Our Staff

We have an exceptionally experienced staff with many combined years of Lutheran worship experience and church leadership.

Reverend John Bell

Pastor

Pastor John came to Christ the Servant in August of 2012. One of four children, he grew up in Watchung, New Jersey a small town 25 miles west of New York City. He is a graduate of Lenoir Rhyne University and the Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago. During his seminary training he served at two Illinois congregations: St. Luke - Park Ridge, and Shepherd of the Hill - Lockport. He completed internship at St, Stephens - Hickory, NC. Pastor Bell served for 20 years in North Carolina at the congregations of Bethphage - Lincolnton, And Philadelphia - Granite Falls. Prior to being called to Christ the Servant, he also served Bethlehem in Los Alamos, New Mexico and St. Lukes in Buffalo, Wyoming; doing intentional interim ministry. Married in 1995, he and his wife served as foster parents to about 17 children. His wife, Bonnie was a Registered Nurse before going on permanent disability. She died in 2022. Today he resides in Denton with a Maltese, Molly, a Caique Parrot named Burt and Kathryn the Cat. He enjoys woodworking, gardening, photography and cooking.

Email: ctslc.pastor@gmail.com
Office: (940) 387-1984
Mobile: (828) 514-2593

Cade Smith

Office Administrator

Bio to come

Email: ctslc.office@gmail.com
Office: (940) 387-1984

Elizabeth Moose

Choir Director

Elizabeth is a Pennsylvania native who graduated from Youngstown State University in 2010 with a B.M. in Music Education. While in Youngstown, she was involved in Opera Western Reserves Arts Education Programs, as well as various choirs and opera performances. She has been a choir director in Texas public schools for the last three years, serves as Choir Director for Christ the Servant, and teaches at the Selwyn College Preparatory School. Elizabeth also enjoys serving the community as the Vice President of Denton Area Mothers of Multiples. Elizabeth lives in the Denton area with her three daughters.

Katherine Barnard

Organist / Music Director

Katherine “Kitty” Barnard is the Music Director and Organist at Christ the Servant. Her primary responsibilities include the following: coordinating the music for worship, serving as church organist, directing instrumental music, and participating with other staff members in the encouragement and equipping of worship ministry leaders.

Katherine is a graduate of the University of Michigan, having earned a Master of Music degree in Church Music and Organ. For over 40 years, she has devoted much of her energy to the nurturing of Lutheran church music. Following graduation, she served two churches in southeastern Michigan as Director of Music. She then moved with her family to Flower Mound, TX, where she served for over 20 years as the Minister of Music/Worship Arts at Faith Lutheran Church. She retired from that full-time ministry position in 2020.

Katherine loves her work in music ministry and is pleased to have the opportunity to continue to share her gifts at Christ the Servant. She believes music is one of the strongest ministries of today’s church and that it is vitally important to encourage people of all musical experiences and abilities to offer their gifts to the church. Her love of a variety of styles of church music, both liturgical (traditional) and praise (contemporary), is a strength that she brings to the churches she serves.

Katherine and Brooks have been married for over 40 years, and they have shared ministry together throughout all those years. Their lives are blessed by their adult son Ben.

Kitty’s “Life Passage” is John 3:16
For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life.

Her “Life Hymns” are “A Mighty Fortress Is Our God” and “Here I Am, Lord"
God's Word forever shall abide,
no thanks to foes, who fear it;
for God himself fights by our side
with weapons of the Spirit.
Were they to take our house,
goods, honor, child, or spouse,
though life be wrenched away,
they cannot win the day.
The kingdom's ours forever!
Text: Martin Luther, 1483-1546; tr. Lutheran Book of Worship

Here I am, Lord. Is it I, Lord?
I have heard you calling in the night.
I will go, Lord, if you lead me.
I will hold your people in my heart.
Text; Daniel Schutte © 1981 OCP Publications Inc.

Tracey Oberbacher

Child Care

Tracey moved to Denton from Houston in 1983. For over twenty years, she has enjoyed teaching preschoolers at Wellspring Christian Academy in Denton. She has served by caring for children in the nursery. Tracey lives in Denton with her husband Kevin and her three children, and enjoys swimming, cooking, reading, and outdoor life in her spare time.