2026 Appointments

Rosie Pang to Trinity United Methodist Church in Jersey City, in addition to her appointment at First Filipino American United Methodist Church in Jersey City

Rosie has gifts for multigenerational ministry, discipleship, and community engagement that align with the congregation’s identity and mission. Trinity UMC is a family-oriented, multiracial church rooted in the Word, with vibrant worship, prayer, Bible study, and visible outreach in the community through events, hospitality, and global mission support. Rosie brings over twenty years of ministry experience and a proven ability to nurture faith across generations while leading congregations toward renewed hope. Her cross-cultural background, theological training at Drew, and commitment to engaging all people in discipleship strengthen her capacity to serve two congregations in shared mission. Supported by her family, Rosie leads with joy, faith, and a deep passion for helping churches grow in connection, service, and witness.

Michael Kim to serve Harvey Memorial United Methodist Church in addition to his continued appointment to Central United Methodist Church.

Rev. Kim brings over 20 years of faithful ministry, a deep commitment to community engagement, and a compassionate pastoral presence shaped by his work as both pastor and chaplain . His gifts in team ministry, outreach, and care align beautifully with Harvey Memorial’s strong mission focus, diverse worship life, and desire to grow in vitality and connection . We celebrate this appointment and look forward with great hope to what God will do through this shared ministry.

JongIn Lee to Midvale UMC in addition to Franklin Lakes UMC

Rev. JongIn Lee was born and raised in South Korea and moved to the United States in 2005. He earned his M.Div from Drew Theological School in 2008 and currently serves as pastor of Franklin Lakes UMC and Waldwick UMC. Passionate about serving God and community with an open heart and mind, he believes all people are created in God’s image and called to love unconditionally. In his free time, JongIn enjoys hiking, biking, and woodworking. He is married to Rev. Eunkyong Kim, pastor of Newfoundland UMC, and they share a daughter, Sophia, and a beloved dog, Cherry.

Donna Nilson Wayside UMC in addition to her current appointment at Oceanport UMC.

Donna Nilson has grown up in the church and brings a lifetime of dedicated ministry to her work. She served as Minister of Music at Oceanport UMC until retiring in 2011, holding certification as a Minister of Music and serving as a Diaconal Minister for much of that time. Donna holds a BA and MA in Music Education from The College of New Jersey and an MTS from Drew Theological School, and a DRE from Andersonville Seminary. Since 2019, she has served as supply pastor at Oceanport UMC, discovering that pastoral ministry opens even more avenues for serving people. Her deep commitment to local church ministry, community outreach, and congregational care makes her an excellent fit for Wayside UMC in addition to her current appointment at Oceanport UMC.

Vivian Nelson-Appiah to Mt. Zion UMC in Hillsborough and East Millstone UMC

Vivian Nelson-Appiah was born and raised in Ghana and holds a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from the University of Ghana, as well as an MS and PhD in Social Psychology from Rutgers University. She completed the Certified Lay Minister (CLM) program in 2024 and currently serves as Assistant Pastor at New Brunswick United Methodist Church. Vivian is passionate about congregational care, with a particular emphasis on intercessory prayer, visitation, small groups, Bible study, and community engagement, along with a deep interest in mission work. Her expertise in these areas makes her an excellent fit for Mt. Zion UMC in Hillsborough and East Millstone UMC. In her personal life, she enjoys reading, cooking, sharing meals with people from diverse cultures, and traveling.

Israel Gwatana to New Dover UMC in Edison

Israel Gwatana is a joyful and dedicated pastor committed to preaching, teaching, and serving God’s people. He has been engaged in faithful ministry for over a decade, both in Nigeria and the United States. Israel holds a Bachelor’s degree in Christian Education from ECWA Theological Seminary, Jos, and a Master of Theological Studies (MTS) in Religion and Society from Princeton Theological Seminary. He is currently a PhD student in the History and Ecumenics department at Princeton Theological Seminary, where his research focuses on World Christianity, the history of missions, and indigenous knowledge systems. With experience in both pastoral ministry and academia, Israel is well-positioned to serve as Associate Pastor at New Dover UMC, bringing a fresh perspective to intergenerational ministry, youth and family engagement, and community outreach. Israel is happily married to Blessing, and together they are proud parents of two lovely daughters, Kulana and Timeni.

Rev. Hyun-Bo Shim to Manasquan United Methodist Church

Rev. Shim brings nearly three decades of faithful and fruitful ministry, including vibrant local church leadership and service as a National Guard chaplain . He is known for his warm, relational spirit, strong preaching, and deep pastoral care. His gifts align beautifully with Manasquan’s creative, welcoming congregation and its desire to grow with younger families . We celebrate this appointment and look forward with great hope to the ministry that will unfold.

