Staff
Gary Olsen - Lead Pastor
Pastor Gary is a devout believer that “a great church seeks to live out the Great Commandments and the Great Commission.” Thus Jesus’ charges to “love God with all your heart,” “love your neighbor as yourself,” and “go and make disciples of all peoples” form the foundation for his pastoral ministry.
Dr. Olsen is an Equipper for the ChristCare small-group ministry system, having trained in St. Louis with Stephen Ministry. Along with the rest of the Rolling Hills Equipper team, Gary has outfitted over 60 church members for Christian ministry leadership. Utilizing ChristCare for the first time ever in the design of a research project, Pastor Gary earned his Doctor of Ministry degree May 2007 at Asbury Theological Seminary in Wilmore, Kentucky. His dissertation’s title was “Disciple-Making Boards: The Impact of Training a Church’s Governing Board in Small-Group Spiritual Formation Leadership.”
In 2002, Gary and his wife Joyce each earned the Certificate of Advanced Church Leadership from the Beeson Institute, a three-year seminary program to take pastors and church leaders to cutting-edge, teaching churches across the United States. Through Rev. Olsen’s leadership, Rolling Hills has been a pilot congregation for the latest programs from Stephen Ministry and Purpose-Driven Churches.
His latest venture in 2008 has been to become a certified online workshop provider, exploring the possibilities of the Internet to make and grow disciples of Jesus Christ.
When asked about interests and hobbies, Gary lists his wife, their two children and their spouses, and their two grand-children!
A native of southern California, he has earned: a B.A. degree from the University of California, Los Angeles, with a major in Urban History and a minor in Cultural Geography; a Masters of Divinity from Nashotah House Episcopal Seminary, near Milwaukee, Wis.; and Clinical Pastoral Education units at Pawtucket Memorial Hospital, Pawtucket, R.I. through Interfaith Healthcare Ministries. Rev Olsen possesses ordination standing in the United Church of Christ and the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ).
The Rev. Dr. Gary L. Olsen began his ministry at Rolling Hills Community Church on October 1, 1992. Our unique four-denominational concept was a positive force in his decision to become our pastor. His enthusiasm and dedication to the unique challenge are readily apparent as he continues to fulfill a very vital role in the leadership and spiritual growth of our church.
Pastor Chuck Smith
Click here to view a 3-minute YouTube video of Chuck Smith
"Chuck was appointed as Pastor at St. Mark's United Methodist Church, Vistoria, Texas, by the Southwest Conference, United Methodist Church starting in June 2008. As a Licensed Local Pastor, he begins a course of study this summer at Perkins Seminary, Southern Methodist University that will lead to his ordination in the Methodist Church."
"You can still email Pastor Chuck at <chucksmith_lv@yahoo.com>
His new address is:
St. Mark’s United Methodist Church
3310 N. Ben Jordan
Victoria, Texas 77901
get more info at St. Mark's website
http://www.gbgm-umc.org/stmarks-victoria/
Dr. Leonard McCormick - Organist/Choir Master
Dr. Leonard McCormick, organist of Rolling Hills Community Church. Dr. McCormick leads the congregational singing in the traditional Sunday worship services at 8:30 and 11:00 a.m., as well as accompany the choir and provide concert-level performances to enhance worship.
Dr. McCormick comes to Rolling Hills after a four decade career as a music educator and college administrator at Tarrant County College, in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. He started at the College as an instructor of music in 1967. He later served as a department chair on the South Campus for 18 years, then moved to the Southeast Campus in 1996, where he became Chair of the Humanities Division in 2001. In 2002, McCormick was appointed Dean of Instruction of the Southeast Campus, where he oversaw faculty, curriculum, and student academic matters until his retirement in July 2005.
In 1999, McCormick received the Chancellor’s Award for Exemplary Teaching. Two other recent acknowledgements include the Elston Brooks Lifetime Achievement in Theatre Award given by the Live Theatre League of Tarrant County, and the Dallas-Fort Worth Theater Critics Forum’s 2002 Outstanding Achievement for Musical Direction in a production of Stephen Sondheim’s Putting It Together at Stage West.
McCormick earned his doctorate in higher education from Florida’s Nova University and his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in music from the University of Texas at Austin. Additional graduate work was completed at the University of North Texas and Southern Illinois University.
Judy Geddes - Youth & Care Coordinator
Judy Geddes began membership and her employment at Rolling Hills Community Church in 1998. She has been actively involved in youth ministry during the past nine years as director of the Youth Choir, Coordinator of the elementary youth programs, and this past year she has taken on the responsibility of the Middle School and High School youth ministry. Judy is a Stephen Leader in the Stephen Ministry program, Christ Care Small Group Leader, and Lay Ministry Leader in the Church. She is involved in the Care Ministry of the church, and oversees most care needs of those who request help. This can include prayer requests, food needs, hospital and nursing home visitation, or fulfilling a request for a Stephen Minister.
Judy and her husband Bill love camping, gardening, animals (especially cats), and their five granddaughters. Wherever they go Judy always keeps her cell phone handy and is in constant touch with the church. Reaching her is never a problem and she welcomes any and all calls regardless of the time of day.
