Our Staff
Sampson's Mills is blessed with a fantastic team of leaders. Meet them below!Rev. Dr. Stephen Wilson,
Interim Pastor
SMPC welcomed Steve Wilson as our interim pastor in November 2024.
Steve was born and raised in Alton, Illinois. He received a Bachelor of Arts degree in mathematics and psychology from Blackburn College, Carlinville, Illinois (1979). He received a Master of Divinity degree from Princeton Theological Seminary (1982) and a Doctor of Ministry degree from Pittsburgh Theological Seminary (2000) where his thesis was “John Calvin and the Making of the Pastoral Mind”.
Steve began ministry serving the Mountaintop Larger Parish, 3 small churches in rural Clearfield County, Pennsylvania (1982-1988). Steve served 35 years in Oakmont, Pennsylvania. He served 4 years at the Riverside Presbyterian Church and became the organizing pastor three months after the Riverside and First United Presbyterian Churches in Oakmont merged.
Steve has been active in Pittsburgh Presbytery since coming into the presbytery in 1988. Formerly, he served on an executive presbytery search team. He chaired the Presbytery’s Evangelism and Congregational Development Unit and the Presbytery’s Personnel Committee. Steve currently serves on the Presbytery’s Commission on Ministry which supports congregations and pastors, and promotes peace and harmony in churches.
Steve and his wife, Diane, live in Natrona Heights, Pennsylvania. Diane is a music minister at St. Richard’s Church in Gibsonia. Their blended family consists of four sons, three daughters-in-law, four grandsons and two granddaughters. Steve enjoys riding bicycles with Diane, reading, writing poems and working occasionally at his son’s dog daycare in Verona.
Jo VanMeter, Director of Faith Formation and Worship
Jo comes to us from Kittanning, PA where she grew up in the United Methodist Church. She graduated from Baldwin-Wallace College in Berea, OH, after which she moved back to Kittanning and worked in non-profits, social services, and other churches. Jo has been serving Sampson’s Mills in some official capacity since 2018. She started as the Music Director and then later became also the Children and Youth Director. Some say Jo wears many hats at Sampson’s Mills, but she prefers to think of it as one hat with many colors. On a Sunday morning, you will see Jo at the piano, providing music for the Worship Service, directing the choir or bell choir, and sharing a story with our youngest disciples during the children’s moment.
At it’s core, Jo’s ministry is helping people realize they are loved by God just the way they are and giving people the confidence, opportunity, and support to use thier gifts for God’s glory. This is done though music, serving in worship, and teaching children of all ages. Jo is very community focused and loves to work with other churches and organizations to bring more of God’s children together in fellowship, learning, and service.
Jo lives in White Oak with her husband Matt, daughter Morgan, and two dogs Sam and Louie. In her free time, Jo likes to cook, spend time outside, and tinker with technology. When Jo does slow down to rest, she enjoys a good comedy and bowl of chocolate ice cream.
Amber Keefer, Office Manager
Amber grew up in Wisconsin but found herself at home in Pittsburgh when she moved here to attend Chatham College. Amber began in the role of Office & Communication Manager in 2022. She brings experience from over 15 years in event planning at Saint Vincent College, a Benedictine institution. There, events centered on the Benedictine hallmarks of community, hospitality, stewardship, stability and Love of Christ and neighbor. Amber brings this focus with her as she manages our fellowship hall rentals, quarterly newsletter, daily communications and general administrative work supporting the Sampson’s Mills mission to love and serve Jesus Christ as we cultivate community and empower our neighbors.
Amber was already a familiar face at Sampson’s Mills, being a member here since 2005. She and her husband Max live in North Huntingdon with their children Charlie, Lucy, and Nellie. In her spare time, Amber is a voracious reader and also enjoys binge watching a good show with a pint of frozen custard in hand.