Joel Repic is the Executive Director of the Tampa Underground, a global network of microchurches and missional leaders committed to advancing the Kingdom in overlooked and unlikely places. Prior to this role, Joel served as the Church Planting Director for the Western Pennsylvania District of The Alliance and Co-Director of the Greenhouse Network, a collective of churches, nonprofits, and businesses seeking the renewal of their communities. He also previously led as the pastor of The Gospel Tabernacle in Aliquippa, PA, where his passion for neighborhood transformation and equipping everyday missionaries was deeply rooted in the life of the local church.

Joel and his wife Chelsea, along with their three children, have lived out a calling to see God’s Kingdom multiply through ordinary people living on mission. From Aliquippa to Tampa, his leadership has focused on cultivating movements of microchurches, entrepreneurial ministries, and Gospel-centered communities that embody Christ’s love in tangible and contextual ways. His heart remains fixed on empowering disciples to bring the Good News into the margins and to witness God’s Kingdom breaking through in unexpected places.

Richard Cox II is a fourth-generation missionary in the Wesleyan Church and the founding pastor of Overflow Church in Altoona, Pennsylvania. Called to missions at age five, Richard first imagined a global calling, but as a teenager serving with his family in Africa, he began to sense God's call to reach North America. With degrees from Kingswood University, Wesley Seminary, and a D.Min in Church Planting from Asbury Theological Seminary, Richard brings theological depth and passion for multiplication to his ministry. Over the past 12 years, Overflow has become a sending church committed to disciple-making, leadership development, and planting new churches—including Renew Church and The Cord Church—focused on bringing the Gospel to the 290,000 people in Central PA without a church home or relationship with Jesus.

Cory is the global voice developer for New Generations, a missions organization that launches disciple-making movements (DMM). His role is to mine the team’s extraordinary expertise in DMM, define it, refine it, and then write it for a global audience.

Prior to joining New Generations, Cory was a collaborative writer and toolmaker with The Future Church Co. and similarly served a range of Christian leaders and organizations under the auspices of his own enterprise, Fulcrum Content. Before that, he served as a pastor in Pennsylvania and New Jersey. He loves history and earned a Doctor of Ministry degree with a thesis on 19th-century educator, revivalist, publisher, and abolitionist Mansfield French.

Cory was raised in central New York and educated in Indiana and Massachusetts. Today, he lives in Hollidaysburg, Pennsylvania, with his wife, Kelly, and their four children.
New Generations

Pastor Tim McGarvey has served as the Senior Pastor of Altoona Alliance Church since 1998, bringing over three decades of pastoral experience since beginning ministry in 1987 at Critchfield C&MA and Butler/Freeport Road (now Crosswinds Alliance). A proud native of Mahaffey, PA, Tim graduated from Toccoa Falls College with a B.A. in Pastoral Ministries and now leads a church deeply engaged in spiritual transformation and community outreach through innovative practices like College of Prayer Ministry, Soul Care, Project 2819 and ESL ministry.

Under his shepherding, Altoona Alliance has experienced remarkable renewal—paying off its mortgage 18 years early, increasing baptisms, revitalizing small groups, and fostering unity with other city churches to saturate their region with the Gospel . Tim lives in Altoona with his wife Brenda; they are proud parents of four sons (Andrew, Ryan, Branden, and Bryce), four daughters-in-law, and five grandchildren. When he's not preaching, he loves riding his motorcycle, kayaking, hunting, fishing, golfing, or disc golfing, reading, and embodying a “prayer, care, share” lifestyle in all he does.

Heather Manges, the Executive Director of Wright Place for Kids under The Nehemiah Project and a certified member of the Maxwell Leadership Certified team, she is uniquely positioned to guide you on your journey to find your purpose and catalyze life transformations. Heather Manges is dedicated to creating safe, Christ-centered environments for children and families in Central Pennsylvania. She is also the founder of Titus 2 Ministry, a discipleship community focused on mentoring, encouragement, and spiritual growth among women. Before stepping into full-time ministry leadership, Heather spent years as a Walmart Store Manager, where she developed her skills in team building, leadership, and operations. She now channels that experience into her work as an Executive Director with the John Maxwell Team, equipping leaders with biblically grounded principles to influence their communities for Christ.

With a heart for empowering others, Heather combines practical leadership training with relational discipleship, helping individuals and communities grow in faith, unity, and purpose. With over 25 years of experience in the corporate world managing complex operations and leading teams of up to 300 associates, Heather possesses the expertise and resources needed to elevate your leadership and personal growth. Trained under the mentorship of John Maxwell and his distinguished faculty, she brings a wealth of knowledge on leadership development, professional skills, and personal growth.

