Meet Our Team

Rev. Mary Sterenberg – Lead Pastor

Pastor Mary and her husband Bruce and three children were charter members of Discovery Church. She previously served at Discovery Church as pastor of prayer and spirituality, Alpha co-director, healing prayer ministry director, Children’s Worship director, and Prayer Deacon.

Previously, Mary served as the Prayer Mobilizer for the Christian Reformed Home Missions Great Lakes Region for eleven years, and served for ten years as Prayer Coordinator for Classis Grand Rapids South. She served seven years on the board of directors for Presbyterian Reformed Ministries International (PRMI), and on the board of directors for Bridge Street Ministries. Mary also served as co-chair of the Grand Rapids CityFest Prayer Team for the Luis Palau Association in 2018.  Mary is currently a member of the faculty of the Dunamis Institute (PRMI) and teaches on prayer and the Holy Spirit throughout North America.

She resides in Caledonia, MI with her husband Bruce. They have three grown and married children and ten grandchildren. Besides loving on her grandchildren and children, Mary enjoys creating visual art; listening to music, including live outdoor summer concerts in West Michigan with Bruce; gardening; and hosting tea parties.

Mary’s passion is for the bride of Christ to be healed, holy, unified, restored, revived, and empowered!

Pastor Lonnie Shields – Worship Director

Pastor Lonnie and his wife, Diane, both graduated from Oral Roberts University (they got married the evening of Graduation Day). They founded New Life Christian Fellowship on the northeast side of Grand Rapids and pastored there for many years until a woman ran a red light and hit them almost head-on at about 65 MPH in 2012. The serious injuries they both sustained forced Pastor Lonnie to retire from pastoring New Life. Diane has suffered through nineteen surgeries since the wreck and deals with chronic pain.

Lonnie’s father fostered his love for music, teaching him to play the mandolin in church at the age of three, and encouraging him to take up other instruments as he grew. Praise and Worship has always been a strong focus of his personal life and ministry, especially when he came to understand that God “inhabits the praises” of His people (Ps. 22:3 KJV).

Sara Barnaby – Administrator

Sara has been a member of Discovery Church for over thirty years. She has served in many ministry positions, including Elder. Sara currently serves as the administrator, Safe Church coordinator, and communication link within the church. Through emails, text, phone calls, bulletin announcements, daily prayer requests, setting schedules and a host of other ways, Sara serves the church family by enhancing strong communication lines.

Sara is married and has four children and 3 grandchildren. She is also a licensed professional counselor who desires to help people work through tough times in life. Sara enjoys gardening, hanging out with her grandchildren, and exploring the Upper Peninsula.

Ted Jarmon – Facilities

Ted has been a member of Discovery Church for over twelve years. He has served in various ministry positions over the years and has mentored and continues to mentor where needed.

Ted has been Discovery’s custodian for over 10 years. He is also employed as a supervisor for a manufacturing company (plastic injection molding) for the last 18 years.

Ted’s free time is spent mostly studying the Word and watching anything sports related! He has two children, Abryanna and Ted Jr.