Our team
Our team at VitalChurch Ministry is experienced and passionate about helping the local church thrive by partnering with you to provide clarity, purpose, and hope.
Our team includes ministry specialists who work in the areas of diagnostics, leadership systems, administration, and supporting roles. They help implement the overall revitalization ministry of VitalChurch.
Leadership Team
GARRY ABBOTT | Executive director
Garry Abbott served for almost 14 years in a variety of executive-level pastoral roles at a multi-site church in Orlando, FL before joining the VitalChurch team. He cares deeply about helping people take next steps in following Jesus and seeing the Church impact the world through displaying the character of Christ. Garry and his wife, Abbie, have been married since 2001 and have three children. They live in southern Indiana and are a part of a local church in their downtown community.
DAVE MILES | Director, Intentional Interim Pastor Division
Dave Miles is the founder of VitalChurch Ministry. Dave loves the Church and enjoys the challenge of working with churches in transition. It has been something he’s done, to one degree or another, since 1994. He is particularly passionate about helping churches understand what Christianity is and why it makes sense. Dave has pastored churches in New York, California, Hawaii, Washington, Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Minnesota. He likes to surf, run marathons, play golf, and read books. He has a ThM and a DMin in Church Growth. Dave and his wife, Jan, have been married since June 1980. Together they have three daughters and seven grandchildren.
MIKE MERWIN | CFO / Co-Director, Diagnostic Division
Mike Merwin has been with VitalChurch Ministry since 2015 and was first exposed to VitalChurch when the church he attended called VitalChurch to help with their pastoral transition. Mike manages our diagnostic and finance side of VitalChurch Ministry. Mike comes out of a corporate background where he had a 33-year career that allowed him to use his skills in business development in both the USA and overseas. He and his wife, Bev, have been married since 1982. They have three adult married sons and have been blessed with several grandchildren. He enjoys working out, the beach, spending time with family, and watching his favorite football team (Arsenal) on TV.
Tom Wilkens | Associate Director, Intentional Interim Pastor Division
Tom Wilkens has enjoyed serving as a pastor, medical/counseling clinic director, and university professor. Tom now serves as Associate Director of the Intentional Interim Pastor Division of VitalChurch Ministry. He earned a ThM in Pastoral Ministries and a PhD in Counseling Psychology. Tom’s passion is to see marriages, teams, churches, and organizations develop and grow well—with a special interest in leadership. Tom has been married to his best friend, Jan, since 1982. They have two married daughters and two grandchildren.
GregG Caruso | Co-Director, Diagnostic Division
Gregg Caruso earned his MA in Leadership and Mission, served as a “permanent pastor” for 16 years, and then served four years as the Director of Training for a Europe-based missions agency. Since 1998, Gregg has served as an Intentional Interim Pastor in such varied places as Amsterdam, Barcelona, Hawaii, Iowa, the San Francisco Bay area, New Hampshire, Southern California (x4), Massachusetts (x2), and Oregon. He has also participated in or led more than 100 diagnostics across the U.S. and in Europe. Gregg is also a Trustee on the VitalChurch U.K. Team and enjoys finding Christ in all of Scripture, trying to keep up with technology, pickleball, cycling, paddle boarding, and really good coffee. He has been married to Linda since 1978, and they have four adult children and seven grandsons.
Skylar Krajewski | MINISTRY Coordinator
Skylar Krajewski first connected with VitalChurch Ministry in her junior year of high school, when the organization played a pivotal role in guiding her church through a difficult transition. Ever since, she has felt a call on her life to join what God is doing through VitalChurch. Skylar has a BS in Non-profit Leadership and Intercultural Studies. She was born, raised, and currently lives in Rochester, MN with her husband, Andrew. They share a love for pickleball, camping, and spending quality time with their family and friends.
DIAGNOSTIC DIVISION
Robert Samsel | lEad Diagnostic analyst
Bob Samsel is passionate about helping churches cultivate healthy practices that honor God and contribute to the growth of his Kingdom. He has a BS in Business Administration, an MDiv, and a DMin in Family and Marriage Counseling. Since the 1990’s, he has pastored several New England churches. Bob has also worked as a family therapist. He has served with the VitalChurch team since 2014, working as an Intentional Interim Pastor and as a church diagnostic analyst. Bob has been married to Dawn since 1982. They have two grown children and three grandchildren. He enjoys traveling, gardening, and cooking.
