Staff
Rev. David Schell
Pastor
Rev. David Schell grew up in a small coal mining town in Pennsylvania in a Christian family. He attended a small liberal arts Christian college, worked for four summers during college at a United Methodist church camp, where he met his wife. David experienced several diverse Christian traditions before becoming a Presbyterian.
David has always been a student of the Bible, reading three chapters a day as a teen and winning several Bible quizzing competitions. His Bible classes at Huntington University in Indiana left him hungry for more, but his desire to become a pastor was not solidified until his positive experience in a Presbyterian church in Colorado Springs, Colorado. After college David worked as a middle school English teacher, and then worked for Google rating search engine results. After talking with friends and mentors, he decided to apply to the Pittsburgh Theological Seminary to become a pastor. David says he found it fun learning more about the Bible and uncovering new meaning in the texts. He earned a Master of Divinity degree there in 2018.
While in Pittsburgh, David completed Clinical Pastoral Education training at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center Chaplaincy office and served as a seminary student pastor at two churches. Since 2018 he has been the solo Pastor, Head of Staff at a small PC (USA) church in Michigan. His parishioners say he is in his element when he tells obscure and interesting Bible stories and mines them for powerful, divinely inspired meaning that he hopes will challenge and inspire listeners to live life following Jesus even closer. David says, “I value inclusion, and I have worked hard to make the church I currently serve as inclusive as possible...to make church safe for people.” He is a member of the Racial Equity Cohort and a proponent of social justice issues in the Presbytery of Lake Michigan.
David is a writer and has regularly written articles for the local newspaper, Bible Study posts on Facebook, he authors a blog as well as newsletter articles. He and his wife Kristen are both interested in technology issues; he looks for creative ways to share faith-related insights.
David and Kristen are the parents of two boys, Ryan age 6 and Micah age 4.
Jennifer Blackwell
Christian Educator
Jennifer Blackwell is an experienced Christian education and youth leader with over two decades of dedicated service across multiple congregations. Her experience includes directing middle and high school youth ministry at Emmanuel UCC and serving as an elected Christian Education Commissioner and on Church Council during her time at Church of the Good Shepherd UCC.
Jennifer's core expertise lies in Christian education curriculum design and implementation, youth mentorship, and intergenerational faith formation. She is also highly skilled in volunteer coordination and policy development. She is a trained facilitator for the comprehensive Our Whole Lives curriculum and previously served on the national UCC Council for Youth and Young Adult Ministries.
Affectionately called a "church nerd," an identity she happily embraces, Jennifer's personal hobbies include listening to audiobooks at 2x speed, collecting old church cookbooks, and watching her backyard ducks play in their little pools.
Wendy Treacher
Director of Music
Wendy Treacher grew up in Jackson’s 1st Presbyterian Church where she started singing in the Cherub Choir when she was in elementary school. She also started organ lessons here. She graduated from the Interlochen Arts Academy and received a Bachelor’s degree in Choral Music Education from Eastern Michigan University.
While Wendy was the choir director at Northwest High School she also was the music director for these Jackson churches: Immanuel Lutheran Church (20 years),
Brookside United Methodist Church (10 years) and Jackson First Presbyterian Church. Wendy loves praising God through music with handbells, singing, piano and organ!
She has been the director of Jackson’s community choir, The Jackson Chorale, for eighteen years and also is active as an adjudicator for the Michigan School Vocal Music Association. She has also been on the Board of the American Choral Director’s Association-Michigan and Central Division. In 1993 she was elected Vocal Music Teacher of the Year for the State of Michigan.
Wendy was born in the upper peninsula and is a Yooper at heart! She loves to spend time in the upper peninsula at the family cottage with her husband, Randy, and their Pomeranians and is the happy Grandma of 3-and-a-half-year-old Anna Treacher!
Katie (she/they) has been attending JFPC since roughly age four. She was particularly fond of the ORFF program as a child and has continued making music in the handbell choir for many years. Katie earned a Bachelor of Social Work degree from Central Michigan University, and while she found the ethics training portion of her degree invaluable, she has discovered that she is much better at paperwork than people work. She loves a well-formatted spreadsheet. In her free time Katie enjoys live theatre, painting, reading, and spending time with her niece and nephew.
