kids, enjoys pitching for The Arbor church softball team, and walking alongside the youth at the Jackson County Youth Center where she is a Treatment Supervisor. In her free time, she enjoys camping, going on adventures, serving, and connecting with others.

Drew Raines

Andrew “Drew” Raines grew up in the Dearborn Free Methodist church, before moving to Jackson County in 1996 to get married and start his family with Shelby, recently marking their 25th wedding anniversary. Drew has attended The Arbor Church for 25 years now. Drew works for Comerica Bank, serving in the role of Retail Vice President in Lansing and Jackson. Drew enjoys spending time with his family, cycling, and following the Florida Gators and Chicago Cubs.

Jon Schaible

Jon Schaible is married to his wife Jennifer for 12 years and they have been attending The Arbor Church since graduating from Spring Arbor University in 2009. Together they have 3 active young boys. Jon works as a Finance Manager at Consumers Energy leading a team responsible for budgeting, planning, and analysis for operational budgets. He also volunteers as an assistant baseball coach for Spring Arbor University. Jon and Jennifer often host and cook dinner for the team and Jon recently co-led a Rooted group composed of baseball players this past fall.

Jake Sondergard

Conference delegate

2021 Nominees

Jake and his wife Anna (and their kids Joshua and Abigail) live in Spring Arbor and have been attending the Arbor Church for almost three years. After graduating from SAU, Jake and Anna spent seven years in Pittsburgh, attending an inner city church and volunteering with student ministries. Investing in the spiritual development of the next generation continues to be a passion for Jake and he’s currently serving as a youth leader at the Arbor. He has spent time in short term missions in Haiti, Mexico, France, and inner city Pittsburgh. Jake graduated from SAU in 2008 and completed an MBA from the University of Pittsburgh in 2018. He is currently the Operations Manager at the Eaton/Danfoss hydraulics plant in Jackson.

Deb Varland

Deb Varland recently returned to Spring Arbor after serving in Kenya missions for 5 years. Prior to that Deb taught at SAU for 35 years. Deb and her husband, Roger, have 4 children. She currently works part time at Jackson Interfaith Shelter. Deb’s hobbies include outdoor activities, walking with friends, and drinking tea.

Delegates serve by representing the church at the Southern Michigan Conference's annual meeting.

The Nominating Committee proposes the following slate of candidates for the three Conference Delegate positions in 2022. These individuals have met criteria for service and are willing to be on the ballot.

Carol Ann Bunnell

Curt Ellis

Danette Harper

Janette Miller

Carol Ann Bunnell

Carol Ann Bunnell has been a member of The Arbor Church for about 30 years. She leads the Gigantic Sale for Missions each summer and serves as the volunteer coordinator for the Food Pantry ministry. She and her husband, Charlie, are active members of The Vine community group on Sunday mornings. Their son, Phill, and his family live in Dearborn Heights and their daughter, Karen, lives in downtown Jackson.

Curt Ellis

Curt Ellis was born and raised in Indianapolis, Indiana and grew up in the John Wesley Free Methodist Church on the west side of the city. He and his wife, Jolene, will celebrate 37 years of marriage this summer. They met while at Greenville College. They are the parents of Jacob, Elizabeth Cross, Sarah Fritch, and Samuel. Curt has degrees from Greenville College, Western Michigan University, and the University of Michigan and has been involved in higher education for over 30 years. He calls Michigan home and loves winter but enjoys the other three seasons as well.

Danette Harper

Danette Harper is the Manager of Legal and Gift Administration at FMF Financial Services. She is married to Wesley Harper and resides in Spring Arbor. She was raised in the Free Methodist Church and has attended The Arbor Church for over 20 years, serving in the music, missions, and children/teen ministries. Her favorite ministry experience was serving as a small group leader of teen girls for 6 years.

Janette Miller

Janette Miller is a Spring Arbor native and mother of four. She has been married to her husband Joel for 25 years. They have served in Mexico City and Burundi as medical missionaries. She is currently working in medical education at Henry Ford Allegiance. She enjoys remodeling in her free time

board of ministry
& conference delegate Candidates