Staff

Pastor Carmen Horst Okanya, Lead Pastor    chorst@jsmchurch.org

Carmen originally came on board in June 2011 as Associate Pastor, becoming JSMC’s Lead Pastor in June 2025. When she isn’t working on a sermon or giving pastoral care, you can find Carmen reading at home or trying out one of Lancaster’s fabulous restaurants. Carmen is married to Dr. Nelson Okanya. Together they parent Barak and Izak.

Pastor Jenny Gehman, Associate Pastor    jgehman@jsmchurch.org

Jenny Gehman is an author and spiritual director. When she and her husband Dan were married in 1989, JSMC (then named Charlotte Street Mennonite Church), was their first church home. After leaving to help with a church plant, and serving in a number of other congregations, it was their joy to return to their home here in 2023. Jenny and Dan spent their lives in a ministry of hospitality to international students. It is her joy to bring her skills of communication, community building, and cultivating creative practices to nurture the spiritual life in our congregation. Jenny and Dan are parents to one adult son (Ryan). Their favorite place to be found is deep in the woods — preferably with tea, a hammock, and a few good books.

Scott Rampy, Associate Pastor     srampy@jsmchurch.org

Scott Rampy is a Marriage and Family Therapist who also holds an MA in Theology from Fuller Theological Seminary. He and his family now live in Lititz after moving from Houston, Texas in 2023. Scott’s clinical practice as a therapist has had an emphasis on couples relationships, adult mental health, and family relational problems. He also has served as a pastor to homeless young adults at a residential program in downtown Houston and as a youth minister. Scott is married to Jillian, an oncology nurse navigator at the Ann B. Barshinger Cancer Institute. They are parents to Joseph, Rachel, and Eden. 

Mary Lapp, Administrator     mlapp@jsmchurch.org

Mary joined the JSMC team in March of 2023!  She keeps the books, the calendar and watches over many little details of daily church life. She is originally from Nantucket, MA and moved to Lancaster in 2007. When Mary is not at work, she loves to cook, read, and hike with her husband Ernie.

Tim Johnsen Martin, Director of Maintenance

Tim has been the Director of Maintenance since 2018. He is responsible for all aspects of the facility, including maintenance, contracts, security, upgrades, etc. We are grateful for his desire to be proactive in caring for the building we have been blessed with.

Karen Hartz, Custodian

Karen has been the JSMC custodian since 2014. She is responsible for the weekly cleaning of our facility, as well as larger tasks such as cleaning windows, preparing classrooms at the beginning of the year, helping with fellowship hall set up, and numerous other tasks she is asked to do by office staff. We appreciate her willing spirit to jump in when needed.