Katie Meyers
Office Administrator
Melissa moved to Jackson in 2013 from Georgia to work in the Toy House Baby Department and office. In 2014 with the retirement of the church bookkeeper at JFPC she joined the staff to take care of the day to day bookkeeping duties.
Melissa has two married daughters with one grandchild and another on the way in June 2026!
Melissa Curtis
Bookkeeper
SESSION
The Session is the group of active ruling elders, elected by the congregation, who make decisions for the running of the church and serve as spiritual leaders of the congregation.
More info about Jen coming soon!
Jen Blackwell
Elder
Meredith Harvey
Elder
I serve on the Christian Education/Spiritual Formation Committee.
Other JFPC Involvement: I teach the teens and youth on Sunday mornings. I also like to give the Children's Message during the services. I have been involved with the youth music program in the past.
Community Involvement: I volunteer at my kids' school and enjoy attending local theater and community events. I work at Spring Arbor University in the Education Department and work with the students to become more involved in Jackson area schools and our church.
Hobbies/Activities: I enjoy reading, swimming, walking at the Falling Waters Trail, going to the movies and live theater.
I serve as the Clerk of Session.
Other JFPC Involvement: Scouting. I am the Charter Organizational Representative. I am also an usher and a deacon.
Community Involvement: I am member of the State Employee Retirement Association, and the Civitan Service Club.
Russ Jacobson
Elder
Jane Jones
Elder
I am serving as the Kitchen Elder here at JFPC and I love it!! We plan a variety of fellowship opportunities on a regular basis that typically includes some form of a potluck--and who doesn't love a potluck?!? We have special dinner events to honor the start of Lent, The Last Supper of Jesus and the Disciples, a Summer fun cookout, Ice cream Socials, Intergenerational Family Game Nights, Church Family Thanksgiving potluck and more! As a Church, we LOVE to get together and share a meal in Fellowship!
Other JFPC Involvement: I have been singing in the choir for 30 years! My Dad (before he passed) and my daughter also sang in the choir, so we had three generations represented! Our music program here at JFPC is INCREDIBLE! We have local artists that come and share their gifts with us--violinists, flutists, acoustic guitarists, trumpeters, guest organists, piano duets--it's really special! We are always looking for new members to join us in the choir! I've also participated in many of the classes and other activities here at the church and I have truly enjoyed exploring my faith and the fellowship that is shared there.
Personal Interests: I love, love, LOVE spending time with my 2 grandsons! What a joy and a blessing they are!! I enjoy traveling with my husband and we bowl on a league together, which is fun. I also enjoy working in my flower gardens, crafting, and playing cards and games with my siblings and friends.
More info about Greg coming soon!
Greg Marsh
Elder
More info about Kevin coming soon!
Kevin Rule
Elder
John Vanderpool
Elder
I lead the Property Committee. The property committee oversees the overall operations of the facilities of the church: Minor maintenance of electrical & mechanical systems, working with contractors for internal & external services, coordinating with public agencies for inspections & certifications, helping coordinate volunteers for using of talents (friends of property), coordinating with other committees needs for property.
I gain knowledge of old and new systems that affect church building operations, so others may have a safe place to worship without worry, and listen to the concerns of the people.
Other JFPC Involvement: I enjoy ushering on Sunday, participating in men’s group spiritual (Bible) study twice a month, and being a lector on communion Sundays.
Just finding a friendly face and friend to chat with about anything. Attending / participating in spiritual formation activity.
Community Involvement: I have served on a city charter commission, and work with city commissioners on request in the Ward where I live. These days my volunteer time is consumed with serving JFPC as chair of property (I am semi-retired and still have a day job part time).
Hobbies/Activities: I ride a motorcycle for pleasure. It’s important to spend time with grandchildren (4) ages 2 to 26. Hang out and visit with friends.