Spencerville Welcomes Executive Pastor

Members of the Spencerville (Silver Spring, Md.) Church welcomed a new pastoral staff member to the congregation last Sabbath. Crystal Ward will serve in the recently created executive pastor position for Chesapeake Conference’s largest congregation of more than 2,000 members. 

Ward is currently finishing a Master of Divinity degree from the Seventh-day Adventist Theological Seminary at Andrews University (Berrien Springs, Mich.). Before sensing God’s calling to full-time pastoral ministry, Ward enjoyed an extensive 20-year career in banking and finance, working most recently as a senior vice president at Citibank.

“The entire Spencerville Church staff, along with the members who have thus far had the opportunity to engage with Crystal or receive blessing from her preaching gifts, are excited to have Pastor Crystal join our church family,” says senior pastor Chad Stuart. “It is obvious she has been called by God, and I give thanks to the Holy Spirit for convicting her heart to choose to serve at Spencerville.”

During the installation on Sabbath, church elders and pastoral staff members gathered around Ward for a special dedicatory prayer. 

“I had a wonderful Sabbath and truly felt confirmation that this is where God wants me to be,” Ward says. “I am excited to work with the pastoral team and church members as we seek to make Spencerville a beacon of light in the community and advance God’s kingdom!”