Chet Ainsworth | Senior Advisor - Special Projects
Chet's passion is to figure out why things are the way they are. He works closely with the diagnostic division on all church diagnostics and report writing, as well as on materials development. Chet has a BA in Psychology, an MDiv, and a DMin in Church Growth. He pastored three churches in the Southern California/Arizona area. For eight years, Chet was an Associate Church Consultant for the Charles E. Fuller Institute of Evangelism and Church Growth. He retired in 2008 as a Social Service Practitioner from the San Bernardino County Department of Children’s Services, where he did family reunification services. Other ministry interests include doing individual coaching and team building in a variety of settings. Chet is a Senior Birkman Consultant and Grip-Birkman trainer. He is often involved in helping churches make appropriate pastoral choices.
Rochelle Ainsworth | Senior Advisor - Special Projects
Rochelle is a retired elementary and special education teacher with an MA in Education. She has Advanced Birkman Certification and is also a Grip-Birkman trainer. She does individual coaching and team building with her husband. Besides keeping up with their children and grandchildren, Chet and Rochelle enjoy fishing and working on their little farm.
jessica meyer | Ministry coordinator
Jessica Meyer spent 14 years serving in various ministry roles at Summit Church in Orlando, FL before joining the VitalChurch team in 2025. She and her family now live on the West Coast of Florida and are active in their local church. Jessica and her husband, Andrew, have been married since 2008 and are proud parents of two kids and an energetic dog. Their family motto is to strive to be leaders, learners, listeners, and to love people well. In her spare time, Jessica enjoys experimenting with new recipes, losing herself in a good book (or audiobook), and going on adventures with her family.
Brianna Ray | Communication coordinator / Editor
Brianna Ray is from Minneapolis and is VitalChurch’s Communication Coordinator, report editor, and a diagnostic analyst. She has a BA in Ancient & Classical Languages. Brianna has been married to Craig since 2009 and has volunteered alongside him in church planting, revitalization, and lately churches in transition with VitalChurch Ministry. They live in South County, Massachusetts with their three boys and Finlay the Goldendoodle.
Bess Maketanski | Diagnostic analyst
Bess Maketanski has a BA in Business/Marketing. Based in Massachusetts, her prior work experience is in social media marketing and administrative support. Bess is excited to join the VitalChurch team as a diagnostic analyst to help churches thrive. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her dogs and her family, especially her nieces and nephews.
Intentional Interim Pastors
Each Intentional Interim Pastor at VitalChurch is a ministry practitioner who has been called to the ministry of leading churches through a time of transition. Our pastors are comprehensively trained and have demonstrated competence in VitalChurch Ministry’s revitalization process.
ROB ACKER | Intentional Interim Pastor
Rob Acker pastored for 42 years in Southern California. As a pastor he loves all the aspects of the local church, especially the mobilization of people, equipping of leaders, and the multiplication of ministry and churches. His heart is to help enrich the lives of pastors and equip churches for health and vitality. Rob was an economics major at UCLA, heading for business, when God prompted his heart to attend seminary. He has degrees from two seminaries. Kathleen, his wife since 1981, is from Seattle and they have four married kids and thirteen grandkids. Reading and golf are both fun pastimes.
GEOFF BOHLEEN | Intentional Interim Pastor
Geoff Bohleen holds MDiv and DMin degrees. He has served in various leadership roles in churches of 150 - 8,000 members. Passionate about church growth, Geoff believes God can achieve great things through local churches that are willing to confront challenges and harness their strengths. He and his wife, Joni, were married in 1984 after a blind date, and they have three married children and several grandchildren. In their free time, they enjoy family, friends, road trips, books, movies, and the North Carolina beach.
Jeromy deibler | Intentional Interim Pastor
Jeromy Deibler is from Lancaster, PA, and moved to Nashville, TN at 19 where he met his wife, Jennifer. They helped form the band FFH and spent a decade touring. Afterwards, they spent time in South Africa, Tennessee, and California serving their local church. Jeromy received pastoral training at a church in CA and has also completed a Spiritual Direction program. The Deiblers have been married since 1996, currently live in TN, and have two children.
