In January, 2018, Aaron answered the call to join the Northside team as the Senior minister. He earned an MA in Counseling and an MA in Pastoral Counseling from Cincinnati Christian University in 2001 and 1999, respectively. He also has a BS in Christian Ministries with an emphasis on Preaching, also from CCU in 1992. Most recently, he has been serving as Program Director of Christian Counseling and Dean of Men at Central Christian College of the Bible in Moberly, Missouri. Aaron has been blessed to serve the Lord as a preacher, teacher, counselor, writer, and athletic coach.
He was raised in the church as a “preacher’s kid” but didn’t really understand God’s marvelous gift of grace until early adulthood when, just as the prodigal son, he experienced the desperate shame that comes at the end of a rebellious road but also a loving Father who was running to meet him. Since then, his life goal has been to walk closely to the Lord in a surrendered relationship and to be a “gateway to grace” for others.
He walks this journey of life with his beautiful wife Michelle, a talented teacher and loving mother to their three children; Eddie, Joshua and Emmalee.
Sophie Pitz Director of Student Ministries
Sophie knew from a young age that God was calling her into full time ministry, but it wasn't until she was older that He gave her a passion for student ministry. She has been blessed with several mentors who were committed to calling out the leader in her, and her prayer is that she can do the same for the next generation.
Sophie graduated from Central Christian College of the Bible in 2017 with an A.A. in Biblical Studies, and she will graduate from Liberty University in 2021, having earned a B.S. in Political Science.
Before she answered God's call to serve at Northside Christian Church, Sophie was a part of an anti-human trafficking task force, working with several branches of the government. Her team was committed to finding and rescuing victims of human trafficking, collecting and presenting evidence against their controllers, and showing God's grace in impossible situations. In addition, she was also serving part-time as a Children's Pastor at Cornerstone Christian Church.
Sophie and her husband, Brandon, have a shared passion to equip young people to become servants, leaders, and most importantly, disciples of Christ.
Janet Burden Administrative Assistant
Janet's path to Northside Christian Church has been a winding one, but one with a spiritual connection throughout. Earlier in her career, she worked as librarian in an Illinois church and as pastor's assistant in a Columbus church.
She took a hiatus from church work to build a corporate career that spanned more than 21 years at a local insurance company and is now eager to return to the mission to which God led her years ago.
Already sensing God's spirit moving in Northside's congregation, she hopes to put to work her Bachelor of Arts in Communication and Master of Science in Organizational Leadership/Servant Leadership to support Northside's mission to lead one another and others on the path towards Christ.
"And I will lead the blind in a way that they do not know, in paths that they have not known I will guide them. I will turn the darkness before them into light, the rough places into level ground." Isaiah 42:16
