Sunday School Staff

Emma Golmam said it best about teachers: “No one has yet fully realized the wealth of sympathy, kindness, and generosity hidden in the soul of a child.  The effort of every true education should be to unlock that treasure.”

God is working in us, and through us—we are blessed to have an extremely talented group of Sunday School leaders.  Our teachers have years of experience in Christian Education and some have also taught in public schools.  

God has spoken to the hearts of these teachers to unlock those treasures.

Von Brown was born in York, Pennsylvania and her family moved within walking distance of Grace Lutheran Church.  That is where here teaching career began.  At 16 years old she started teaching Vacation Bible School and a year later volunteered to teach Sunday school. 

After she graduated from Millersville State Teachers College (now Millersville University), she taught nearly thirty years in public schools in Pennsylvania, Kentucky, and Maryland.

As time went on she married Darrell, who she met at Grace Lutheran Church.  They have 2 beautiful daughters and 4 wonderful grandchildren.

How did she get to Lord of Life Lutheran Church?  When both Von and Darrell got jobs with Baltimore County School District, they moved to Essex, rented a home, and joined Prince of Peace Lutheran Church.  In 1973, when they bought a home, the Lord seemed to guide them to Edgewood. Before long, Von began teaching in Vacation Bible School and Sunday school again.

Over the years, Von has served in various capacities:  on the Stewardship committee, as Bible School Director, Sunday School Superintendent, Financial Secretary, organist, and a member of the Women’s Group and Quilting Group.

Very meaningful verses from the Bible that are a daily comfort to Von are:  "Don't worry about anything, but in all your prayers ask God for what you need, always asking him with a thankful heart.  And God's peace, which is far beyond human understanding, will keep your 
hearts and minds safe in union with Christ Jesus."  Philippians 4:6-7.  These verses also reflect one of her favorite hymns:  "What a Friend We Have in Jesus".

A few years after moving into their first home, Ranae Fisher and her husband Tom were looking for a church closer to their home to fulfill their spiritual needs.   They were drawn to Lord of Life Church for its comfortable, friendly environment and joined in 1997 before the birth of their first child, actually children (twins Rebecca and Jessica).  As Ranae and Tom’s family grew, having been blessed with another daughter, Sarah, so did Ranae’s involvement within the church.  It is very important to Ranae and Tom to have their children engaged in Christ through all that church has to offer.  Ranae has been serving as a Sunday School teacher since 2001 and as a VBS teacher, and in 2005 grew into the role of VBS Coordinator.  Ranae is also serving on the Christian Education Committee, and is in her 4th year serving as a Church Council member.   The whole family is involved with other events during the year such as the annual Christmas Play, Sunday School Picnic, and Faith Life cards.  Ranae and Tom feel that God has blessed them with many things and brought them through many challenges, that is why Ranae’s favorite bible verse is Mark 10:27 "...With men it is impossible, but not with God; for with God all things are possible."  Although sometimes hard to do, Ranae tries to remind herself of this every day.

Suzanne Hasselbusch (Ms. Suzy) was born in Havre de Grace and raised in Lord of Life Lutheran Church.  The second daughter of Randy and Jan Hasselbusch, she has been directing the children’s choir for four years.  In 2008, she joined the Sunday School staff as the music teacher.  Her favorite bible story is the mustard seed, because it goes to prove everyone has the potential to grow!

Alice Humphries was born in Baltimore County.  Her Christian education began at a large church in Fullerton, Maryland, with her baptism.  After her marriage, she moved to Harford County, still commuting to the same church.  It wasn’t until years later in 2004 that God led her to a small house, in a small neighborhood, at the end of Willoughby Beach Road in Edgewood.

God’s plans for Alice continued to manifest as He led her to a small church, Lord of Life, right up the road.  She was surprised and pleased to find a church where she was so warmly welcomed.  She brought her two children, Matthew and Hannah.  Having both children enrolled in Sunday School, she decided to join as a teacher’s Assistant.  Alice also serves on the church council.

One of Alice’s favorite bible verse is: “Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old, he will not turn from it.” (Proverbs 22:6).  She believes that a Christian Education is the most important part of a child’s upbringing, providing a firm foundation upon which everything is built

Janet Hodges was born in Washington, D.C.  After she graduated from "Salisbury State College, she came to Harford County to accept a teaching position at  Joppatowne Elementary.  After teaching fifth grade for seventeen years she transferred to Magnolia  Middle School and taught  sixth and seventh grade math for another seventeen years before retiring.  In the meantime, she met her husband, Richard.  They had a son, Warren who is in the Navy and a daughter Kathi, who is married and has three sons.  She is an EMT at Harford and Upper Chesapeake.  She was coerced into transferring from Trinity to Lord of Life by Linda and Art Stuempfle.  She has taught Sunday School and VBS and been a member of the choir since...

Her favorite Bible Verse is John 15:5: “I am the vine and you are the branches.  If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit apart from me you can do nothing” which was personally assigned to her by her pastor during Confirmation.  She enjoys her grandsons, being outside, gardening, working in the yard, bicycling and reading.

Kyla Sikorski became a life-long church member when she was born in Montana.  Her favorite job was as a Bible Camp Counselor for Upper Missouri Ministries in Epping, North Dakota the summers of 1998 and 1999.  She met her husband Tim while they were both in their Officer Basic Courses for the Army, just after 9/11.  After their three combined deployments in Support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, Kyla decided to leave the Army when her initial obligation was completed in 2005.  They married later that year in Minnesota.  Their daughter Luella was born in 2006 and was baptized in the same church they were married in.  For Tim's Army career, they moved to Maryland in December 2006 and found Lord of Life Lutheran on Christmas Eve.  Kyla and her family have been happily active members ever since.  Kyla took up the call for nursery coordinator since her daughter became the biggest user of the service!  Kyla decided to work with the other children of Lord of Life by helping with Vacation Bible School and assisting with Sunday School.  Kyla's favorite Bible verses are 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 "Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus."  These verses remind Kyla that even though her life may seem uncertain at times, God knows what He is doing with her life and it is GOOD!

When Chasity Wiener moved to Edgewood from Towson in 2002, she missed the comfort of a local church family.  In 2003, she found the embrace of Lord of Life!  Here, she loves to wear many hats--she currently serves as Sunday School Superintendent, Sunday School teacher, member of the Evangelism Committee, as well as the church's Office Assistant.  She has been serving as a Sunday School teacher since 2005 and later answered the call to serve as Superintendent in 2006.  

While her church family keeps her busy, life outside of Lord of Life is also wonderfully busy: Chasity is married to her sweetheart, Phil.  Their daughter, Haleigh (who is a toddler), keeps mom and dad so busy that Chasity took a hiatus from her career in finance to became a stay-at-home mom (her best career ever!).  Given all the changes that growing a family--both a church family and her personal family--can experience, her favorite Bible verse is Jeremiah 29:11, "For I know the plans I have for you..." because it is so comforting for Chasity to know that she is not alone in life's journeys!

Karen Corson is a Lord of Life Lutheran Church charter member, originally from Frederick, Maryland. She currently lives in Bel Air with her husband, Dominic and their three children. She started teaching in 1993 and has enjoyed watching each child grow in both faith and body. Her other church ministries at Lord of Life include serving as worship assistant, teaching vacation Bible School and volunteering with the church at the Edgewood Sharing Table. Her inspiration is drawn from the verse, “Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven.” Mathew 19:14.