Salia Paul Kamara to Haven UMC and Mt. Hope UMC

Salia Paul Kamara is a devoted and relational pastoral leader from Sierra Leone, currently serving in the United States. He is pursuing a Master of Arts in Theology and Ministry at Drew Theological School, with a focus on music, worship, and the arts (Graduating in May). He also holds a Graduate Certificate in United Methodist Studies. Salia’s ministry began through music, where he discovered a deep calling to serve God and care for people. He is passionate about building meaningful relationships, creating inclusive and spirit-filled worship, and helping the church connect with its community. Salia leads with warmth, humility, and a heart for service, seeking to walk alongside others in their faith journey. His love for music, preaching, and community engagement reflects his commitment to nurturing faith and fostering belonging.

Dawn Cagle-Maffetone to First United Methodist Church in Newton (1/2), and Wantage United Methodist Church (1/4)

Dawn Cagle-Maffetone has served as a Licensed Local Pastor at Rockaway Valley United Methodist Church since 2014 and has also served Grace United Methodist Church in Dover, New Jersey. She currently ministers as a chaplain at Greystone Park Psychiatric Hospital, offering compassionate spiritual care.

Prior to her licensing, Dawn served as Director of Youth and Young Adult Ministries at Little Falls United Methodist Church. She holds a certificate in Youth Ministry from Princeton Theological Seminary and will complete her Course of Study at Duke Divinity School in June 2026.

Dawn’s ministry is grounded in a deep love for people and a belief that God meets us in both ordinary and sacred moments. She is passionate about walking alongside others in their faith journeys and is active in the Skylands Walk to Emmaus.

Dawn and her husband, Michael, have been married for 35 years and have two children, Meghan and Steven. She finds renewal at the beach, where she is reminded of God’s steady presence.

Micheal Ahearn to Warren Grove UMC

Mike is being appointed to Warren Grove UMC as a supply pastor as he continues towards being his eligibility to be a local pastor. He lives in Ocean County with his wife. They have six adult children and are legal adult guardians of their nephew. Mike grew up in a family of local fishmen and worked on fishing boasts and was a Merchant Marine most of his life. Mike is a committed disciple of Jesus and a student of the Bible. Over the past year, he has been serving in a rotation with other lay speakers filling the pulpit at Warren Grove and looks forward to becoming their pastor come July 1st.

Warren Grove UMC is a small church in the Pine Barrens with a population approximately 1,000 within a rural setting. There is Lucille’s Luncheonette, Fire House, and the Church. The congregation is older adults who are friendly and welcoming to all who walk in the door.

Kenneth A. Johnson to Mt. Pleasant: Pleasantville UMC

Kenneth A. Johnson is a licensed local pastor in the United Methodist Church who was born, in Atlantic City, raised in Pleasantville and is in ministry in his home city. He has had cross-cultural experiences that has shaped a ministry rooted in a welcoming love, justice, and care across differences. Every experience has aided his outlook and ministry in his urban setting. He is happily married and enjoys music and traveling.
Rev. Johnson holds both a B.A. in Education from Rowan University and a M.Div. From Palmer Theological Seminary. As a pastor and practical theologian, he brings a spiritual sensitivity to the life of the church, helping congregations deepen their faith, cultivate community, and respond to the needs of our world with compassion, courage, and hope. He believes that strong people foster strong churches. Strong church’s exist to strengthen community, touch lives and make disciples for Jesus Christ and ultimately the transform the world.

Ginnie Kieser to Oceanville UMC

From a volunteer church secretary to a Senior High SS teacher to a Senior Youth Leader, God has taken Ginnie Keiser step by step into a call to Local Pastor. Her first appointment was Local Pastor at North Wildwood UMC for over 10 years. Retiring for family reasons, three years later she was asked to become an interim pastor at Emmaus UMC of Smithville, which she now serve. Now God has blessed Pastor Ginnie with a new adventure as she adds the Oceanville UMC to my calling. Her husband, Frank, and Ginnie love serving God, spending time with their children and grandchildren and raising our kitten Sophie.

Dobyo Amos to Trinity UMC, Mullica Hill Assosciate

Dobyo Amos is a graduating from Drew Theological School this May. Originally from Nigeria, he holds a Bachelor of Divinity from Africa University in Zimbabwe and a Diploma in Common Law from Nigeria. He serves as a Mosaic associate minister at Freehold UMC and was previously a pastoral intern at Morristown UMC in Greater New Jersey. Dobyo has five years of teaching experience outside the local church. He also served as President of the African Students Community at Drew and works with the Office of Accessibility Resources, developing leadership skills while pursuing his call to ministry. The Cabinet believes that Dobyo’s ability to work with people of all developmental ages, strong preaching skills, and passion for growing the Church makes him an excellent fit for the Associate Minister at Trinity UMC, Mullica Hill.