Imagine the possibilities of a life lived with intention and clarity. Heather’s workshops and coaching sessions provide a roadmap, equipping individuals and teams with exclusive strategies tailored to enhance productivity and performance. Her transformative approach, coupled with a heartfelt commitment to empowering others, can set you on the path to discovering your true calling.

Since 2008, Sean Teis, along with his wife and kids, has been evangelizing and discipling fatherless families nationwide by raising awareness, creating unique resources, speaking, partnering with local churches, and establishing local fatherless family ministry Initiatives. Sean grew up fatherless, had a single mom, and his grandparents helped raise him. Despite his situation, he became an ordained minister, has authored several books, is a featured media and news expert on fatherlessness, is a requested national speaker, and is the host of the Let’s Talk About Fatherlessness Show. From 2019-2021, his family traveled across the United States on a Hope for Fatherless American National Tour, speaking on fatherlessness in 150+ churches, as well as at conferences, youth detention centers, public schools, Christian schools, and other venues. Their ministry provides churches worldwide with online training and digital and physical resources to effectively evangelize and disciple fatherless families in their churches and communities. They also developed GodismyDad.com, a FREE mobile app and website for fatherless families. They are also working to launch at least one single-mom community group in every county in the United States!  Locally, Sean is a part-time Family Pastor at Grace Bible Church in Hollidaysburg and a co-host on the ManUp television show by Joy in the City.

Rev. Mark Frailey is the founder and Executive Director of Go ReEntry, Inc.  Mark has worked as a pastor, police officer, special agent, and chief of police. Twenty-one years ago he found himself on the other side of the bars.  God took the mess Mark created and turned it into a powerful prison ministry.  After 10 months of incarceration, Mark started a lawn care and handyman business called His Workmanship.  For the next 15 years Mark mentored over 50 employees, all who were formerly incarcerated.  Mark has been an active member and leader in the Pennsylvania Prison Society for the past 18 years.  Since his incarceration, Mark has graduated from the Department of Corrections Training Academy and has become a State leader on the Pennsylvania Re-entry Council (PARC).  He serves on State and County criminal justice and re-entry boards.  In 2020 Go ReEntry was founded based on the "GO" in John 8:11 and Luke 10:37.  Since then, Go ReEntry has impacted almost 800 lives for Jesus.  There has been countless faith in Jesus' commitments followed by many baptisms.  Mark and his staff are in several county correctional facilities each week teaching ReEntry Strategies, a faith-based program designed to help people go home, stay home, and be successful.  Mark and his wife Betsy live in Bellefonte and have 6 children and 7 grandchildren.
GoReentry.com

Kevin Dellape is the founder and director of Backyard Ministries, a “presence” ministry to families living in public housing and other low-income neighborhoods. Kevin and his wife Lisa founded the ministry in 2013 with a heart to help those in need find hope in Jesus. Since 2013, Kevin and Lisa have been blessed to see God’s powerful presence at work in more than two dozen low-income neighborhoods in central and western Pennsylvania. Before going into neighborhood ministry, Kevin worked for 25 years as a Christian school teacher and administrator and as an adjunct history professor at Penn State University and Saint Francis University. Kevin and Lisa reside in Altoona, PA.

Rev. Dr. David W. Ervine has been in pastoral ministry for over 45 years serving both in America and in Germany, teaching in high school, universities, and churches. He has been counseling in pastoral work, schools, and as an addiction counselor working in residential programs for over 17 years. He is currently the director of counseling at Day One Ministries and a therapeutic counselor for Pyramid Healthcare.

Dr. Ervine has a passion for communicating the truths of God’s Word and how it relates to lives and the struggles one faces. He will challenge you to think critically and, more importantly, biblically.

He has a Bachelor’s degree in Bible and educational development, a Master’s in education, Bible, and psychology/counseling, and a Doctoral degree in Biblical studies and counseling. He has experience working as both a Biblical and clinical counselor.

In addition, Dr. Ervine has over 300 hrs. of continuing education in psycho-analysis, addiction counseling, and psychology.

