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The Rev. Darryl W. Kistler – or Pastor Darryl as many call him – was called to be the Senior Minister at Park Church on April 24, 2022. Prior to coming to Park Church, Pastor Darryl served congregations in Texas, Montana, and California, as well as spending time teaching and as the Chaplain at Heidelberg University in Ohio. He was ordained into the ministry of the Gospel of Jesus Christ on January 6, 2002.
Pastor Darryl grounds his ministry in the inclusive message of love and mercy, justice, and grace, which he believes form the foundation of the Good News of God in Jesus Christ. He is an inspirational leader who sets an example of authenticity and integrity while empowering a congregation to fulfil a deep sense of vocation that we all are called “to love God and neighbor with our whole being and to use our gifts and passions to make the world a better place in our little corner of it.”
Pastor Darryl lives in Kentwood with his wife, Tammie Pontsler. They are proud pet parents to Charley (a lynx point Siamese cat) and Willow (a German Shepherd).
When he is taking time for himself, he is often enjoying a good book, watching a great film, listening to an eclectic array of excellent music, exploring the creation on hikes, and relishing the company of others over a cup of coffee or a pint of beer as they discuss the finer points of STAR WARS. One of his great joys in life is the Sunday afternoon nap. And he is a passionate fan of the New York Mets.
Patrick Coyle (Minister of Music) is a native of South Carolina and came to Michigan by way of Cincinnati, where he earned his Doctor of Musical Arts degree in choral and orchestral conducting at the College-Conservatory of Music. He also holds degrees from Furman University (B. Mus.), Converse College (M. Mus.) and Emory University (M. Sacred Music). As a performer he has toured Europe, Canada, and the United States, and was part of the Grammy-Award winning team that produced Cincinnati Symphony’s PORGY AND BESS. He has eight commercially available recordings and is a published choral, organ, piano, and orchestral composer. He is heavily invested in the arts of Grand Rapids and in his adopted town of Saugatuck, where he and his partner of eighteen years, Dr. Gregory Frey, now live with their dog, Frankie.
Peter joined our ministry team in 2024 . A West Michigan native, Peter graduated from East Kentwood HS, attended Hope College in Holland, and received a MA in Theology from Western Theological Seminary. Before coming to Park Church, Peter served in a similar role at a Reformed Church in Illinois. Most recently, he has been working for a foster care placement agency in Grand Rapids. Peter brings a passion for children and youth ministry, and we are so thrilled he will be our new Spiritual Formation and Education Minister.
Parish Assistant is an encompassing name for the variety of different areas that I serve.Although my background comes from Religious Education, I am now working in the areas of Pastoral Care, Spiritual Development and Membership engagement. I have worked the past 22 years here at Park (with some time off, every now and then) I have 4 grown children and 6 grandchildren scattered across the state.
Gene Gess spent years in the nonprofit world handling the finances for retirement homes and hospitals before he joined the Park Church staff as the Business Manager.
His master’s degree in accounting from Western Michigan University belies the deep passion that he has for music. He once spent three years in the flute section of the United States Army Band. He also has played in the National Guard Army Band and in the West Michigan Flute Association.
Gene and his wife Carol have been Park Church members since 1998. She has retired from her career as the choir director at Caledonia High School. They raised two children who are now married with children of their own, and Gene and Carol have discovered the delights of grandparenting.
A member of Park Church since 2013, Camille has served on the Board of Deacons, sings in the Chancel Choir, and is learning to play handbells with the kind and tolerant support of the Smith-Dively Ringers. She was a children’s bookseller for 30 years, most notably as the owner of Pooh’s Corner. Camille is a frequent contralto soloist with many West Michigan ensembles, a founding member of the West Michigan Opera Project and has served on the boards of the Grand Rapids Symphony and the Grand Rapids Symphony Youth Choruses. Camille and her husband Andrew live in Grand Rapids and have three grown children.
As Park’s Program Staff Assistant, Marty helps to print the weekly Sunday bulletin, and produces and prints inserts for the bulletin. Other jobs include assisting with mass mailings, maintaining the membership files, helping with special projects, and general receptionist duties. Her former areas of employment include teaching and health care. Marty and her husband have been members of Park Church since 2007. They have an adult son who is married and two wonderful grandsons. Her hobbies and interests include baking, sewing, knitting, gardening, genealogy, and travel.
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Steven B. Smith
Principal Organist
Steve Smith is a graduate of Trinity Christian College in Palos Heights, Illinois, where he majored in Music Education and minored in Organ Performance and Theology. He also studied organ at Moody Bible Institute with Lillian Robinson and Gil Mead.
In 1987 Steve founded Triune Music, a firm that represents Rodgers, Johannus, Marshall & Ogletree, and Fratelli Ruffatti Pipe Organs in the Midwest. In this capacity he has designed and installed over 900 organs, and nearly 100 pipe instruments, including the Chapel Organ at Park Church.
Over the past 45 years Steve has served as Organist/Music Director for several Reformed and Lutheran Church. He has served as Principal Organist of Park Church since 2014.
Steve has served on the Board of the Chicago Chapter of the American Guild of Organists and has recently served as the Sub-Dean for the Fox Valley Chapter of the AGO. He has appeared as a guest artist with the Grand Valley State University Orchestra, the Milwaukee Youth Symphony and with the Elgin Symphony in performances of Mahler’s Resurrection Symphony, Bach’s St. John Passion, and Holst’s The Planets, and the St. Saens’ Organ Symphony which has been broadcast on WFMT.
Phyllis retired from teaching music and English in the public schools after 34 years. She has served as a church musician since 1962. In 1998, she decided to embark on her childhood dream of playing the harp. She provides music for weddings, funerals, visitations, receptions, etc. She is a Certified Music Practitioner, certified to play at the bedside of ill and dying patients.
Phyllis has three recordings: one is classical piano music, and the other two are original music for harp. A solo and collaborative musician, Phyllis is honored to have performed with many of Michigan’s finest musicians and ensembles. She thoroughly enjoys her work at Park Church!
One of Phyllis’ hobbies is competitive ballroom dancing. Her two rescue dogs, Sophie and Forrest, provide wonderful companionship and laughter. She loves to make music, dance, play with the dogs, read, write, and bike.
Mark Kelly
Custodian/ Kitchen Coordinator
Kurt Stroh
Smith-Dively Bell Choir Director
Cheryl Wells
Carol Choir Director
Heidi Hertel
Youth Choir Director
Vonda Mohrmann
Youth Choir Accompanist