Pastor Roland Mitchell is a native of southern Ohio, having been born in Cincinnati and later moving to Chillicothe, Ohio. He was raised in the church, learning and growing in faith and experiencing the love of Christ through church family.

Pastor Roland served honorably as member of the United States Armed Forces for six years, and is a veteran of the Persian Gulf War. His education includes a Bachelor of Theology degree from the Ohio Christian University, a Master’s of Divinity from Ashland Theological Seminary, and he is an ordained elder in the Global Methodist Church. He has been in ministry for over 25 years.

In 2013, he became the Lead Pastor for the Hocking Hills Church, a church merger between two former congregations.  He spends much of his time working with church staff and leadership, and volunteers in the life of the church by living out the mission to make disciples, and guiding the church in its vision to “offer real ministry for real life.” He is a humble and gifted servant of God whose ultimate desire is to do the will of God. Pastor Roland’s spiritual gifts are preaching, leadership, teaching, and discernment. He enjoys visioning for the church, leading worship on Sunday mornings, and teaching Bible classes. Pastor Roland also enjoys volunteering for LifeWise Academy, a Bible-based character development program offered during school hours and hosted at the Hocking Hills Church.

He and his lovely wife, Charlene, have been married for 28 years, and together they have two children and two grandchildren. In his free time, Pastor Roland enjoys watching college football, playing golf, fishing, camping, and working in the yard.

“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid;
do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever
you go.” – Joshua 1:9

pastor@hockinghillschurch.com

Elizabeth Miller is the administrative assistant at Hocking Hills Church, and has been in that position since 2013. Having been a church secretary for over 30 years, she says she loves church office work because she enjoys people and desires to spread the love and light of Christ by creating a welcoming and caring office environment. Being, as she says, a natural “Chatty Cathy,” Elizabeth is never too busy to spend a few moments in conversation or to share a cup of coffee with everyone who stops by or calls the office.

An avid knitter, reader and coffee lover, Elizabeth, enjoys quiet moments at home with her husband, David, and their cat Licorice.

“The Lord your God is with you, He is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, He will quiet you with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing.” Zephaniah 3:17

secretary@hockinghillschurch.com

Ryan Whitescarver is a native of Grafton, WV. He received a Bachelor of
Arts in Education (Music K-12) degree from Fairmont State University in
2002 and a Masters of Music Degree from Ohio University in 2004. He
was named as a Semi-Finalist in the Leonard Falcone International
Euphonium-Tuba Competition in 2004. As Music Director at Hocking Hills
Church, Ryan oversees the music ministry component of our Traditional
Services. He directs Worship Singers (choir), juBELLation (handbell choir)
and Praise Ensemble (instrumental group) as well as selecting
congregational songs for our Traditional Worship Services. Aside from his
duties here at HHC, Ryan is a School Band Specialist with CA House
Music working with Middle/High School Instrumental Music Programs in
Southeastern Ohio. Ryan is also a member of The Lancaster Community
Chorus and The Lancaster Handbell Ensemble.

music@hockinghillschurch.com

Benjamin King is the Worship Arts Director at HHC. Originally from Knox County, Ohio, Ben has been an Ohioan most of his life. He grew up in a musical family and sings and plays several instruments, including guitar, piano, bass, and a little mandolin.

Ben graduated from Mount Vernon Nazarene University in 2020, with a B.A in Music and Worship. He says “I’ve had a heart for ministry since I was a teen and have always felt that music is my vocation.”

In his free time Ben enjoys hiking, camping, reading, writing, and spending time with his family and friends. He’s also an avid OSU Buckeye fan – “Go Bucks!

worship@hockinghillschurch.com

After serving as a math professor at Alfred University in upstate New York for twenty-seven years, Add Frey returned to his hometown of Logan upon retirement in 2013. He joined the newly formed Hocking Hills Church in 2013 and became its financial secretary in 2015. He became the church treasurer in 2016, a position he has held ever since. Over the years he has served from time to time on the Leadership Board, the site selection committee, the capital campaigns, the building design committee, the nominations committee, and the legacy team. He has participated in small groups and Bible studies and is currently a member of the Worship Singers and Jubellation. His hobbies are Pez dispenser collecting and origami and his favorite holiday is March 14 (Pi day!).

“He has shown you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you, but to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God?” Micah 6:8 

treasurer@hockinghillschurch.com

David Kunkler is the HHC facilities manager and maintenance man, a position he has held for nine years. He’s married to Stacey, the church’s financial secretary, and between them they have four sons, one daughter and seven grandchildren.

Dave is also a volunteer firefighter with the Marion Township Fire Department in Hocking County, and a retired 36-year veteran of Hocking County EMS and a former Logan Fire Department Volunteer firefighter of 19 years. He currently owns and operates Hocking County Box 37 Rehab & Support Services, a unit dedicated to the support and assistance of first- responders and the general public when fires or extremely long emergency situations arise.

Dave says he really enjoys working at Hocking Hills Church, and is grateful to the many members who support him by volunteering their time and talents when needed to assist with church special events and routine seasonal tasks.

maintenance@hockinghillschurch.com

Stacey Kunkler is the Financial Secretary for Hocking Hills Church. Prior to becoming a church staff member, she worked for over 20 years as a clerk for the Municipal Court in Lancaster, Ohio. Stacey retired from there in order to stay home and babysit her grandkids, but the flexibility of her job here at HHC means she can work and still have time to watch her grandchildren!

She has been married for 12 years to David Kunkler, the HHC facilities manager and maintenance man. Together they have 5 kids and 7 grandkids. Dave and Stacey enjoy camping, boating and spending time with their grandkids. They also like taking mini vacations with their family.

financial@hockinghillschurch.com

Suellen Rieder is the pianist and accompanist for Hocking Hills Church. Suellen was born and raised in Logan, Ohio.  Her parents were Harold and Mabel Hoffman.  She has a sister, Pam (Hoffman) Price, who is also a member of HHC.  A 1975 LHS graduate, Suellen attended Hocking College studying accounting and computer science. Married to Steve for 43 years, they have four children and five grandchildren.

Suellen was the Sunday School band pianist at the age of 10 for the Kline Memorial Church in Enterprise, later becoming the church’s organist and choir accompanist at the age of 15.  In 2013, she became a member of HHC, where she is the pianist and accompanist for all Sunday morning and special worship services. She volunteers at HHC’s Chieftain Closet at the middle school, and assists with the church’s on-site food giveaways. Suellen is also the accompanist for the Hocking County Children’s Chorus. She and her husband retired from their Sears business in August 2021, and she currently works part-time for the City of Logan.

Suellen says, “It is certainly an honor and a privilege to serve at HHC as a follower of Christ, a member, and a part of the staff and volunteers. The opportunity to reach others and share the love of Christ through music, is never taken for granted.”

“Love….bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things”. I Corinthians 13:7.

Jacqueline was born in Northern Ohio but developed a deep appreciation for her family’s Southern Ohio roots in the hills of Appalachia. She lived in Athens for many years before relocating to Chillicothe, where she and her partner maintain their homestead. A graduate of Hocking College and Ohio University, she earned an Associate of Individualized Studies in Arts and Business Marketing and a Bachelor of Specialized Studies in Media Administration and Marketing.

When she’s not running her small business, she enjoys gardening, camping, hiking, and traveling. Jackie is also proud to serve her community and the children of Athens County as Board President of the Friends of Athens CASA.