Yeongrok Choi to Simply Grace UMC in Bloomsbury

Yeongrok Choi is deeply honored to join Simply Grace UMC in Bloomsbury as their new pastor. Graduating this May with an M.Div. from Drew Theological School, he also holds an A.A. in Music, alongside a B.Th. and Th.M. in Liturgy from South Korea. A passionate worship leader, Yeongrok released albums and led the band “Givneus” in Korea before serving as the Music Director and pastoral intern at Bridgewater UMC for three years. With a profound passion for warm hospitality, he strives to invite all creation to God’s table of love, overcoming all discrimination and boundaries to celebrate together in grace.

Michael Oluseye Ojo to The United Methodist Church in Union

Michael Oluseye Ojo is being appointed to The United Methodist Church in Union because his gifts for pastoral care, preaching, and community engagement align with the congregation’s strengths and emerging needs. He brings a compassionate, shepherding presence shaped by chaplaincy experience, equipping him to guide a congregation seeking stability, spiritual leadership, and thoughtful communication. His commitment to healing, discipleship, and evangelism complements a church with strong worship, music, small groups, and active lay leadership. As an ordained minister in the Methodist Church Nigeria who continues his theological formation, Michael brings both depth and humility to ministry. Supported by his wife Kemi and their three children, he leads from a strong foundation of faith, family, and service, helping the congregation grow in connection, purpose, and witness.

YoonCheol Shin to Red Bank UMC

YoonCheol Shin loves the church. Having grown up in the church as a home away from home, he has devoted his ministry to fostering communities where people of all generations and stories gather, share life, grow in faith, and encounter God together. Born in South Korea, raised in the Dominican Republic, and educated in the United States, Yoon lives at the intersection of cultures. He has served at Bernardsville UMC, Union Village UMC, and Calvary Korean UMC. Yoon earned his M.Div. from Drew Theological School and his M.S.Ed. and M.S. in Nonprofit Leadership from the University of Pennsylvania. He is happily married and enjoys traveling and discovering God’s presence in creation.

David Geller to St. Paul’s UMC in Bayhead

David brings a deep love for Christ and people, shaped by his call to ministry and his commitment to the guiding motto, “Love God, Love People, Make a Difference.” With training in both divinity and social work, and experience in pastoral care, preaching, and equipping lay leadership, David offers compassionate, relational leadership well suited to St. Paul’s welcoming and mission-oriented congregation. His energy, care-centered ministry, and passion for community engagement make him a strong match for the church’s hopes for spiritual growth and renewed vitality.

Junehee Yoon to Hamilton UMC in Neptune, NJ

Pastor Junehee Yoon is a compassionate leader who is committed to building a church community where all people can experience God’s unending grace and share that grace with others. As a Christian ethicist holding a Ph.D. in Christian Ethics, she believes such community-building is a faithful response to the Methodist vision of communal and personal holiness that seeks both love and justice. Pastor Junehee earned her Ph.D. and M.Div. from Drew University and a S.T.M. from Yale University. In addition to her pastoral ministry, she teaches Christian Ethics as an adjunct professor at Drew Theological School and United Lutheran Seminary.

Hamilton United Methodist Church in Neptune continues to live into a renewed vision for ministry in a post-pandemic world. Committed to discipleship and mission beyond our walls, Hamilton serves locally through food and hygiene collections, homelessness ministries, prayer shawls, and partnerships with Madonna House and Aslan Youth Ministry, while supporting GhanaFresh, a children and youth ministry in Ghana. Worship blends traditional and contemporary expressions and reaches both in-person and online communities. There has been an emphasis on discipleship through sermon series and Bible studies focused on faith in action, justice, love as an ethic, and the cost of discipleship. Through partnerships, community events, and faithful reflection, Hamilton looks ahead with hope, seeking deeper formation, renewed stewardship, and expanded ministry for all ages.

Gwiseok Lee to Whiting United Methodist Church in Whiting, New Jersey

Pastor Lee brings a joyful commitment to ministry shaped by his deep faith, strong Wesleyan roots, and a passion for walking alongside congregations with compassion and creativity. His gifts for preaching, pastoral care, and building authentic relationships make him a wonderful match for the heart and mission of Whiting UMC.

Whiting UMC is a vibrant, service-minded congregation with a strong spirit of hospitality and a deep desire to continue growing in new ways. As a church rooted in caring for its community while looking toward the future, they have expressed hope for a pastor who is present, encouraging, and ready to help expand outreach and digital ministry. Pastor Lee’s energy, faithfulness, and relational leadership make this an exciting and promising match of pastor and people as they begin this next chapter together.

