Our Ministers
Michael Dawson – Senior Minister
Michael hails from Zanesville, Ohio, where he grew up in faith at the North Terrace Church of Christ. When he was fourteen years old, he accepted Christ as his Lord, Master, and Savior and was immersed. Michael's decision to follow Christ was the culmination of people pouring their faith into his life.
When Michael was in high school, he felt the gentle nudge of God calling him into full time ministry. He answered that call by enrolling at Mid-Atlantic Christian University in Elizabeth City, North Carolina. Michael graduated from MACU in 2007 with a B.S. in Bible and Theology with minors in Preaching and Counseling.
Before coming to West Side in August 2009, Michael served as a youth minister with churches in North Carolina and Virginia. Michael began serving West Side in August 2009 as the Associate Minister transiting into the role of Senior Minister. That transition became compete on January 1, 2014.
While at MACU he met his wife Crystal. They were married in 2007. Together they have two daughters, Alivia and Evelyn, and one son Cole. Michael is an avid football fan and even admits that he is a supporter of the Cleveland Browns. He can often be heard telling people he “bleeds scarlet and grey” due to his deep love for the Ohio State Buckeyes football program.
You can follow Michael on his blog where he sporadically (the key word there, he hasn't posted in four years) writes his thoughts concerning life and ministry at www.michaeldawsononline.com.
You can email Michael at medawson03@gmail.com
Michael hails from Zanesville, Ohio, where he grew up in faith at the North Terrace Church of Christ. When he was fourteen years old, he accepted Christ as his Lord, Master, and Savior and was immersed. Michael's decision to follow Christ was the culmination of people pouring their faith into his life.
When Michael was in high school, he felt the gentle nudge of God calling him into full time ministry. He answered that call by enrolling at Mid-Atlantic Christian University in Elizabeth City, North Carolina. Michael graduated from MACU in 2007 with a B.S. in Bible and Theology with minors in Preaching and Counseling.
Before coming to West Side in August 2009, Michael served as a youth minister with churches in North Carolina and Virginia. Michael began serving West Side in August 2009 as the Associate Minister transiting into the role of Senior Minister. That transition became compete on January 1, 2014.
While at MACU he met his wife Crystal. They were married in 2007. Together they have two daughters, Alivia and Evelyn, and one son Cole. Michael is an avid football fan and even admits that he is a supporter of the Cleveland Browns. He can often be heard telling people he “bleeds scarlet and grey” due to his deep love for the Ohio State Buckeyes football program.
You can follow Michael on his blog where he sporadically (the key word there, he hasn't posted in four years) writes his thoughts concerning life and ministry at www.michaeldawsononline.com.
You can email Michael at medawson03@gmail.com
Dr. Marty Egelston – Minister
Marty grew up in Middletown, Ohio and for the exception of a few years has lived his entire life in SW Ohio. He attended the Parkway Church of Christ (Now Spring Hill Church of Christ) where he was taught and challenged to enter into fulltime Christian ministry. He answered that call in 1976. He and his wife Rosemary were married in 1968 and were blessed with two daughters. Marty holds two degrees from Cincinnati Christian University and continued his education by completing a Masters and PhD degree. Marty has served as youth minister for the Parkway Church of Christ and as minister of the Danville Church of Christ as well as the Sardinia Church of Christ before serving a brief time in Thailand. Since then he served as minister of the Monroe Christian Church (now LifeWay Christian Church) and has been ministering with West Side since 1994. In May of 2014 Marty entered into semi-retirement after serving twenty years with West Side. His retirement does not mean you won't see him around. Marty will continue to minister and serve West Side on a part-time basis. Marty has also taught at Cincinnati Christian University as an adjunct professor.
Sports has always been a part of Marty’s life. Being a former baseball player, he has worked as a sports chaplain for many high school, college and pro teams. He continues that involvement by being one of the “Sports Guys” on Lebanon Channel 6. If you cannot find him at church, you will probably find him on a sports field somewhere supporting one of his six grandchildren who are his joy. In the summer of 2012 Marty's wife Rosemary was diagnosed with early onset Alzheimers/Dementia. She has been a resident at Otterbein in Lebanon since 2017 when he could no longer take care of her needs at home.
