Rev. Jeffrey R. Spencer, Pastor
Pastor Spencer has been serving as pastor at Oak Harbor Lutheran Church since December of 2010. He previously served congregations in Montana and southwestern Washington. He did his theological studies at Luther Seminary in St. Paul, Minnesota, and Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary in Berkeley, California. He was ordained as a Minister of Word and Sacrament in 2001.
A native of northwestern Washington, Pastor Spencer did his undergraduate studies at Western Washington University, where he met his wife, Amy. They were married in 1996. Pastor Jeff and Amy have enjoyed serving in ministry together as a presenting couple for Lutheran Marriage Encounter (LME), and have served together on the LME national board. They have three adult sons and a wonderful daughter-in-law.
Pastor Spencer’s passions in ministry include preaching, worship, teaching, and marriage enrichment. In his spare time he enjoys reading, hiking, and spending time with his family. You can contact him at 360-679-1561 or by email at pastor@oakharborlutheran.org
Rev. Dr. Laurie Johnson, Visitation Pastor
Pastor Laurie Johnson, originally from New Jersey, has spent many years serving congregations in Washington state – including a tenure as an associate pastor at OHLC in the 1990s. She returned to Whidbey Island to accept a position as Hospice Bereavement and Volunteer Coordinator at WhibdeyHealth.
In additional to her primary employment with WhidbeyHealth, she serves as OHLC’s visitation pastor, helping out with pastoral care visits for the homebound and hospitalized. She also regularly fills in for Pastor Spencer by leading worship and preaching when he is away.
Beth Stephens, Office Administrator and Youth & Family Ministry Coordinator
Originally hailing from southern California, Beth made her way to Whidbey Island and OHLC in 2013.
Beth serves OHLC as our congregation’s Swiss Army Knife, performing a wide variety of tasks to keep our ministry humming along smoothly, from office work to volunteer coordination, to newsletter production, to hosting a Bible-themed role playing game for youth.
Beth’s office hours are from 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM on Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday. You can contact her at 360-679-1561 or by email at: office@oakharborlutheran.org.
Morrie Parker, Receptionist
Morrie Parker helps out in the office on Tuesdays and on other days as needed. She and her husband Alan have been members of OHLC for many years.
When she isn’t answering calls at OHLC, Morrie also serves God by driving people to medical appointments and by serving as our liaison to the Whidbey Island Women’s Clinic, our local pregancy resource center, where she is a longtime volunteer.
Frank
Frank welcomes visitors when our human staff are not in the front office, directing them to the bell which summons assistance from adjacent offices. Frank is a retired product representative for Serta mattresses. He joined our OHLC staff in 2026. When he isn’t bringing smiles to the faces of visitors to our office or ignoring phone calls, he enjoys napping in the corner.
Verna Morgan, Music Ministry Coordinator
Verna has lived on Whidbey Island since September 2006. She grew up on the peninsula in Port Orchard but traveled with the military for thirty years, including seventeen years in Hawaii, where she was a music director at a Lutheran congregation there.
Verna directs our Chancel Choir, coordinates special music, regularly accompanies our worship services on organ and piano, and leads our prayer chain ministry. Verna is also a beloved piano teacher on Whidbey Island.
Verna’s family includes a son and his family in Klamath Falls, Oregon, and a daughter and her family in Hawaii.
Salvador Carvallo, Custodian
Salvador (aka “Sal”) has been serving as custodian at Oak Harbor Lutheran Church since he came to the United States from Chiclayo, Peru, in 2001.
He is married to Fatima, and they have two children. Sal enjoys studying, improving his English, and playing the guitar.
Jasmine Hendricks, Preschool Director
Jasmine was born and raised on Whidbey Island. She attended Pacific Lutheran University for two years before getting married and moving/transferring to Anchorage, Alaska, where she earned her Bachelors and Masters in Social Work at University of Alaska Anchorage. In 2021 she returned home with her husband Zach and two kiddos.
Jasmine loves to help out at her family’s farm (Case Farm), grow her indoor and outdoor plant collection, read, volunteer, and do home improvement in her spare time.
Jasmine has been serving as the director of His Kids since May of 2023. She is also employed as a family and children’s counselor, and brings her gifts and experience in this area to her role as director.
Elva McArthur, Lead Preschool Teacher
Elva was born and raised in western Washington. She received her degree in Early Childhood Education at Hope International College in Fullerton, California. She started teaching at His Kids in 1998. Elva’s husband, Bill, is an EMT for Whidbey Island Hospital and volunteer with North Whidbey Fire & Rescue. Elva has two adult sons, both of whom attended His Kids. She enjoys books, quilting, gardening, camping with family and friends, and spending as much time as possible with her two granddaughters.
Michelle Harper, Assistant Preschool Teacher
Michelle is from Great Falls, Montana, and came to Washington in 1998 to attend Pacific Lutheran University. She graduated in 2002 with a BAE in elementary education and a minor in special education. She moved to Oak Harbor in 2012.
Michelle has been our assistant preschool teacher for His Kids Preschool since September of 2014. She has a son and daughter, and she enjoys reading and crocheting in her free time.