Latasha Milton to Bridgewater UMC

Latasha is an ordained elder who has faithfully served urban and suburban congregations. She is passionate about intergenerational ministry, with a focus on children, youth, and young adults. She is committed to leading the church beyond its walls through a restorative justice lens. Latasha holds a M. Div. from Princeton Theological Seminary and a MS in Family Relations Counseling and Early Childhood and a BS in Pre-Med. Biology and Chemistry from the Univ. of Southern Mississippi. She is an author of children’s book and self-help devotionals for women. She enjoys reading, sports, and traveling.

Bridgewater UMC invites all people to engage in disciple-making and serving others with the love of Christ. BUMC currently offers one blended Sunday worship service in two expressions: in-person and live-streamed. It has an outstanding music ministry with adults/children, a praise band, and bell choirs. It has a vital youth ministry seeking to reach out to young adults. Small group ministry is steadily growing: Children/Youth/Adult Sunday School, Women’s & Men’s Bible Study, Prayer Group, Lent/Advent Study, and topical classes. Church is actively engaged in 25 local outreaches and global missions, being committed to empowering the laity to strengthen leadership, financial stewardship, mission, and ministry.

Jennifer Cho to St. Andrews UMC in Spring Lake

St. Andrew’s United Methodist Church is a vibrant fellowship of sixty disciples dedicated to worship, service, and mutual care. Our community fosters deep spiritual growth through Sunday school and dedicated Bible study groups, while building lasting connections through our monthly “lunch bunch” and compassionate shawl ministry. Widely recognized for an exceptional music program, we serve as a local cultural hub by hosting acclaimed concerts featuring the Atlantic Wind Ensemble and vocalists from neighboring congregations. This spirit of outreach extends to our broader community through the United Methodist Women’s popular annual rummage sales and seasonal bazaars.

Rev. Dr. Jennifer Cho is an ordained elder in the UMC and currently serves as Senior Pastor of Bridgewater UMC. She holds an M.Div. from Princeton Theological Seminary and a D.Min. from Drew Theological School. With decades of pastoral leadership experience, she is known for thoughtful preaching, collaborative leadership, and cultivating vibrant, Christ-centered communities. Her ministry focuses on forming disciples who deepen their faith, embody compassion, and live out the gospel with courage and integrity in daily life, and she is deeply committed to mission and justice work and to building an inclusive church where all are welcomed, affirmed, and empowered to share their unique gifts and calling. She has served in leadership roles within GNJ, guiding congregations through renewal and transition and mentoring candidates for ministry. She is married to Rev. Dr. Brandon Cho, retired elder and lead pastor of Beacon UMC.

JunGyu Park to Asbury United Methodist Church in Cinnaminson

Pastor Park brings a deep love for God’s people, a heart for intergenerational connection, and a passion for building communities of belonging—gifts that align beautifully with Asbury’s strong mission presence and desire for renewed vitality. With experience in youth ministry, digital outreach, and cross-cultural leadership, he is well-positioned to help Asbury connect with young families while strengthening its outreach to neighbors through ministries like Good Neighbor Outreach and beyond. His collaborative, shepherding spirit offers hopeful energy for Asbury’s next faithful chapter.

Daekyung Ko to St. Paul United Methodist Church in Willingboro

Pastor Ko brings a heart for intergenerational discipleship, creative worship, and community engagement—gifts that beautifully match St. Paul’s multicultural spirit and desire for renewal. With experience strengthening worship, mentoring leaders, and building bridges across cultures and generations, he embodies the “builder” leadership St. Paul is seeking. As the congregation looks to grow younger families, expand outreach, and deepen vitality, Pastor Ko’s collaborative and relational approach offers fresh energy and faithful vision for this next chapter of ministry together.

Cameron Overby to Richwood UMC

Cameron Overbey is an ordained elder in Greater New Jersey and has served Cranford UMC and Red Bank UMC over the last 12 years. He has also been active on various boards and agencies in the Raritan Shore district and offers leadership to organizations in his community focused on youth health, equitable housing, and care of the environment. He has also served as a volunteer firefighter and t-ball coach. Cameron has a passion for building beloved community and helping congregations embody the love of Christ, living out their faith in their community in transformative ways. With his strong leadership experience in the local church to all ages, his commitment to connectionalism, and his desire to see the Church be a beacon of hope in the community, the Cabinet believes him to be an excellent pastor for Richwood UMC. Cameron graduated with a BA in Theology from Valparaiso University in 2011 and with a Master of Divinity from Duke Divinity School in 2014. He is married to Kelsie (married 14 years together), and together they have 2 children, Sammie (7) and Mattie (5), and a dog, Ace (1).