You can email Marty at megelston@hotmail.com
Marty grew up in Middletown, Ohio and for the exception of a few years has lived his entire life in SW Ohio. He attended the Parkway Church of Christ (Now Spring Hill Church of Christ) where he was taught and challenged to enter into fulltime Christian ministry. He answered that call in 1976. He and his wife Rosemary were married in 1968 and were blessed with two daughters. Marty holds two degrees from Cincinnati Christian University and continued his education by completing a Masters and PhD degree. Marty has served as youth minister for the Parkway Church of Christ and as minister of the Danville Church of Christ as well as the Sardinia Church of Christ before serving a brief time in Thailand. Since then he served as minister of the Monroe Christian Church (now LifeWay Christian Church) and has been ministering with West Side since 1994. In May of 2014 Marty entered into semi-retirement after serving twenty years with West Side. His retirement does not mean you won't see him around. Marty will continue to minister and serve West Side on a part-time basis. Marty has also taught at Cincinnati Christian University as an adjunct professor.
Sports has always been a part of Marty’s life. Being a former baseball player, he has worked as a sports chaplain for many high school, college and pro teams. He continues that involvement by being one of the “Sports Guys” on Lebanon Channel 6. If you cannot find him at church, you will probably find him on a sports field somewhere supporting one of his six grandchildren who are his joy. In the summer of 2012 Marty's wife Rosemary was diagnosed with early onset Alzheimers/Dementia. She has been a resident at Otterbein in Lebanon since 2017 when he could no longer take care of her needs at home.
You can email Marty at megelston@hotmail.com
Emily Bosdell - Children's Minister
Emily was lucky to be born into an Army family. She was born in Heidelberg, Germany and traveled around the world. Although, patriotism was an important part of growing up in a military family, her father always made it known that God came first, then family, then work, and then yourself. No matter where she lived, her family made it a point to attend and a find a home church. At the age of eight years old, Emily was baptized into Christ. Very early in her life it was always important to share God’s love and understand his grace for her. In 2003, Emily graduated from Christopher Newport University with a Bachelor’s Degree of Arts in Early Childhood Psychology, with a Minor in Sociology and Religious Studies. She has been teaching for 13 years as a Special Education Teacher. While in high school she met her future husband in youth group, Jeremy. They have been married since 2004. They have three children, Madelyn, Lucas, and Rebecca. Emily has been a member at West Side since March 2012, when her family moved to Ohio from Virginia. Before serving as our Children's Minister, Emily and her husband, have been youth group leaders for four plus years.
Family and friends are a huge part of Emily’s life. She loves to travel, cook, and the PATRIOTS!
You can email Emily at Bosdellem1@gmail.com
Emily was lucky to be born into an Army family. She was born in Heidelberg, Germany and traveled around the world. Although, patriotism was an important part of growing up in a military family, her father always made it known that God came first, then family, then work, and then yourself. No matter where she lived, her family made it a point to attend and a find a home church. At the age of eight years old, Emily was baptized into Christ. Very early in her life it was always important to share God’s love and understand his grace for her. In 2003, Emily graduated from Christopher Newport University with a Bachelor’s Degree of Arts in Early Childhood Psychology, with a Minor in Sociology and Religious Studies. She has been teaching for 13 years as a Special Education Teacher. While in high school she met her future husband in youth group, Jeremy. They have been married since 2004. They have three children, Madelyn, Lucas, and Rebecca. Emily has been a member at West Side since March 2012, when her family moved to Ohio from Virginia. Before serving as our Children's Minister, Emily and her husband, have been youth group leaders for four plus years.
Family and friends are a huge part of Emily’s life. She loves to travel, cook, and the PATRIOTS!
You can email Emily at Bosdellem1@gmail.com
