Staff
Joe Trester, Pastor
Jim Pendleton, Director of Youth and Family Ministries
Dorenda Gravitt, Secretary
Pastor Joe is an Indiana native and a graduate of Indiana University. He is a second career pastor having been ordained in 1996. After serving the church in the Southern Ohio Synod, he became a member of the Indiana-Kentucky Synod when he was called to serve St. John's Lutheran Church in Logootee, Indiana. He has been Pastor of Gethsemane since July 1, 2004
Pastor Joe is married to Sandi and they have two children, Heather and Heath. Heather is married and lives in Orlando, Florida, where she is a junior high math teacher. She has two sons, Michael and Nicholas. Heath lives in Columbus, Ohio, where he is a General Manager for a Quaker Steak and Lube Restaurant. He has a son, Joseph.
Pastor Joe loves Indiana basketball and has been known to root for the Kentucky Wildcats when they aren't playing Indiana. He also loves to golf and vacation on the beaches of North Carolina.
Pastor Joe is married to Sandi and they have two children, Heather and Heath. Heather is married and lives in Orlando, Florida, where she is a junior high math teacher. She has two sons, Michael and Nicholas. Heath lives in Columbus, Ohio, where he is a General Manager for a Quaker Steak and Lube Restaurant. He has a son, Joseph.
Pastor Joe loves Indiana basketball and has been known to root for the Kentucky Wildcats when they aren't playing Indiana. He also loves to golf and vacation on the beaches of North Carolina.
Jim has been with Gethsemane since the fall of 2005 and has come to call it family. Jim has a MA in Youth Ministry from Asbury Theological Seminary and a BA in Speech Communication from the University of Illinois-Champaign. The ministries that he is part of at Gethsemane include junior and senior high student ministry, children and family ministry, missions, and worship ministry.
In his spare time, Jim enjoys playing guitar and piano, fishing, swimming, skiing, kayaking and going to the movies. He hopes that he will become a master flyfisherman like his dad and be able to cook them as good as his mom. One of his heroes in life is his brother Rusty.
Jim grew up in the church but didn't start to understand God's call on his life until he was in high school. With the help of good friends and mentors, he was led to a personal relationship with Christ which has been growing ever since. Jim is thankful that God has brought him to Kentucky and that he is a part of the Gethsemane family!
In his spare time, Jim enjoys playing guitar and piano, fishing, swimming, skiing, kayaking and going to the movies. He hopes that he will become a master flyfisherman like his dad and be able to cook them as good as his mom. One of his heroes in life is his brother Rusty.
Jim grew up in the church but didn't start to understand God's call on his life until he was in high school. With the help of good friends and mentors, he was led to a personal relationship with Christ which has been growing ever since. Jim is thankful that God has brought him to Kentucky and that he is a part of the Gethsemane family!
Dorenda joined Gethsemane as a part-time staff member in August of 1998. She is a graduate of Kentucky Business College, and her employment background includes several years work as a legal secretary for a couple of large law firms here in Lexington. She is married with one daughter. She enjoys music, movies, or just reading a good book. And she especially enjoys spending time with her family on weekend outings.
Doerenda became a Christian when she was 22 years old after attending an Easter evening service at a small, non-denominational, country church. This was a church where the preacher "walked the pews!" Opening her heart to God continues to be the most special and meaningful event to take place in her life.
Doerenda became a Christian when she was 22 years old after attending an Easter evening service at a small, non-denominational, country church. This was a church where the preacher "walked the pews!" Opening her heart to God continues to be the most special and meaningful event to take place in her life.