rPastor Lyndsey Klein is newly commissioned as a provisional elder of the West Ohio Conference. She graduated from Asbury Theological Seminary (2019) with a Master of Divinity degree as a Kern Scholar.

She graduated Magna Cum Laude from Otterbein University with a Bachelor of Arts in Communication and a specialization in leadership. In college she served as the chaplain of her sorority and was very involved in Campus Crusade for Christ. She also served as a summer intern for three summers in a small rural church, a large suburban church, and an urban ministry.

God has led Lyndsey around the world to England, Scotland, Ireland, and South Korea throughout seminary. She was mentored in a local multi-cultural church with services in French, Korean, Spanish, and English. Lyndsey’s heart for diversity has led her to build close friendships with international students as she travels the world.

Pastor Lyndsey also has mentorship in spiritual formation practices such as training in retreats, prayer experiences, and small groups. One of Lyndsey’s favorite experiences was serving in the National Parks with A Christian Ministry in the National Park (ACMNP) where she led teams of college students in Yosemite and the Smoky Mountains.

Lyndsey grew up in the church and has been nurtured by the church her whole life. She is excited to build relationships, serve in her first appointment, and follow the leading of the Holy Spirit.

In her first 2 years at Richland, Pastor Lyndsey has seen God do many amazing things in the hearts and souls of the church congregation such as a Living Nativity Christmas event, starting small group bible studies, weekly devotionals, prayer, VBS, Easter Egg Hunts, new technology usage, and continued focus on spiritual growth & community through God’s word. All this amidst the COVID19 pandemic that saw new opportunities for online ministry & creative ways to connect. Richland now has Facebook and Instagram pages! Lyndsey is confident God is just getting started at Richland.

A native of Harrisburg, PA, Richard Crist, is currently Office Manager/Music Director/ Worship pianist at Richland United Methodist Church since 2014. He started his music career in Harrisburg at age 16 as bass soloist at Zion Lutheran Church and Market Square Presbyterian Church. After high school graduation he joined the quartette at Salem Church while earning a Bachelor of Science Degree in Music Education from Messiah College. Moving on to Boston, Richard earned a Master of Music degree in Vocal Performance at the New England Conservatory, was active as a soloist, substitute singer and bass soloist at Copley Square Trinity Episcopal Church and Temple Israel. It was also during this time that he made his operatic debut with the Opera Company of Boston and sang as oratorio soloist throughout the region. After six years he moved on to New York City, returning almost annually for work at the Opera Company of Boston for the next two decades.

Richard has performed around the world including Orchestras of Boston, New York, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Cleveland, St. Louis, San Francisco, Minnesota, Denver, the Washington Chamber Symphony and Kennedy Center Handel Festival, the American and National Symphonies, Radio Telefis Éireann Orchestra, the London Sinfonia, Nord Deutsche Rundfunk, Sver d lovsk филармонических   (Sverdlovsk Philharmonic) – Yekaterinburg, Russia,  Orchestre National de Lyon and Orquesta Sinfónica de Maracaibo. Also numerous appearances in New York City at Carnegie, Alice Tully and Avery Fisher Halls,  the Mostly Mozart Festival, PBS’s Live from Lincoln Center and  on NPR.

Also numerous appearances in New York City at Carnegie, Alice Tully and Avery Fisher Halls, the Mostly Mozart Festival, PBS’s Live from Lincoln Center and on NPR.

Before coming to Ohio to be Artist Teacher of Voice/Director of Opera Theater for seven years, he was a member of the voice faculties at the University of Arkansas – Fayetteville as Artist-in-Residence/assistant to Sarah Caldwell in the Opera Theater, and at University of Oklahoma – Norman.  Richard has taught master classes throughout the United States. He is a pianist, organist and arranger/composer.

Richard loves selecting ideas for music in the service and working with the pastor on putting together the Worship Services. God left me go off and do my singing all the time making sure that I was exposed to all types of Worship, all types of music and all types of people in this world. So, God eventually brought me back to where I started; however, now with a richer background of how He is worshiped.

He lives in Athens with his wife, international singer/actress Yvonne Crist (Brennan) and sons Patrick and Daniel. His daughter, Tanya, lives in New York City and is a composer, teacher and performer.

Carol serves as custodian for Richland Church and has been faithfully committed to this job since Jan 2006. 

Carol Adkins and her husband George Adkins started attending Richland in 1972. Carol says, “The people were friendly and welcoming. We quickly got involved in the church choir & activities of the church. The years went by during which there were many church “family” events and soon these fmailies began taking turns to cleaning the church. This turned into a hired position which I took over in January 2006 from Larry Tong.”