Rev. Leah Ostwald
Director of Family Ministries / email
Leah Ostwald joined the HUMC ministry team in Fall 2020 and currently serves as Director of Family Ministries working with children and youth programs. She approaches children’s faith formation encouraging ideas of wonder about Jesus Christ’s teachings, our surrounding environment, and relationships with people we meet. Passionate about connecting churches with each other and other community organizations and informed by practices of broad-based community organizing, Leah’s work at HUMC extends to various outreach efforts and community engagement for all ages. She’s excited to find the work of Jesus Christ in community and build the Faith Youth Collective of Hinsdale whose first members are HUMC, Redeemer Lutheran, and Community Presbyterian of Clarendon Hills.
Originally from Momence, IL, home of the Gladiolus Festival, Leah was formed by small-town characteristics, the United Methodist congregation at Dixie Hwy and 4th Street, and life experience having lived and taught band and orchestra in Waukegan to St. Louis. Leah holds degrees in music (North Central College 2001, University of Wisconsin 2009) and a Master of Divinity (Garrett Evangelical Theological Seminary 2021) and is a certified candidate for ordination in the United Methodist Church. Together with her family they love Jesus Christ, each other and family, and… well… the Green Bay Packers in that order. ;)