SENIOR PASTOR
Mike Plasters is proud to pastor Galilee, a faithful church full of ordinary people claiming the extraordinary promise of the Gospel’s good news: we are loved and we are forgiven.
Mike was raised in Patrick County, Virginia and entered Methodist ministry in 1984. He has served congregations throughout the Commonwealth, including Southern Virginia, Central Virginia, the Shenandoah Valley, Tidewater, and Northern Virginia. He’s been a children’s and youth pastor, an Associate Pastor, and a Senior Pastor of small, medium and large churches. He has also worked on the denominational level as a member of several district committees. Currently, Mike serves on the NOVA District Committee on Ministry.
Mike says: “I have been happily married to Rev. Dr. Sandra Benton Plasters for 23 years. Sandi serves Bethany UMC in Purcellville, where we live. We are proud parents to Hannah Benton Plasters, a student at the University of New Orleans. We also have three fur babies: canines Cricket, Gracie, and Percy.”
“My desire is to lift Galilee, and every person connect with this church, up to where God wants us to be. I welcome you to be a part of this wonderful church and community.”
ASSOCIATE PASTOR
Steven Carr has served as Galilee’s associate pastor since 2024.
Steven says, “I was born and raised in Dallas. I left Texas to attend Ouachita Baptist University in Arkansas, where I received degrees in Biblical Studies and History/Political Science. After graduation, I worked in Florida for a time as a youth minister, but soon returned to Arkansas, where I served in church ministry for 26 years. This included work as pastor at Old Austin UMC in Ward, Arkansas and as the family/youth pastor and contemporary worship leader at North Little Rock First UMC. I was also Director of the Patrick Henry Hays Senior Citizen Center in North Little Rock and continued my education by earning an MDiv at Asbury Theological Seminary in 2021. I was accepted into the Virginia conference of the UMC in 2024.”
Steven has two grown children, Faith and Timothy, and lives in Northern Virginia with his wife Cortney.
“I love working with Galilee and The Chapel, and I rejoice in what God accomplishes.”
Galilee is lead by teams of ordinary people, volunteers that support our ministry and mission.
“Let all things be done decently and in order.” – 1 Cor 14:16
Charlie Leftwich is chair of Finance Committee.
Jennifer Shah is Lay Leader at Galilee
Mario Brathwaite is Ministry Council chair.
Tom Duley is chair of SPRC.
Lisa Collins chairs this group.
Mike Tucker is chair of the Trustees.
OFFICE CONTACT
To reach anyone in our office, call (703) 430-2203 or email our office administrator:
YOUTH MINISTRY COORDINATOR
Lisa and her family have been attending Galilee since the late 1990s. She grew up in Hamilton in western Loudoun County and graduated from Loudoun Valley High School.
“In high school, my church Youth Group was my social network,” says Lisa. “That set me up for looking for similar experiences in college at Mary Washington, where I got involved in campus ministries eventually taking leadership roles. That’s the path I want to mark out for our Galilee kids…a way of taking their faith forward into whatever life holds for them.”
Lisa’s background is in corporate training leadership. She and her husband Rodney have two kids, Erica and Brian.
ACCOMPANIST
Tordis Fahringer grew up in New Jersey and began studying classical piano when she was five and a half. Her first organist position was at the age of 13 at a small Lutheran church in New Jersey. Tordis earned her BA in Music from Douglass College at Rutgers University.
Tordis moved to Virginia in 1988. Since 1999, she held organist/accompanist positions at two Lutheran churches before joining the staff at Galilee in November 2016. She has been the keyboard artist for the Reston Chorale since 2004, and prior to that was the accompanist for the Master Singers of Virginia for nine years. Tordis accompanies local school choral concerts, and works with instrumentalists and vocalists to prepare for auditions, recitals, competitions, and recordings. She also teaches piano privately to students of all ages.
Tordis and her husband Bob live in Sterling with their two cats Chloe and Maude. They have two grown children, Marc and Alyssa.
BUSINESS MANAGER
Donna keeps our records straight and up to date in the office.
She says, “I am originally from Auburn, NY, and currently live in Sterling. I have two adult children, a son and a daughter, who are twins. My son is married and has one daughter. My daughter is married and lives nearby in Winchester.
I was raised Catholic and I am from a large Italian family, most still living in Auburn. My previous work experience has been in Finance and Administration. I enjoy bookkeeping, and wearing multiple hats. I love to help out whoever needs it. My goal is to live a life that is pleasing to God and working here is a perfect fit.
Outside of work, I enjoy dancing, traveling, movies, and of course spending time with my family, especially my granddaughter.”
AV DIRECTOR
Robert Holland is at home in two places: the football field and church. With a career spanning professional football leagues like the CFL and AFL, Robert showcased his athleticism and skill as a player. He also grew up deeply rooted in the church.
Robert’s passion for sports and his spiritual upbringing led him to excel academically and athletically, earning him the prestigious title of a four-year Collegiate All-American. In his church life, Robert has developed professionally with experience in the realm of audio/visual technology. He brings an eye for excellence to worship at Galilee.
DIRECTOR OF SERVE MINISTRIES
Felicia oversees all of Galilee’s volunteer service ministries. She comes to us with a strong background in service to the community and involvement in church.
Originally from Jacksonville, FL, Felicia worked with the Jacksonville Housing Authority for 30 years. She loves spending time with her children and grandchildren and likes movies and sea cruises.
If you’ve heard Felicia speak from the pulpit at Galilee, you know she is a woman of tremendous spirit and faith.
DIRECTOR OF MUSIC MINISTRY
Jordan was born in Winchester, VA as the youngest of five children. His father’s parents were missionaries in Cuba for 19 years and Haiti for 28, so the missionary impulse runs in his blood. He attended Houghton College in New York for music education and earned a Masters degree at Westminster Choir College of Rider University in Princeton, NJ. After school, he returned to Winchester and began working for Loudoun County Public Schools. He taught chorus at Stone Hill Middle School for seven years before moving to Rock Ridge High School in 2014, where he currently serves as Fine Arts Department Chair and teaches choir and musical theater.
He was the Worship Arts Coordinator at Round Hill UMC for seven years and directed the women’s barbershop group within the Shenandoah Valley Chorus for six years.
When he’s not in church or school, Jordan’s got a third job working part-time at Zephaniah Farm Vineyard. For hobbies, Jordan likes tennis, volleyball, bowling, frisbee golf, soccer, and checking out scenic trails.
HANDBELL DIRECTOR
Brietta Miller has lived most of her life in Sterling, VA. She is a graduate of Park View High School and George Mason University with a BSEd in Health and Physical Education. Music has always been a part of her life. She got involved with handbells 19 years ago and has been a director for children and adult handbell and handchime choirs. She loves using music as a way to worship God, whether during church services, concerts, or rehearsals.
She and her husband, Jonathan, were married in 2015. Together they have a blended family of two boys and two girls (Michael, Dawn, Tyler, and Kimberly) and a cat (Sadie). You can find her at Sunday services, where you might see her practicing American Sign Language to the music or having a casual conversation with her son, Tyler. She loves to stay active with soccer, walking, and snow skiing. Yes, she loves the snow and the beach!
COMMUNICATIONS
Chris’s background is in editing and book publishing. He handles all of Galilee’s written communication needs, manages our website and social media, and works with Galilee volunteers to spread the word about our church’s missions and ministries.
A voracious reader, Chris loves the small group Galilee Book Club. Check it out, because you are invited to join it, too.
CHILDRENS COORDINATOR