Rick foster | Intentional Interim Pastor
Rick Foster served as a “permanent” pastor for 25 years before making the transition to an interim pastor. Since 2012, he has served as an Intentional Interim Pastor in widely divergent churches, literally from coast to coast. Rick has a BA and an MTh degree. Rick and his wife, Lucy, have three grown children and six grandchildren. Rick enjoys both road and mountain biking, hiking, and good coffee.
PAT HAND | Intentional Interim Pastor
Pat Hand retired as lead pastor in 2022 after more than 45 years in church work, including executive leadership, missions, and assimilation. He is passionate about churches realizing their God-given potential. Pat and his wife, Carol, high school sweethearts, have two married sons, five grandkids, and a 42-foot RV for serving with VitalChurch Ministry across North America. They hold dual citizenship in the US and Canada and enjoy traveling, scuba diving, fishing, and outdoor activities.
NATHAN KIMBROugh | Intentional Interim Pastor
Nathan Kimbrough spent two decades of helping churches throughout the world navigate their struggles, structure their systems, and heal their hurts. He is excited to bring his experience to the VitalChurch Ministry team. He has also served as pastor and transitional pastor for both small and megachurches. Nathan has his BA in Mass Media Communication and his MA in Church Leadership. Nathan and his wife, Jennie, have been married since 2006 and enjoy traveling, theatre, hiking, art, and being all-around foodies.
ALLAN LOVE | Intentional Interim Pastor
Allan Love has been involved in church ministry for over 30 years in various roles and settings including church planter, Pastor of Disciple Making and Adult Ministries, Executive Pastor, and Church Coach; and is dedicated to serving pastors and local churches, helping them fulfill their unique calling. He is also the Senior Church Coach with Chemistry Staffing. Allan and his family are originally from Canada, where he earned his MCS and his DMin in Missional Leadership. Additionally, he is certified as an MBTI practitioner, as well as a Vision Strategist trained by Auxano. Allan and his wife since 1988, Gloria, their young adult daughter, and Luna, their family Lhasa Apso, live in Jacksonville, FL. He is an avid runner who enjoys spending time with family and friends.
Wayne harris | Intentional Interim Pastor
Wayne Harris brings over four decades of varied ministry experience, having faithfully served churches ranging in size from 50 to 4,500. His leadership journey has also included denominational service, working in an international mission organization training pastors in leadership and church revitalization, and most recently, guiding churches as a consultant and Intentional Interim Pastor. Wayne helps leaders listen for God’s voice, rediscover their purpose, and align their ministries with God’s greater Kingdom mission. He is married to his college sweetheart, Carey, and they cherish time with their two adult children, their spouses, and five grandchildren. He enjoys outdoor activities including golf, beach outings, and camping trips with Carey.
CRAIG RAY | Intentional Interim Pastor
Craig Ray is driven by a lifelong calling to walk alongside churches, helping them grow into spiritually mature, mission-focused communities ready to reach others for Christ. He draws from 20 years of varied ministry and leadership experiences such as church planting, revitalization, youth ministry, overseas missions, and a six-year pastorate in central Vermont where he successfully led the merger of two congregations. In 2017, Craig joined VitalChurch, volunteering on the diagnostic team before training to be an Intentional Interim Pastor. He has a BMin in Church Planting & Leadership Development and his MA in Biblical Leadership. Craig and his wife, Brianna, live in Massachusetts with their three sons. He enjoys playing and watching baseball.
CARL SUTTER | Intentional Interim Pastor
Carl Sutter joined VitalChurch after 12 years as the founding pastor of a non-denominational church in northern Colorado. He also served as an associate pastor for three years and Senior Pastor for 18 years at three churches. With experience in congregations of various sizes across different communities, Carl believes that healthy things grow. He emphasizes the church's need to submit to the Spirit to become vibrant and trans-formative. Carl is passionate about the Church's impact on individuals and communities. He lives in Loveland, CO with his wife, Vicki, enjoying family time and the beauty of the Rocky Mountains.