Chris Garretson is the Lead Pastor of Redefined Community Church in Martinsburg, PA, an independent church plant launched in June 2022. An unconventional church planter with a deep love for the local church, Pastor Chris is passionate about seeing community churches thrive as Jesus intended—working together to accomplish great things for the Kingdom of God. His heartbeat is real discipleship in action and helping people break free from whatever holds them back, so they can walk in their full potential in Christ. Along with his wife, Kary, Pastor Chris leads Redefined Community Church and together they are raising four children: Caleb (19), Micah (13), Gabriel (12), and Eliana (8)

Jackie Greene is the founding pastor of G.A.P. Ministries (God Answers Prayer), a Christ-centered recovery and outreach ministry based in Clymer, Pennsylvania, grounded in Ezekiel 22:30—“standing in the gap for the hurting and broken” . After discerning a call to ministry later in life, Jackie balanced working full‑time and attending Flame classes at Kingswood University for eight years before being commissioned in the Wesleyan denomination and later ordained by Elim Fellowship in 2019. Before stepping into full‑time ministry, she earned an Associate’s in Business Administration from Indiana University of Pennsylvania and served for two decades as the administrative assistant to the Vice President of University Advancement at IUP.

Through G.A.P. Ministries, Jackie brings Christ‑centered hope, healing, and wholeness to her community through programs like Celebrate Life (a weekly recovery group), Encounter Women’s Weekends, grief and widow support groups, life coaching, prison ministry, prayer gatherings, special events, seminars, and motivational speaking. She and her husband Jim, who serves alongside her in the ministry, are deeply committed to reaching the hurting—especially those who might never step through a church door Gapministries.

She is the author of Pathway to Life, a book that shares her passion for helping people experience freedom, healing, and new life in Christ.

Vince and his wife, Beth, have 3 biological children and 3 adopted children ages 11 through 29.  They have fostered 35 children since 2009, been instrumental in starting sponsorship programs for 4 schools in Africa, and founded the Centre County Orphan Care Alliance in 2008.  Vince has a degree in Animal Science from Penn State University.  After college, he worked as a herdsman for a registered Angus farm in York, PA before going into full-time ministry in 1997.  He served as a pastor for 25 years.  Vince is an advocate for kids from hard places.  He has a strong desire to bring Pennsylvania's churches together to tackle the needs of orphans and vulnerable children locally and globally.  He has had the privilege of serving Keystone Family Alliance as it has expanded from Centre County to now 30 counties, with the vision of expanding to all 67 counties in Pennsylvania. The Smith family lives in Millheim, PA with their beef cows, sheep, chickens, dogs, and cats.

Damian Williams is an experience Kingdom leader in the church and marketplace. From 1996 to 2005 he planted congregations in Pittsburgh, Northwestern Wisconsin, and the Washington DC area. Since 2006 Damian is most recognized for his work with NFL teams and professional athletes. He is currently catalyzing a disciple-making movement in the United States targeting the migrant communities. He also serves as an advisor to leaders in professional sports, business, and government. He lives everyday with a passion to see the Gospel of Jesus Christ transform lives and nations. Damian received his B.S. in Community Ministry from Geneva College and his M.A. in Organizational Leadership from Regent University. He is the author of Forged in Steel: The Seven Time-Tested Leadership Principles Practiced By The Pittsburgh Steelers He is most proud to be be husband of Grecia and Dad of Jerica, Markus, Grace, and Damian.

David Taylor has been the Director of The Door Student Services for 23 years. He has over 30 years of experience reaching at-risk youth with the gospel of Jesus Christ. He has served as a youth pastor, a senior pastor, and an interim pastor in 9 churches. The Door Ministry has led over 1,000 teenagers to Christ and helped thousands more through innumerable life crises. With a love for the local church, David’s desire is to see it equipped as a mission to America’s unreached youth.

Carrie Biddle serves as the Local Director for Child Evangelism Fellowship (CEF) South Central Pennsylvania, passionately leading efforts to bring the Gospel to children across Blair, Huntingdon, and Bedford counties through Good News Clubs, 5-Day Clubs, and special Party Clubs. In her role, Carrie empowers volunteers, churches, and communities to engage young hearts with the Good News in safe, relational, and Biblically centered environments. Known for her heartfelt leadership, Carrie combines vision, compassion, and a steadfast commitment to evangelizing and discipling the next generation.

Ron and Jill Conzo have been married for 21 years and are the proud parents of six children. Together, they have a deep passion for discipleship, evangelism, and caring for the vulnerable in their community.

As foster parents, Jill and Ron have experienced firsthand the challenges and opportunities within the foster care system. Their journey has fueled a commitment to support not only children in care, but also foster families and the caseworkers who serve them.

Jill currently serves as the Blair County Coordinator for Keystone Family Alliance, where she partners with local families and churches to raise awareness and build support for the child welfare system. Whether through church ministry or community outreach, the Conzos are dedicated to being the hands and feet of Jesus—bringing hope, healing, and the love of Christ to those who need it most.

