Rev. Nina Merkle Nestlerode
Lead Pastor

Pastor Nina joined GSCC in August 2020 with 16+ years of experience in Disciple of Christ (DOC) congregational ministry and is a well established, strong preacher, also drawn to creative worship. She served most recently as Co-Sr. Pastor with her spouse in two different Midwest congregations. She has a passion to preach Gospel love for ALL people, to stand for justice for the vulnerable, and to love our neighbors and ourselves as children of God. She provides pastoral care for those struggling in difficult times, while strengthening the light of Christ in and to us all.
Pastor Nina holds a Master of Divinity degree from Pacific School of Religion, Berkeley CA. She also holds a degree in Business from the University of Oregon and worked as a Senior Financial Analyst for a large corporation before receiving her call into ministry.
Email Pastor Nina
Nina, her spouse Glenn, and their son Gabriel live in Twinsburg. Nina and Glenn also have an adult daughter, Elizabeth, who lives in New York City. Pastor Nina loves hiking, swimming, traveling, reading, watching movies, and listening to music!
Pastor Nina holds a Master of Divinity degree from Pacific School of Religion, Berkeley CA. She also holds a degree in Business from the University of Oregon and worked as a Senior Financial Analyst for a large corporation before receiving her call into ministry.
Email Pastor Nina
Nina, her spouse Glenn, and their son Gabriel live in Twinsburg. Nina and Glenn also have an adult daughter, Elizabeth, who lives in New York City. Pastor Nina loves hiking, swimming, traveling, reading, watching movies, and listening to music!
Kaleena Hensley
Administrative and Communications Assistant

Kaleena is the Administrative and Communications Assistant here at Good Shepherd. She and her family have been members of GSCC since 2011. Kaleena helps to bring organization and communication to our ministries, as well as helping to guide us into more efficient use of technology to better serve our members and community.
Kaleena, her spouse Robb, and their children James and Callan live in Bedford.
Email Kaleena
Kaleena, her spouse Robb, and their children James and Callan live in Bedford.
Email Kaleena
Tim Cochran
Director of Music

Tim Cochran, Lyric Baritone vocalist and conductor, received his Master of Music degree from the Cleveland Institute of Music. Tim has performed lead operatic roles in Il Barbiere di Siviglia, Die Fledermaus, Carmen, Hansel & Gretel, The Telephone, Riders to the Sea, The Mother of us All, Amahl & the Night Visitors, HMS Pinafore, The Gondoliers, The Mikado, Pirates of Penzance, Civilization and Its’ Discontents, Jacques Brel and the Ohio premiers of Ligeia and Regina.
Tim was the Baritone soloist and Associate Conductor at Trinity Cathedral, Cleveland, where he performed major works with the Trinity Chamber Orchestra and Chorus including Bach’s St. John Passion, St. Mark Passion, and St. Luke Passion; Faure’s Requiem; and Brahms’ Ein Deutsches Requiem.
Tim has also composed new works such as his Magnificat and Nunc Dimittis which premiered at Trinity Cathedral in 2004, and a Christmas motet Awake, Glad Heart in 2005. He was the Director of the Chancel Choir and Bell Choir at North Royalton United Methodist Church from 2013-2017, and the Chancel Choir Director at St. Martin’s Episcopal Church in Chagrin Falls, OH from 2018-2022.
Tim lives in Lyndhurst with his wife, Jennifer [Director of Music at Medina UCCC].
Tim was the Baritone soloist and Associate Conductor at Trinity Cathedral, Cleveland, where he performed major works with the Trinity Chamber Orchestra and Chorus including Bach’s St. John Passion, St. Mark Passion, and St. Luke Passion; Faure’s Requiem; and Brahms’ Ein Deutsches Requiem.
Tim has also composed new works such as his Magnificat and Nunc Dimittis which premiered at Trinity Cathedral in 2004, and a Christmas motet Awake, Glad Heart in 2005. He was the Director of the Chancel Choir and Bell Choir at North Royalton United Methodist Church from 2013-2017, and the Chancel Choir Director at St. Martin’s Episcopal Church in Chagrin Falls, OH from 2018-2022.
Tim lives in Lyndhurst with his wife, Jennifer [Director of Music at Medina UCCC].
Jane Jowers
Pianist

Jane wows us every other week with the ease at which she moves from contemporary praise music on piano to the rich tones of the organ. She also has an amazing ear -- ask her to play an old hymn from memory and she'll blow you away!