Pastor Debbie was born and raised in Goshen, Indiana, a small city with an ethnically diverse population. She is a descendant of Native American (Powhatan/Cherokee), Irish, and Amish ancestors. She grew up in a family that was very involved in lay ministry in the church. Feeling a call to be a pastor from the age of seventeen, she attended Anderson University in Anderson Indiana and majored in Christian Mininstries. She did youth and family ministry for about ten years. She then worked in the hospitality industry for another nine years before she had the opportunity to attend seminary.

​

Pastor Debbie attended Trinity Lutheran Seminary in Columbus, Ohio and graduated in 2020. She and her husband, Brian, then moved to Northeastern Ohio and she now serves as pastor of both Zion Lutheran Church in Loudonville and St. John's Lutheran Church in Lakeville. Pastor Debbie is passionate about Bible study and discipleship. She brings a diverse background to everything she does and considers it her calling to be a "bridge builder" in our world. In her free time, Pastor Debbie enjoys camping, hiking, attending powwows, and playing with her dog, Zeke.