Our Staff

D.M. Paul Lewis
Pastor

Pastor Paul Lewis attended schools in Maryland and Virginia, private and public, for grades 1-12, graduating from Bethesda-Chevy Chase High School in 1976. He went on to St. Mary’s College of Maryland to study Social Sciences and Dramatic Arts, graduating in 1983. In the mid-1980s, he served in the US Army, where he studied Nuclear-Biological-Chemical Warfare and worked as a photojournalist. After leaving the Army, he became the manager/district manager for World Cycle Bicycles, in Florida, and then the Lansdowne Resort, in Virginia. After a short stint in the Merchant Marine, Pastor Paul went to work for the Veteran’s Administration, and then took the job as manager of the Port of Salisbury Marina. In 2007, he moved to Indonesia where he worked as an English teacher for twelve years. Since returning to America he has worked as a farm laborer and as a part-time lifeguard for the YMCA. He has two adult daughters, Jessica and Keri. He joined Bethesda in July 2021 after serving at Zion UMC in Cambridge, and is delighted to be spreading the good news in Preston. If you see him around town on one of his bikes, give him a wave!

Kari Farnell
Music Director/Organist

Mrs. Kari Farnell holds a bachelor of arts in Psychology from Salisbury University, along with a second degree in Liberal Studies, concentration in music performance. Kari has worked with children and in school systems for most of her professional career.

She has also worked in various church music settings since 1987. Kari is currently working at Bethesda United Methodist Church as the organist and music director.

Josephine Benner
Administrative Assistant

Josephine Benner joined Bethesda on June 13, 2022. She comes to us from G & G Distributing, in Centreville, where she served for seventeen years as an administrative assistant and finance clerk.
She looks forward to working with Pastor Paul and the congregation going forward.