Meet Our Staff
Pastor Joe Shaler
My name is Joe Shaler. My wife’s name is Terri Shaler. We have 5 children and 7 grandchildren and counting. I have served as the Pastor of the Otsego United Methodist Church for the past 22 years. My wife, Terri, is the executive Director of “Christian Neighbors,” the Community Food Pantry and Helping Agency in the Plainwell and Otsego Area. We enjoy serving God in ministry to others.
I became a United Methodist in 2000 after serving a year-long Chaplain internship at Bronson Hospital in Kalamazoo in 1999. Prior to that I was a Baptist Pastor, having served Churches in Harrison, Michigan; Mt. Pleasant, Michigan; Rochester, New York; and Portage, Michigan. My seminary training to become a Pastor took place at Southern Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky. Prior to that, I received my Bachelor’s Degree from Saginaw Valley University. Prior to that, I served in the United States Air Force for 4 years. I was born and raised in Saginaw, Michigan.
I love being a United Methodist and being involved in the United Methodist Church.
Abby VandenToorn
Abby VandenToorn is the new church administrator. She lives in Hopkins with her husband, 3 girls, 1 boy, 3 dogs, and many chickens.
They have a garden they grow vegetables on using organic practices that they tend to in the warmer months as well as Abby being involved with a local moms group.
Abby has an Associates of Applied Sciences and an Associates in General Studies. She has also been a Certified Medical Assistant(AAMA) for 8 years now, but decided to make a career change so she could spend more time with her family.
Theresa Skapnit
Theresa has been the Wayland UMC custodian since January 1997. She graduated from Lawton High School in 1982 and moved to Grand Rapids to study at ITT Technical Institute, where she received an Associates Degree in Electronics. Theresa is also a paraprofessional for Pine St. Elementary School working in the Special Education Classroom. She moved to Wayland in 1991 and has 3 wonderful children and 1 beautiful granddaughter.