PASTOR
Rev. David Benjamin Herr, B.S., M. Div.
1968 – Graduated Columbia City Joint High School
1972 – Graduated Manchester College – Bachelor of Science degree
1976 – Graduated Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary – Masters of Divinity
1973 – Ordained as Deacon and a Probationary Member of the North Indiana Conference.
1977 – Ordained Elder in the North Indiana Conference
Retired on July 1, 2013 with 41 years of pastoral ministry experience in the Indiana Conference.
I am with the Ossian congregation on a part-time basis.
I am married to Anita, who does a lot of “child-sitting” for our 3 grandchildren.
My approach to ministry:
For me, there are two passages of Scripture that sum up the purpose for the Church in God’s world and our ministry related to it. They are:
Matthew 22:37-39 “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is: love your neighbor as yourself.”
Matthew 28: 19-20 “Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teach them to obey everything I have commanded you.”
I am convinced that God does the leading when we are fully open to His direction, and that’s the kind of church I want to be a part of!
OFFICE TREASURER
Diann Goshorn
Has served in the current position of Administrative Assistant/Treasurer for the past several years. The twelve years prior she served as Education Director and Office Assistant.
Diann graduated from Norwell High School and International Business College in Fort Wayne. Her main course of study of both schools was general office management.
OUMC has been her church since birth and was baptized as an infant. She became a professing member in 1966. Over the years she has served on many committees and provided leadership in many areas. She also served as a Sunday School teacher for different ages.
She resides in Ossian with her husband Jeff and their two calico cats, Mia & Sophie. Jeff and Diann have been married 31 years and are the parents of two married daughters, Elizabeth (Ben) Motyka and Rebecca (Kevin) Sills. In her “spare time” she enjoys reading, knitting, sewing, cooking, and spending time with family and friends.
ORGANIST
Roberta Gilbert
Has served as organist/accompanist since 1978 at Ossian United Methodist Church
Roberta began taking piano/organ lessons at the age of seven from several area teachers including Gaynell Miller and Ruth E. Castle in Fort Wayne. She studied the Progressive Series from the St. Louis Institute of Music, Washington University, St. Louis, Missouri.
Roberta graduated from Ossian High School, where she was active in the band and choirs. She graduated from International Business College with a degree in Professional Accounting.
The former E.U.B. Church was Roberta’s church from 1945 where she began playing for the worship services at the age of eleven. She continued playing for worship, weddings, funerals, and other special events when her church was merged and became Faith United Methodist Church. In 1978 she and her family transferred their membership to Ossian United Methodist Church.
Roberta, a native of Ossian, resides near Ossian. She has a daughter, Michele Pulfer of Ossian, a son, Matt Gilbert of Fort Wayne, and several grandchildren. She enjoys reading, cooking, gardening, and spending time with family and friends.