Staff & Leadership

Jason began serving as our pastor in January 2021. Before arriving at APC, Jason served at High Bridge Presbyterian Church in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia for eleven years. Prior to High Bridge, he pastored a church as a stated supply pastor outside Richmond, Virginia for two years.

Raised on Edisto Island, South Carolina, Jason graduated from Charleston Southern University with degrees in U.S. History and Religion. He later moved to Richmond, Virginia and graduated from Union Presbyterian Seminary where he earned a Master of Divinity. While in Richmond, Jason met his future wife, Dilshani, who worked at Virginia Commonwealth University as an advisor to international students. While working at VCU, Dilshani served with a non-profit in Sri Lanka that provided micro loans to female dairy farmers. Jason’s and Dil’s passion for mission and ministry started a conversation around a dinner table that led to marriage. They are the proud parents of two elementary-aged children, Abby and Ben.

Jason is passionate about finding ways to nurture people’s faith in Jesus through worship, Christian education, and a conversation over a cup of coffee. His ministry goal comes from the Apostle Paul’s words in Ephesians 4:13, “…to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until all of us come to the unity of the faith and the knowledge of the Son of God, to maturity, to the measure of the full stature of Christ.”

In his free time, Jason enjoys playing with family, hiking, gardening, reading, running, and travel.

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Rev. Schaunel Steinnagel serves as Parish Associate at Ardmore Presbyterian Church, where she participates in the Mission Committee, contributes to Christian Education for children and adults, and preaches several times each year. Schaunel and her family have been part of the APC community since 2002.

She is also co-pastor of The Welcome Church (www.thewelcomechurch.org), a congregation she has served since 2013. Ordained as a Minister of Word and Sacrament in 1999, Schaunel previously served at Meeting Ground, a homeless shelter in Cecil County, Maryland, and as Hunger Action Enabler for the Presbytery of Philadelphia.

Schaunel earned a BA in Linguistics from Middlebury College and an MDiv from Union Theological Seminary in New York City. At APC she teaches children’s Sunday School, participates in the Sunday morning adult class, and rings in the Handbell Choir. She enjoys running and long walks.

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With over 40 years of experience in professional music leadership (25 at APC), Gary plays, conducts, and/or coordinates music for all worship services, and directs vocal and handbell choirs for adults, youth, and children. He also leads special events such as semi-annual cantatas, biennial choral festivals, and biennial children & youth musicals. During APC’s centennial year (2007), Gary led its Chancel Choir on a tour of Scotland and Northern England, and completed “My Top 100 Organ Pieces,” a 14-month series of concert-level preludes and postludes.

Gary grew up in Fayette County, PA, where he later directed programs for Trinity Presbyterian Church (Uniontown) and the Greater Uniontown Chorale. In the 1990s, he led a comprehensive music ministry at First Presbyterian Church, Lancaster, PA. Gary earned music degrees at Oberlin College and Duquesne University, and is an Associate of the American Guild of Organists. He is also Artistic Director/Conductor of Chester County Choral Society, an 80-voice auditioned community chorus (www.chescochoral.org).

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Kofi Owusu is serving as our pastoral intern while he studies for his master’s degree in Theology at Villanova University. This internship provides him the opportunity to learn about church operations, and ministry within a pastoral context. He assists Pastor Jason with sermon planning, pastoral care, and mission and outreach, and the rest of our staff on various projects. Kofi will also serves as a Deacon and on our Mission Awareness Committee.

Kofi Owusu grew up in Accra, the capital of Ghana in West Africa. He completed studies at the University of Ghana with a degree in Political Science. Having a passion for evangelism and missions, he also engaged in itinerant preaching in Accra, and in student missions. He truly has a passion for preaching and teaching the Word of God.

Kofi, who loves to study, spent a year and a half in London, UK, while pursuing a Masters in International Law at the University of East London. He moved to the area in 2022 to attend Villanova University, and graduated with an MA in Political Science in May 2024. Currently, he is an MA Theology candidate at Villanova.

In his spare time, he enjoys reading, listening to podcasts, cooking, and talking with his friends and family.

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As the Director of Administration, Emily runs the church office and serves as support to the work of the Session, committees, Pastor Jason, and the congregational life of the church. As Director of Communications, she is responsible for our weekly church e-newsletter, worship emails, and social media. She runs marketing campaigns, plans events, and generally manages communications both outside and within the immediate church community.

Emily Polhamus grew up in South Jersey, went to college in North Jersey, and now lives here in Ardmore. She has worked in communications, marketing, and fundraising roles for several Philadelphia area non-profits and museums including Please Touch Museum, Appel Farm Art and Music Center, and the National Constitution Center. Emily is a life-long Presbyterian, an ordained Elder, the daughter of a church music director, and an alto in the APC Chancel Choir. She enjoys reading, gardening, cooking, and spending time with her husband, son Henry, and their rescue pitbull, Coco

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When Irena’s youngest child started attending Ardmore Presbyterian Weekday Preschool in 2014, she began serving as a substitute teacher in the classroom. Since then she has served as a classroom teacher, the preschool administrator, and became director of APWPS in 2024. Irena oversees all preschool operations including enrollment, program development, and helping families navigate educational services.

Upon completing her degree in Public Administration from the Technical University of Varna, Bulgaria, Irena arrived in the United States in 2003 for a year-long internship. The following year, she earned her Masters Degree in Central and Eastern European Studies from LaSalle University.

While rearing three children of her own, she has become a Cub Scouts of America Den Leader and is currently a Cub Scout Pack Chair Woman. Residing in Ardmore with her family, Irena very much enjoys being involved with her children’s schools and volunteering.

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Our Children and Youth Ministry Coordinator, Raisa Stephens is responsible for programming for our youngest members at APC. She responsible for several events throughout the year (the Easter Egg Hunt, Christmas Party, and Vacation Bible School, just to name a few) as well as Children’s Church and our Youth Group. 

Raisa is a wife, mother of three, and passionate creative with over 15 years of experience in federal service and the U.S. Senate. A graduate of Lincoln University with a Bachelor’s degree in English, Raisa has dedicated her career to public service and leadership while balancing her deep love for family, faith, and community. She currently serves as the Head of the Music Ministry at the First African Baptist Church in Philadelphia, where she leads and mentors worship teams with purpose and excellence. Now stepping into a new chapter, Raisa uses her voice and platform to inspire other women through motherhood, marriage, and ministry—sharing authentic content that uplifts, encourages, and reminds moms to prioritize self-care and purpose

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As our Facilities Manager, Bill is responsible for keeping everything in the building and on our grounds looking good and working well! He meets with vendors and contractors, serves as a project manager on major improvements, and manages our building usage and rentals.

Bill grew up in Havertown and has now lived in Ardmore for close to a decade. After working for the Cradle of Liberty and Del-Mar-Va Boy Scout Councils for years in an odd variety of roles, he most recently worked in fundraising at the Greater Philadelphia YMCA. He is very excited to once again be working with his hands and interacting with folks. He enjoys camping, hosting backyard gatherings, board games, and giving his dog all the attention in the world.

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