Welcome our New Pastor Sam Hettinger
samhettinger7@gmail.com | 908.256.3388
M.Div. Covenant Theological Seminary
B.A. Covenant College
Sam grew up in many places but considers Ponte Vedra Beach, FL as his hometown. He was raised in a churched family and became a Christian at age 10. He was called to the pastoral ministry at age 15 at a summer youth camp on the beach.
From high school on he was involved in ministry in Presbyterian Church of America (PCA) churches & institutions. Coming from a public-school background, he sought education from a Christian perspective via the Covenant college in Lookout Mtn., GA and trained for ministry via the PCA’s seminary in St. Louis., MO.
After seminary, Sam served for seven years as a youth pastor at Crossroads Community Church, a church plant in Jersey. He went on to serve fourteen years as the assistant, then associate, pastor at Good Hope PC just south of Columbia, MD.
It was in Jersey that Sam met & fell in love with his wife and real-life wonder woman, Laura. They have been married for twenty years. Laura is a dynamo of organization and enthusiasm as the administrator of the Columbia Athletic Club, coordinator of various church ministries, and COO of their home. Laura loves to do group fitness and Bible studies with women and girls.
God has blessed Laura and Sam to be the proud parents of their daughter Hannah (15) and son Cole (12). Hannah likes friends, flute, mock trial, and school. Cole likes soccer, frogs, Fortnite, and creating things with his hands.
Sam’s influences include his parents, Richard Cooper, Harry & Gigi Skeele, Jack Waller, RC Sproul, Sinclair Ferguson, Bruce Waltke, John Piper, Martin Lloyd-Jones, Bryan Chappell, Tim Keller, Rico Tice, Kevin DeYoung, JRR Tolkien, CS Lewis, Mark Devries, and Dann Spader’s Sonlife.
In his free time, Sam enjoys coaching Cole’s soccer team, playing men’s league soccer, pumping iron, reading fantasy novels, grilling red meat, watching good movies, and in-depth conversations around the campfire.
Coordinator of Music - Barbara S.
A member of Mount Airy Presbyterian Church, Barbara serves as Coordinator of Music and directs MAPC’s vocal choir, our adult handbell choir (Grace Notes), and a youth handbell choir (Resound).
Barb holds a master's degree in education and bachelor's degrees in English and Music Education. From 1986-94, she directed a children's choir program at her church in South Carolina, expanding the program from one preschool choir to four choirs for ages 4 through high school. Barb started the adult vocal choir at Mount Airy Presbyterian in 1997 and has led the choir, plus various chime and bell choirs, since 2001. In 2013 she began teaching beginning music theory at a local College, where she also directs a community handbell choir. Recently she has branched into composing and arranging for bells. She currently has pieces in print with Jeffers Publishers and From the Top Music. Three of her arrangements have been designated “Editor’s Choice” by J.W. Pepper, the largest sheet music distributor in the world. In a vote by music directors who purchase from Pepper, her most recent Christmas arrangement, “A Christmas Mix(olydian),” was recognized as one of the Best of the Best handbell pieces new to the 2022 Pepper catalog.
She is very thankful for all of God’s blessings in her musical journey, and she finds joy in extending God’s blessings to others through music and worship.
Office Manager - Maggie O.
A member of Mount Airy Presbyterian Church, Maggie serves as the Office Manager. Maggie has a degree in Elementary Education and a Masters in Teaching English as a Second Language. She was an elementary teacher for 6 years before deciding to stay home and raise her 2 sons. Now that they are of school age, she is back to work and enjoys serving the church body in this role. Maggie is involved in many of our church ministries, including co-directing our ESL program, and working in various children’s ministries. When not in the office, she enjoys reading, camping and spending time with her boys.