Rich schoenert | Intentional Interim Pastor
Rich Schoenert served as a senior pastor for 43 years before moving into interim pastor ministry. The last 24 of those years were spent at Calvary Church, Roseville, MN, a multi-site congregation. Since “retirement,” he has served numerous churches as an Intentional Interim Pastor. Rich also continues to train and equip pastors and other church leaders in Ukraine, something he’s done for over 30 years. Rich graduated from seminary with both MDiv and DMin degrees. He and his wife have three adult children and many grandchildren.
DAN Werthman | Intentional Interim Pastor
Dan Werthman is an ordained minister with the Evangelical Free Church of America (EFCA), a licensed attorney, and a Certified Christian Conciliator and Mediator with the Institute for Christian Conciliation. After serving for 15 years as a senior pastor in three EFCA churches, Dan felt a calling to use his experience and abilities to help churches navigate conflict and change through Intentional Interim Pastoral ministry. He has earned MDiv and JD degrees and has also served as a military attorney (Judge Advocate) in the United States Air Force. Dan and his wife, Cindy, have three grown sons and three grandchildren. He enjoys grilling and barbecuing, and is slowly section-hiking the Appalachian Trail.
DAVE YOUNG | Intentional Interim Pastor
Dave Young has been pastoring churches since 1996, serving in America, Europe, and Asia. He has degrees in Bible and Counseling, and a DMin. His doctoral dissertation focused on moving churches from an oasis paradigm to missional thought, community, and practice. Dave is an advocate of being changed and bringing change – knowing that God is always deepening our dependency on Him and encouraging our experience of Him during times of transition. Dave and his wife, Maryanne, have been married since 1987. Together they have two adult daughters.
Board of Directors
Our Board is the governing authority at VitalChurch Ministry and is responsible for the affairs of our ministry. They provide financial oversight and direction for ministry in line with VitalChurch’s ministry outcomes.
JEFF KERN | Board member
Jeff Kern currently works as the COO/CFO for Martin Aquatic in Orlando, FL. While currently in the marketplace, Jeff previously served as a pastor and church planter and also led an international church planting ministry for 17 years. He resonates deeply with VitalChurch Ministry’s work to support leaders and churches across the country. Jeff and his wife, Jill, have four adult children and three grandchildren.
KRISTEN MALONEY | Board Member
Kristen Maloney is a retired mediator and attorney in Oakland, California. She is a Certified Christian Conciliator and Relational Wisdom Instructor, helping churches and organizations use biblical peacemaking to resolve conflicts. Kristen has taught seminars and trained coaches and mediators in this model. Recently retired, she has been married to Graham for over 40 years, has adult twins, and is a grandmother.
James Matsuda | Board Member
James Matsuda, raised in the San Francisco Bay Area, is the CFO of Numi Tea, a leading distributor of organic tea in North America. He served as an Elder, Chair of the Global Missions Team Committee, and Diversity Co-Op at Moraga Valley Presbyterian Church, where he also participated in the Focus Team during a transitional period with VitalChurch Ministry. James met his wife, Laurie, as teenagers at a conference and they married in 1988; they have two adult sons, Kevin and Jonathan. In his spare time, he enjoys golfing and is a dedicated San Francisco Giants fan.
Brian purvis | Board Member
Brian Purvis resides in Middle Tennessee with his wife, Leslee. Married for over 33 years, they have three daughters and are active in ministries at Cross Point Church in Mt. Juliet. Volunteers with VitalChurch Ministry, they became involved when Brian was a church leader. He witnessed God using VitalChurch's process and now serves on the Board to aid other churches. Brian leads Premium Support Services for the Americas at SUSE, an open-source software company. In his spare time, he enjoys outdoor activities, coffee, water sports, and exploring Tennessee with Leslee, as well as working on remodeling projects.
DEBi lerma | Board Member
Debi Lerma, a California native, divides her time between California and her home on the Mississippi Gulf Coast. She and her husband, Rich, have a married daughter and three talented grandkids. After retiring as Owner and COO of Optivest Storage, Debi became active in Community Bible Study, currently serving as Teaching Director. She assists her aging mother and enjoys family events. Debi and Rich travel often and she loves reading, studying God’s Word, and teaching Sunday School to 4 and 5-year-olds. Her previous ministry roles include Biblical Counseling, Bible Study leadership, and Women’s Retreat Coordinator.
Revelation 2:7
"He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”
