Our Pastor
Rev. Laura Hollister is a pastor, counselor, and retreat leader. She especially enjoys growing in relationship with others through her faith in Christ, and helping others via Bowen Family Systems Theory.
Laura Hollister joined the staff of Berwyn Presbyterian Church as Stated Supply Pastor in October 2017. She most recently served as Stated Supply at Warner Memorial Presbyterian Church in Kensington, MD. She’s served the PC(USA) as a pastor since 2004.
Prior to entering the ministry, Laura enjoyed a 19-year career in publishing. She spent her final eight years in that field working as an advertising executive for The Washington Post, where she won awards for excellence in leadership, productivity, and character. It was while she worked at “The Post” that Laura met Christ. Inspired by her faith, she moved to Los Angeles to attend Fuller Seminary, then entered the ministry.
Laura has a special heart for those in the margins, expressed in her work as Associate Pastor to the multicultural Twin Cities, MN, congregation Church of All Nations; as Chaplain Resident at the St. Cloud, MN, Veterans Administration Medical Center where she provided spiritual care to combat veterans; and as solo pastor to First Presbyterian Church of Schuyler, NE, where she helped the congregation reach out to recent Latino and African immigrants in the community.
In 2009, while in Nebraska, Laura’s family brought her father—who’d long battled Parkinson’s, to live near her. As she was far from family, Laura considered this a gift from God. Thus, with her father’s death in 2013, she realized a call to help strengthen families—and returned to Maryland to be closer to her own.
In June 2017, Laura completed the 3-year post-grad. program in Bowen Family Systems Theory at the Georgetown Center for the Study of the Family. In 2019 Laura completed her MS in Clinical Mental Health at Loyola University (Baltimore), then passed her Maryland counseling law exam with flying colors - thanks to the prayers of the Berwyn congregation, and received her Maryland counseling license. She provides counseling services for 20 hours/week at Family Services Inc. -- a community services agency in Gaithersburg, MD, and continues to feel blessed to lead and serve God as part-time pastor to the congregation of Berwyn Presbyterian Church. Laura finds joy in spending time with family, friends, and her two charming cats. She also loves hiking and the arts.
Laura Hollister joined the staff of Berwyn Presbyterian Church as Stated Supply Pastor in October 2017. She most recently served as Stated Supply at Warner Memorial Presbyterian Church in Kensington, MD. She’s served the PC(USA) as a pastor since 2004.
Prior to entering the ministry, Laura enjoyed a 19-year career in publishing. She spent her final eight years in that field working as an advertising executive for The Washington Post, where she won awards for excellence in leadership, productivity, and character. It was while she worked at “The Post” that Laura met Christ. Inspired by her faith, she moved to Los Angeles to attend Fuller Seminary, then entered the ministry.
Laura has a special heart for those in the margins, expressed in her work as Associate Pastor to the multicultural Twin Cities, MN, congregation Church of All Nations; as Chaplain Resident at the St. Cloud, MN, Veterans Administration Medical Center where she provided spiritual care to combat veterans; and as solo pastor to First Presbyterian Church of Schuyler, NE, where she helped the congregation reach out to recent Latino and African immigrants in the community.
In 2009, while in Nebraska, Laura’s family brought her father—who’d long battled Parkinson’s, to live near her. As she was far from family, Laura considered this a gift from God. Thus, with her father’s death in 2013, she realized a call to help strengthen families—and returned to Maryland to be closer to her own.
In June 2017, Laura completed the 3-year post-grad. program in Bowen Family Systems Theory at the Georgetown Center for the Study of the Family. In 2019 Laura completed her MS in Clinical Mental Health at Loyola University (Baltimore), then passed her Maryland counseling law exam with flying colors - thanks to the prayers of the Berwyn congregation, and received her Maryland counseling license. She provides counseling services for 20 hours/week at Family Services Inc. -- a community services agency in Gaithersburg, MD, and continues to feel blessed to lead and serve God as part-time pastor to the congregation of Berwyn Presbyterian Church. Laura finds joy in spending time with family, friends, and her two charming cats. She also loves hiking and the arts.
Our Music Director
Gabriel Ruiz-Bernal is a Spanish composer, pianist, and organist. He has performed recitals in many countries as piano soloist, chamber music, concerti with orchestras, including premieres of his own compositions.
He has received numerous awards during his performance career and today he is proud to enjoy a diversified musical portfolio, not just limited to the classical repertory. Gabriel is known as a composer, instructor, classical and jazz pianist. He is a recording artist covering a range of musical styles from Bach, Mozart, Beethoven, Chopin, Scriabin, Rachmaninoff, Gershwin, to Spanish composers and his own works. He has participated in film scoring collaborations, and one of his projects received a New York Emmy nomination. |
Our Administrative Team
Meng McLendon is currently serving as our interim Administrative Assistant while we are in the process of finding another team member to assist the church.
Meng previously served the church in this role but chose to leave to pursue her educational goals in speech-language pathology. In her free time, Meng enjoys exploring Washington D.C., reading, and trying new recipes. |