Erik A. Ostrow grew up in Collingswood, NJ. He was raised in church from age two. At age eight, First UMC of Collingswood became his home church. He grew in his Christian walk under the leadership of Rev. Jack Hamilton, Rev. Dick Esher, and many laity. 

Erik received the call to ministry at age 16 and has continued to follow the path that God laid out for him. After graduating from Collingswood High School in 1995, he began his higher education locally; earning an A.A. in Liberal Arts from Camden County College in 1997 and a B.A. in Psychology in 1999 from Rowan University. He also completed the Dale Carnegie Course in the summer of 1999. All the while, he continued to support and serve in his home church in a variety of ways including, leading worship, singing in the choir, playing drums, participating in dramas, working with the youth group, teaching Jr. High guys’ Sunday School, hospital visitation, serving on administrative committees, and some preaching. 

In September of 1999, Erik journeyed to Wilmore, KY where he attended Asbury Theological Seminary and completed his Master of Divinity Degree in 2003. He also served two years on Asbury’s Student Body Council and served three years with Ichthus Ministries annual concert and festival. Some other ministry experiences include playing drums for the worship team at Wilmore UMC, assisting with the youth at Open Door Free Methodist Church, a prison ministry weekend with the Bill Glass Weekend of Champions in Troy, NC, and chaplaincy work at the Thomson-Hood Veterans Home in Wilmore, KY, and at the Veterans’ Affairs Hospital in Lexington, KY. In addition, he was the drummer and backing vocalist for the band N.A.I.L.E.D. The group wrote and played original Christian music and even recorded the CD, Anger Management under the record label, Bored Martyr Records.   

Erik began full-time ministry with the UMC in July of 2003. He was commissioned as a Probationary Elder at the June 2004 Greater New Jersey Annual Conference session and became a full member of the conference as he was ordained in June 2011. He has served churches in Atlantic, Camden, and Gloucester Counties in different capacities including associate pastor, solo pastor, and even a split appointment holding both of those positions simultaneously in two different churches. Since July of 2007, Erik has served the two-point charge of St. John’s UMC of Harrisonville & Ferrell UMC (Monroeville) in the Delaware Bay District. Some of his ministry interests include preaching, teaching, visitation, sacraments, stewardship, music, and drama. 

Outside of the ministry, Erik enjoys singing, playing drums, listening to music, watching sports and is part of some on-line fantasy sports leagues. In general, his favorite teams play in Philadelphia. Erik married his true love, Amy in March of 2006. Together, Erik and Amy enjoy the artwork of Thomas Kinkade, taking walks, eating out, watching TV game shows and the Food Network, and visiting such places as the Cape May Zoo, Smithville Village, Ocean City Boardwalk, and anywhere else where they can enjoy the beauty of God’s creation. They like animals, in particular wolves (Amy’s favorite) and eagles (Erik’s favorite). They also enjoy their two dogs; Ginger (8-year-old Rhodesian Ridgeback-Yellow Labrador Retriever Mix) and Night Rider (12-year-old purebred Greyhound who is now retired from dog racing).