Paul Stauffer came to faith in Christ at the age of 12 and has carried a passion for making the Gospel known ever since. As a young adult, he wrestled with doubt in the midst of a secular education, but through the encouragement of a diverse Christian community and the grace of Christ, he grew in both faith and conviction. During college, Paul became active with Campus Crusade for Christ (now CRU), later serving nationally with its multimedia ministry, Paragon Productions, and then with DiscipleMakers, a campus ministry dedicated to raising up student disciples.

Returning to his hometown of Altoona, Paul built a career in graphic design and marketing while also serving in ministry as a youth pastor and pastoral elder. Over the years, he has served on the board of Child Evangelism Fellowship, helped launch a CRU ministry at Penn State Altoona, and today remains deeply engaged in local discipleship and outreach. He serves on the board of Lighthouse Men’s Fellowship, leads a weekly family Bible study, and is chaplain for Trail Life USA Troop PA-3252. Paul is an active member of Altoona Alliance Church, and he continues to share the hope of Christ through KNOWtheWAYaltoona.com, an online ministry designed to make the Gospel accessible to his community.

Lori Crownover is the founding director of the Altoona English and Culture Club (AECC), which for the past seven years has served Blair County’s international community through English as a Second Language (ESL) and citizenship classes. Lori’s passion for internationals began in 2001 when she taught her first English lesson to a Chinese student in Altoona. Having grown up in a military family that lived across the U.S. and abroad, she developed a heart to see the needs of internationals met—not just with language skills, but also with friendship, practical support, and the hope of the Gospel.

In her role, Lori equips and trains volunteers while tailoring classes to meet a wide range of student needs, from the illiterate in their own language to advanced conversation learners. AECC has become more than an education program—it is a community where seeds of faith are sown through relationships, leading even to the formation of a Spanish-speaking church in Blair County. Lori holds a Master’s in Education, teaches at Penn State Altoona, and has earned her PDE ESL Specialist certification. She is completing ministry coursework with the Christian and Missionary Alliance.

Jonathan and his wife, Suzy, live in State College, Pennsylvania, and have two grown daughters. Jonathan has been a youth pastor, church planter, worship leader, singer/songwriter, podcaster, and recently recorded his first comedy special.  He and Suzy raise and show Bernese Mountain Dogs, and they love living in their neighborhood. Jonathan lives by the credo, “If you are not having fun, you aren’t doing it right.”

Kary Garretson is a passionate speaker and writer who boldly proclaims the truth of who God is and the freedom He offers. Shaped by God’s unrelenting faithfulness in her own life, Kary teaches with compassion and clarity, drawing from her experiences as both a pastor’s kid and a pastor’s wife. Her heart is to see the church unbound from religion and God’s people walking fully in the purpose, freedom, and abundant life He has designed for them.

Kary and her husband, Chris, have been married for 14 years and together planted Redefined Community Church in Martinsburg, PA, in 2022. In 2024, she launched Made for More Women’s Restoration Home, fulfilling an 18-year dream to create a place where women can encounter the complete freedom Jesus brings. Alongside raising their four children—Caleb, Micah, Gabriel, and Eliana—Kary continues to invest her life in calling others to deeper wholeness and greater Kingdom impact.

Tim O’Brien is the Senior Area Director for Young Life Central Pennsylvania. Originally from Bay Village, Ohio, Tim moved to Altoona in 1985 and has called it home ever since. He’s been married to Gwyn since 1987, and they’re proud parents of two adult daughters and two grandsons.

Tim first connected with Young Life in 1978, and that introduction to a personal relationship with Jesus Christ changed everything. He’s been on staff with Young Life for over 40 years, helping introduce students to Jesus through meaningful relationships, weekly outreach clubs, Bible studies, and discipleship. Young Life has been reaching kids in Central PA for more than 50 years, and Tim’s team, comprised of dedicated staff and volunteers, is committed to ensuring every student has the opportunity to hear about God’s love.

Want to learn more or get involved? Visit centralpa.younglife.org or contact Tim at 814-317-9954.

Kevin has been active in evangelism for the last 15 years starting weeks after being saved. Kevin has a passion for training others in evangelism, specifically as an overflow of our heart towards God in everyday life and also listening well to others first. After working 10 years in the Global Supply Chain Management field and serving as an elder in a local church, Kevin founded Permeate Evangelism Ministries and is now in full time ministry. Permeate Evangelism has a vision to create a culture of evangelism within the Church and is active in running regional and local trainings, social media content, and to "go and do" alongside churches as we reach the community with the gospel. For more information on Permeate Evangelism and how they can support your local church in the area of evangelism, go to Permeateevangelism.com.