Rob Hutchinson
April Patek
Pastor April Patek has a Bachelor of Music Education (flute emphasis) from Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, and a Masters in Christian Education from Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary, Evanston, IL. Before entering ministry, April taught concert band, marching band, orchestra, and music in the public schools as well as a private flute studio. While in seminary, April completed clinical pastoral education (chaplaincy) at Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, and completed field education at Trinity UMC, Mt. Prospect and Prince of Peace UMC, Elk Grove Village. She also began her path towards ordination and is currently a provisional deacon. After graduating from seminary, she continued her passion for youth and children and served as the Director of Family Ministries at Christ United Methodist Church in Algonquin, IL and then Rochester United Methodist Church in Rochester, IL. April also served as a solo pastor (pastor of all ages) at Macon UMC, IL and associate pastor Decatur First UMC, IL. Getting a little tired of Midwest weather, she moved down to Clover, SC where she went back to Youth and Children Ministry and then finally moved to Harrisburg and is loving it!
Pastor April is gifted and happy to work with all people of all ages but is especially grateful for the opportunity to work with the young people at Harrisburg UMC. April loves to help disciple young people as they discover who Jesus has called them to be. She has a passion for mission work and not only desires to serve on her own but to encourage the youth and children to be in mission as well. She has great empathy and loves to develop relationships with all her young people.
In her free time, Pastor April loves to learn new things and catch a trivia game. She loves to play board and card games. Her three cats: Shadow, “Theo”philus, and Freddie Mercury, are her babies and bring her great joy, laughter, and comfort.
Kara Grosh
A congregation member for many years, Kara joined the Harrisburg UMC staff in 2023 as the office manager. She enjoys welcoming visitors to the church and interacting with the congregation and the community. She finds great joy in her administrative duties, which she sees as one of her ministries for the Lord. When she’s not working, Kara enjoys spending time with her husband and their pet ferrets as well as knitting and quilting.
Amber Robins
Executive Assistant to the Pastor
Forrest Brown
Forrest Brown is a Minister of Music with over 20 years of experience serving congregations through music that nurtures faith, connection, and worship. He holds a master’s degree in Sacred Music and approaches ministry with a deep respect for the church’s tradition and a genuine care for people. Forrestalso brings national touring experience, shaping a steady, humble professionalism in every setting. He is married to his wife, Angela, of 17 years, and they are the proud parents of two children, Miles and Ella. Forrest is grateful for the call to serve the Church and believes music is a vital way to pastor hearts and build community
Lisa Wallace
Ben Forrest Green
Ben brings a wealth of knowledge and hands-on experience in audio-visual technology, ensuring our worship services, events, and programs run smoothly and effectively.
Ben holds a B.S. in Music Technology from the University of North Carolina at Asheville, where he earned distinctions for both his academic achievements and his leadership in audio engineering. His career has included roles such as a Recording Studio Manager, where he trained students on advanced recording and mixing techniques, and as an AV Event Support Technician at UNC Charlotte, troubleshooting and maintaining networked AV systems for classrooms and events.
With certifications in a wide range of professional Audio Visual tools, Ben’s expertise spans live sound, recording, post-production, and audio networking technologies. Whether it’s setting up flawless sound for worship services or enhancing the audio-visual quality of our community events, Ben is dedicated to ensuring a seamless experience for everyone.
Daija Prather
Daija specializes in the integration of spirituality with mindfulness and bodywork, creating a unique therapeutic approach that addresses the mental, physical, and spiritual aspects of well-being. She is skilled in working with a diverse range of clients, including teens, adults, and couples, helping them navigate various psychological challenges.
Her expertise extends to addressing issues such as imposter syndrome, assertiveness, and identity concerns, along with deeper emotional struggles related to guilt, depression, anxiety, trauma, PTSD, complex trauma, and adjustment disorders. Daija’s approach is compassionate and holistic, ensuring that each client’s individual needs are met with tailored therapeutic interventions. This holistic method not only aids in alleviating psychological distress but also promotes overall personal growth and healing.
Her approach is empathetic and supportive, aimed at addressing the unique challenges faced by LGBTQIA+ individuals, including issues related to identity, acceptance, and the complexities of navigating personal and societal relationships. Daija’s practice is a place where all clients, especially those from marginalized communities, can feel seen, understood, and empowered.
Katherine Sherrill
Rev. Katherine Sherrill, M.A.,LCMHCA, MT-BC
Katherine is a Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor Associate (LCMHCA) as well as a Board Certified Music Therapist (MT-BC) with Sanctuary Counseling Group. She works with adolescents, adults, and families experiencing a variety of difficulties from anxiety, depression, shame, grief, life transitions, relationship issues, spiritual concerns and self esteem. Katherine can incorporate music therapy and spirituality into her work to help explore creative solutions for personal growth and resiliency. Katherine holds a Masters in Pastoral Care and Counseling from Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary. Her undergraduate degree is in Music Therapy from Appalachian State University. Katherine is a provisional deacon in the Western NC Conference of the United Methodist Church.