Rev. Neal Sadler, D.Min. – Senior Pastor

Rev. Neal Sadler was raised in Fort Wayne, Indiana and is a lifelong member of the United Church of Christ. He studied actuarial science at, and earned his MBA from, the University of Michigan. With the encouragement of his wife, Carolyn, he left the actuarial field after a short time, earning an M.Div. from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, serving at several churches in Indiana and Illinois, and completing a D.Min. in Storytelling and Preaching at Asbury Seminary.

Neal strives for a ministry that makes a difference in people’s lives and in the world. At the center of that ministry is worship that touches the hearts of people with the gospel of Jesus Christ. He seeks to unite the congregation as a caring community of faith that welcomes all to join in the journey. Neal has a special interest in mission, both local and global. In addition to a yearly trip to Back Bay Mission in Biloxi, he has led ten mission trips to Central America and Mexico. Neal’s ministry has always stretched beyond the local church and he has taken a leadership role in the ecumenical community, served on committees and boards related to the United Church of Christ, and enjoyed a hands-on approach to area missions.

Neal’s wife Carolyn works as an actuary in the field of health care for a national consulting firm. They have two children. Their son Nathan is a computer engineer working as a patent examiner in Washington D.C. Their daughter Debby is a recent graduate of Eckerd College and lives in St. Petersburg, Florida.

Rev. Mariah Marlin-Warfield – Youth & Family Life Pastor

Rev. Mariah Marlin-Warfield was called to serve as the Youth and Family Life Pastor at United Church of Christ, Congregational in November of 2008. Most recently, Pastor Mariah comes from Chicago where she worked as an Admissions Counselor at Chicago Theological Seminary. Here, she met and married her husband Chris in April of 2007 and graduated with a Master of Divinity degree in May of 2007.

Prior to entering seminary, Mariah lived and worked as an “innkeeper” at Samaritan Inns, a transitional home for women recovering from homelessness and addiction in Washington, DC. As a teenager, Mariah developed a spiritual commitment to nonviolence and peacemaking which inspired her involvement in social justice work during college, as well as her semester abroad to study efforts for reconciliation in Ireland and Northern Ireland. She graduated from Sarah Lawrence College with a Bachelor of Arts degree in 2002.

Pastor Mariah’s call to ministry centers around celebrating connections between the local congregation and outreach into the community. She harbors particular passion for sharing ministry with those who are affected by the criminal justice system and for making room for forgiveness and reconciliation in our communities. Pastor Mariah is grateful to be part of such a creative, caring, and mission-centered congregation.

Mariah lives in Medina with her husband Chris. She enjoys playing the violin, reading fiction, making lists, writing poetry, and occasionally vacuuming.

Ms. Stacie Yates – Director of Christian Education

Stacie graduated from the University of Akron with a Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education. She taught at the middle school level for four years before starting a family. Stacie and her husband joined The United Church of Christ, Congregational in 1998. She sang in the chancel choir, volunteered with Vacation Bible School and served on the Board of Christian Education.

In June of 2003 she was called to serve as the Director of Christian Education. She has a passion for working with children and youth. She loves to witness their growth in their faith. She encourages relationship building with each other, the wider community, and most importantly, Jesus Christ.

Stacie lives in Medina with her husband, Matt, and their son and daughter. She feels truly blessed to be a part of such a compassionate and serving church.

Ms. Vicki Haden-Marty – Director Hobby Horse Preschool

Vicki Haden-Marty, has been the Director of our church owned, Hobby Horse Preschool since 2005. She has a Bachelor of Science degree in Early Childhood Education from The Ohio State University. Prior to being employed as our Director of Preschool, she directed preschool/afterschool programs in Reynoldsburg, Stow and Silver Lake. Vicki also served two years as the Director of Youth Ministries for UCC Medina.

Preschool education has been Vicki’s passion for over thirty years. Her joy is in storytelling, the creative arts and singing with preschoolers.

Vicki and her husband, Dan Marty, grew up in Reynoldsburg, Ohio and were reunited as church camp counselors thirty years ago. Together they have hosted 8 foreign exchange students through AFS. They enjoy traveling to South America visiting their children and grandchildren.

Ms. Cindy Korecky – Administrative Secretary

Cindy has been the Administrative Secretary here at the United Church of Christ, Congregational since September of 2005.

She grew up in Broadview Heights, Ohio and graduated from Brecksville Senior High. She attended cosmetology school while in high school and went into the beauty industry after graduation. Cindy was a Managing Cosmetologist for 20 years, and also carried an instructor’s license and served as a substitute instructor at Skelly Beauty Academy. She has also worked in the restaurant industry and in internet sales and leasing with a Ford dealership.

Cindy has been married to her husband, Dale, since 1983, and they have two children: Ashley and Ryan. Ashley is working towards a career in medicine, and Ryan recently joined the United States Army. Cindy and her husband currently live in Brunswick.

Cindy thoroughly enjoys working at the United Church of Christ, Congregational, a job made even better by the kindness of the members here who go above and beyond in their caring for others.

Ms. Kelly Charnley – Director of Financial & Computer Operations

Kelly joined the United Church of Christ, Congregational in Medina in 1991, after moving to Medina from Michigan, and has been on the staff since 2003. She has a BBA in Accounting from Western Michigan University, and worked for Georgia Pacific – a paper manufacturer in Kalamazoo – as an accountant for ten years. She has been married to her husband, Doug, for almost 30 years. They have two sons and two daughters. Kelly feels that she has the best of both worlds in sharing her talents while also serving her church family.

Mr. Jim Kiser – Director of Music

Jim has been the Director of Music at the United Church of Christ, Congregational since 2007. He earned his Bachelor’s in Music Education from Indiana University in 1980 and worked as a voice teacher from 2000 to 2006.

When not directing our Chancel Choir and the Alleluia Ringers, Jim spends time with his wife Barb and children Nick and Katie. He also enjoys landscape gardening, reading, and bicycling.

Ms. Cathy Fafrak – Organist

Cathy Fafrak is a cum laude graduate of Capital University’s Conservatory of Music, where she studied organ with well-known teacher, composer and arranger, Janet Linker, as well as piano, voice, chamber music and accompanying. After graduation, she became a sought-after pianist, organist and collaborative artist, working with faculty and guest artists alike, and regularly accompanied at Capital University, The Ohio State University and elsewhere throughout the greater Central Ohio area, including summer Opera/Musical Theatre camps, Capital’s Suzuki Institute, The Phoenix Theatre for Children’s musical theatre workshops, and Opera Columbus’ Education and Outreach programs. While on staff at Capital, she was rehearsal pianist for the Chapel Choir, and assistant musical director and pianist for the Department of Theatre for six seasons. She has been a substitute organist at United Methodist, Presbyterian, and Catholic churches, and was organist for seven years at a Missouri Synod Lutheran Church. Since moving from the Columbus area back to her native Northeastern Ohio in 2006, Miss Fafrak has been a substitute organist at several area churches and is currently the pianist for the Medina Chorus, a non-profit choral ensemble based in Medina that has been in existence for 75 years. She is thrilled to be able to play a real pipe organ again, and to collaborate with the many talented members of the church and community on a regular basis.