Pastors

Our leadership team recognizes the authority of God, and realizes that we are shepherds who serve under the Chief Shepherd, Jesus Christ. We desire to devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the Word. Our passion and goal is to equip the believers for the work of the ministry until we all attain maturity in the fullness of Christ.
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 Michael Stitzel, Pastor

Michael and His wife Kelly and their family began serving as pastor on December 29, 2014.  They have served as a pastor in New York State for five years prior to God leading them here.  They have served in various ministries over the years including house parenting at a Christian group home, teaching children, youth, counseling, men’s and women’s ministries, and discipleship.  They have a heart for God and love helping people.  They have five children whom Kelly homeschools.

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Jeff Haag, Administrative Pastor


Jeff and his wife Terry were members of Hephzibah from 1977 through 1993.   Both Jeff and Terry served the Lord in a variety of ministries while attending as members.  When they moved to Southern Lancaster County they began attending Beulah Baptist Church, which is a branch church of Hephzibah.  In 2008 when the need for an Administrative Pastor arose Jeff and Terry were open to the Lord’s leading and rejoined Hephzibah in that capacity.  Jeff and Terry have two children and two grandsons.

Elders
​Leon Brubaker, Elder

Leon and his wife Mary have attended Hephzibah since 2008. They moved to Coatesville to be part of the ministry Jack Crans has with local prisoners, their families, and the children of Coatesville. Leon gave his heart to the Lord in his late teens and desires to be part of what God is doing in bringing people to Christ in salvation and spiritual growth.






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David Needham, Elder

Dave and his wife Michele have been members of Hephzibah Baptist Church since 1999. Both Dave and Michele have been actively serving over the years in Sunday School, VBS, and various other capacities. Dave sang with the choir for many years.  Their faithfulness is a tremendous blessing to Christ and His body that gather here at Hephzibah.







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Jonathan Stitzel, Elder

Jon was born in Painesville, Ohio to parents who were dedicated to serving the Lord. This instilled in him a conviction and desire to serve the Lord. At age 8, he placed his faith in what Christ did on the cross for his sin. At age thirteen, he acknowledged God’s call to become a pastor. He graduated from high school in New York State. God used his many years of working on dairy farms to instill the ability to stay the course in challenging tasks and seeing them through. 
In addition to years of faithful involvement in local churches, God sent him to Baptist Bible College in Clarks Summit, Pa to obtain further training for pastoral ministry. It was here that he met his life partner, Brenda. Their first ministry was in a Christian School in Hazleton, Pa. From there, God led them to plant two Churches, one in WV and the other in New York. Our final Pastoral ministry was back to WV. 
In 2020, due to aging issues they moved to Pennsylvania to be near their son’s family who could help care for their aging needs. They are thrilled to not only attend, but serve in the local church pastored by their son, Michael Stitzel​