Senior Pastor Robert E. Bell

Born in Toronto, Ontario, Bob grew up in Rhode Island where his father pastored the same church for almost 50 years. The oldest of five sons, Bob attended Philadelphia College of Bible and graduated with a B.S. degree in Bible and Christian Education in 1973. He earned his M.A. in Christian Ministry from Wheaton College Graduate School in 1974. After marrying, Bob and his wife Melody moved to Lancaster, Pennsylvania. His first full-time church ministry was at Westminster Presbyterian Church where he served as the assistant-to-the-pastor and later as an elder. Daughter Alison arrived in July 1977 and son Andrew in March of 1981. In August of 1981 the family moved to St. Louis, Missouri where Bob enrolled in Covenant Theological Seminary and graduated with his M.Div. degree in 1984. While in seminary he served as the Church Administrator while their church was without a pastor and then worked as an Admissions Counselor for the Seminary. Their son Aaron was born soon after graduation. Bob has since served churches in Ruston, Louisiana and St. Peters, Missouri. He has been the pastor of Aisquith since December 1994. His two oldest children are married and live in the Baltimore area. He and Melody have three grandchildren.

Assistant Pastor John E. Ceselsky

John is a native of Baltimore who came to faith in Christ at the age of 23. Following his conversion, John received a B.A. in History from the University of Baltimore in January 1994. From there John felt led to attend seminary, where he attained a Masters of Divinity degree from Covenant Seminary in St. Louis, Missouri in May 1998. Following graduation, John received a call to serve as the assistant to the pastor, at his home church, here at Aisquith. John served in that capacity until he was ordained by the Potomac Presbytery in a service held at Aisquith on February 27, 2000. He has continued to serve as the Assistant Pastor of Aisquith from that time. He is also active in our local presbytery, the Chesapeake Presbytery, having served as the recording clerk of the presbytery from 2000 – 2006, and having served on both the Committee on Mission to North America, and the Committee on Credentials, as well as a number of several commissions. John’s primary role at Aisquith is to serve the families of the church as the youth pastor. It is his desire to see the youth of Aisquith grow as vibrant disciples of Jesus Christ, as he walks with families in nurturing their children in their walks of faith. This is done through teaching in our Sunday School program, teaching the Scriptures in our weekly youth Bible Study, and through RockHouse, Aisquith’s youth group. Additionally, John leads our yearly Impact mission trip and our College & Career ministry.

Music Director Stephen A. Holmes

Stephen Holmes began his formal musical training with The Maryland State Boychoir (MSB) at the age of nine. His strong ties and commitment to the MSB continue today where he is now serving in his twelfth year as Music Director, overseeing the boychoir’s six ensembles. Mr. Holmes serves in various leadership roles throughout the Maryland and D.C. area. He is currently the Director of Choral Activities at the College of Notre Dame of Maryland . He has also served as Associate Director of the Glorystar Children’s Choir. Mr. Holmes is chair of the Boychoir Repertoire & Standards Committee of the Maryland/D.C. division of the American Choral Directors Association (ACDA). In addition, he is the music director for Aisquith Presbyterian Church in Baltimore and also conducts the University of Maryland Men’s chorus. Additionally, he serves on the board of directors for the Canticle Singers of Baltimore, the Maryland State Boychoir, and The Choral Music Educator’s Association of Maryland. Mr. Holmes has conducted in 35 states and at the ACDA and Maryland Music Educators Association conferences, served as a guest conductor of county and state honor choirs and festivals, and his choral arrangements have been performed by choirs throughout the mid-Atlantic region. Mr. Holmes has performed as a soloist and chorister with numerous regional ensembles and has been recognized with several voice, organ, and conducting awards. Mr. Holmes, a resident of Baltimore ‘s Mayfield community, received his Bachelor of Music degree in voice and organ performance from Towson University and his Masters degree in Choral Conducting from the University of Maryland , College Park . He will complete his doctorate in choral conducting at the University of Maryland in the spring of 2010 . Mr. Holmes also maintains a private voice and piano studio.