Clayton Calhoun - Praise Band Leader
Clayton provides musical accompaniment for congregational singing of contemporary praise music. He is originally from the Portland, Oregon, area, but has lived in many other places including California, Germany, Virginia and, of course, Texas. He has always had a passion for music and a love for God, so bringing them together is a great blessing for him. He has a wonderful wife and three beautiful daughters, who are a constant reminder to him of how great our God is.
Sherry Hoyt - Communications Coordinator
Sherry joined Rolling Hills Community Church staff in October of 2000 as Communications Coordinator. She has 20 years experience in the Administrative field. Her responsibilities include preparation of weekly bulletins, weekly and quarterly newsletter, all advertisement literature and newspaper ads. She also maintains the church database and website.
Sherry is originally from Dallas, Texas and moved to Lago Vista in 1997. She and her daughter, Danielle, joined the church in 1999. Prior to joining RHCC staff she worked as a substitute teacher for LVISD.
She and her husband Bill were married in January of 2004 by Rev. Gary Olsen. They are both members of the church. Danielle is now a junior attending UTSA majoring in Marketing.
Jan Lehigh - Bookkeeper
Jan joined the staff as Bookkeeper at Rolling Hills in 2000 following seven years as an office volunteer. She brings 25 years of experience to the job having spent most of her working life supervising the office activities for Dallco Industries. Her office days are Tuesdays and Thursdays. She handles most of the accounting and bookkeeping functions for RHCC.
Jan and Bob moved to Lago Vista in 1993. They have two daughters, six grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren. She loves to play golf and enjoys reading. The Lehigh’s are active members of the Explorer Sunday School Class, an adult Sunday school class that meets Sunday mornings.
Bettie Norris - Children’s Day Out
My name is Bettie Norris. I was born in Alice, Texas in 1972. I grew up in a variety of places: Corpus Christi Tx., Chattanooga Tn., and Houston Tx. I graduated in 1990 from Kempner High School in Houston. I attended college at the University of Houston, until my husband and I moved to Austin in 1993. I transferred to The Univerity of Texas at Austin and graduated from UT with a BS degree in Applied Learning and Developmemt, with a minor in creative drama. I am also certified by the State of Texas to teach K-8 grades and I have an early childhood endorsement that certifies me to also teach in Pre-K and Kindergarten. After graduating UT, I taught at a private kindergarten in Austin for five years. My family moved to Lago Vista in May of 1999.
Charles and I have been married 17 years and we have two daughters, Autumn, age 8, and Hayley, age 4 and one son Charles Elijah born March 31, 2008. Since moving to Lago Vista, we joined Rolling Hills Community Church in November 2001. I have worked as a co-owner of an Education and Enrichment center here locally. I am presently one of the co-directors of the Children's Day Out program at Rolling Hills Community Church.
I am active at Rolling Hills as a small group leader and I teach at the Sunday evening Youth activities. In my spare time I like to spend time with my family, read, and fellowship with friends.
Michelle Hines - Children’s Day Out
Welcome to RHCC – CDO!
I’m Michelle Hines, Co-director. I moved to Texas from New York in 1995, met my wonderful husband, Doug & we married in 1999. We moved to Lago Vista in 2002 to raise our two sons, Dylan & Mason, in the peace & quiet of the hill country. We are members of Rolling Hills and feel so blessed to be supported by a wonderful church family. I have been a teacher & co-director of Rolling Hills Community Church’s Children’s’ Day Out since 2004. I LOVE coming to work and seeing all the precious gifts ages 1 – 5 at our school. I especially love hearing, “I love you, Mrs. Michelle” which I’m told at least 1 time each school day! That’s what helps me get through those chaotic times! If you have any questions about our program, please don't hesitate to contact me. The school number is (512) 267-2942 Ext 320. Blessings to you & yours!
De'an Marek - Children's Day Out
Plans, organizes, and directs the Rolling Hills Day School Program for ages 1 thru 5.
Walt Lengel - Youth Intern
Walt Lengel joined the Rolling Hills Community Church staff in October of 2007 as Youth Intern. He works with the middle and high school youth each Sunday evening at Planet Youth. Walt is a sophomore at the University of Texas majoring in Communications in the Plan II Honors Program. He was born and raised in Austin, and has been a member of Northwest Hills UMC all his life. He has been working in youth ministry at both the local and conference level for nearly eight years. After graduating from UT he intends to go to seminary to become a youth pastor.
Linda Jameson - Nursery Supervisor
Attends to needs, teaches, and entertains children up to age 3 during Worship services and special occasions.
Bill Geddes - Building Maintenance
Bill Geddes has been employed as custodian since April 2005. He and his wife Judy retired to the Lake Travis area in 1998, after eight years of full-time RVing, and made their home in Jonestown. Bill, a retired Navy Chief, is a veteran of WWII, Korean and Viet Nam wars. He and Judy have two children and five granddaughters.
Bill considers it an honor to serve in the church, and cheerfully accomplishes his daily tasks, which always includes making coffee first thing and having it ready for the staff when they arrive. Bill will tell you that keeping God’s house clean “isn’t a job, it’s his privilege”.
