Leadership


LEAD PASTORS

Jeff & Melodie Leake

Jeff Leake has served as the Lead Pastor of Allison Park Church in Pittsburgh, PA for more than 30 years. He is an author of more than five books. Jeff has helped to parent over 30 new churches over the last twenty years, and many of these churches have reproduced to create a movement of well over 100 new churches. He and his wife, Melodie, have been married for over 30 years and have five children and seven grandchildren.

 

Campus Pastors

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Dave Leake

Dave serves as the Campus Pastor at the North Side Campus. Dave and his wife Sarah have relished the opportunity to pastor in one of the most diverse communities in the city. He enjoys reading (and/or listening to) good books, following his favorite sports teams (Chelsea FC + Pittsburgh Steelers), and spending time with loved ones.

Gregg Jacobs

Gregg serves as the Campus Pastor at the Allison Park Church Butler campus, in a small town of 50,000 outside of Pittsburgh. The campus started in 2017, and Gregg has loved every minute of serving at Allison Park since 2004. He married his wife Kyra in 1998, and together they have two adult sons. Gregg enjoys making custom furniture with his side business, Creative Wood Designs and building old trucks.

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Joe Schafer

Joe Schafer has served in various roles on the APC staff for over 15 years and currently serves as the Executive Pastor. He oversees the ministries at the Hampton campus and also leads our central department that serves all of our campuses. He and his wife Rachael have been married for 16 years and have two children.

 
 

Trustees

Antwan Worsham

Antwan currently works for the Social Security Administration as the Operations Supervisor. He and his family have been attending APC for over 7 years. He currently serves on the Baptism Team and with Treasured Kids. He and his wife are Marriage Mentors and he preaches twice per month at local assisted living communities. Antwan has his BA from the University of Pittsburgh with a double major in Political Science and Africana Studies MBA from Point Park University. Antwan is married to Rebecca and they have two daughters, Alanna and Nola.

LaToya Sawyer-Ndizeye

LaToya is a finance and banking attorney at Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney PC. She obtained her legal degree from the University of Pittsburgh School of Law and her undergraduate degree from Wake Forest University (NC). LaToya has attended APC since 2010 and serves in a variety of capacities. She and her husband, Jackson, met at APC and have two young sons.

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Vicki Mitchell

Vicki is currently working part time for Heartland Hospice as a hospice nurse. She is currently working with Debbie Lynch as a volunteer pastor for the PrimeTimers at APC. She graduated from Research College of Nursing (Kansas City, MO) 1976. She also graduated from Northeast Ministry School 2014, and is a credentialed minister for the Assemblies of God. She has been married to her husband since 1976 and they have 2 daughters, and 2 grandchildren.

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Dave Andrews

Dave is a Vice President for SDLC Partners, a management consulting firm in Pittsburgh. He graduated from Grove City College with dual bachelor of science degrees in computer systems and mathematics. Dave Andrews has attended the Hampton campus of APC for 22 years. He is currently serving on the Board of Stewardship and is also serving as Board Chairman for the Network of Hope. In the past, Dave has also served as Board Liaison, on the Serve Team, and as a Small Group Leader at APC. Dave and his wife, Sandi, reside with their son, Connor, and their daughter, Sydney.

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Giannie Braafhart

Giannie has served on staff as the RED Youth Director at the North Side Campus for the last 5 years. She founded Grace International Ambassadors, which provides resources to internationals in order to help them with long term civic assimilation to the United States as well as help bridge the communications within the community. She has a Masters of Arts in Journalism and Mass Communication and a Bachelor of Arts in Advertising.

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Lance Stoddart

Lance Stoddart is the US Program Director for Leadership Training International. In 30 years of full-time ministry, he has served on the pastoral teams of 4 churches and with 3 mission organizations. Prior to moving to full-time ministry, he served for 11 years in the U.S. Coast Guard. He graduated from the U.S. Coast Guard Academy in 1987, with a BS in Civil Engineering, and his MA in Applied Theology from Logos University is in progress. Lance and his wife, Melanie, currently attend the Butler campus. They have 3 adult children, and they reside in Mars, Pennsylvania.

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Dave Herbert

Dave has been a small business owner for the last 45 years. Dave and Cindy are now coordinators of the Celebrate Recovery ministry at the Hampton Campus of Allison Park Church which they began in 2001. He has been married to his wife, Cindy, for nearly 47 years. Dave and Cindy have one son and God has blessed them with twin grandchildren.

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Ed Wall

Ed is currently employed at JSP, a multinational manufacturer of engineered polyolefin foams, where he is currently the Plant Manager at the Butler facility. He is a graduate of Penn State University with a degree in Operations Management. Ed has served in ministry for over 15 years in various leadership and volunteer capacities and has been a part of a new church launch. Ed and his wife Natalie live in Butler.


Overseers

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Niecy Dennis White

Niecy Dennis White is the Founder and President of Workforce Development Global Alliance Inc. (WDGA). A graduate of Duquesne University and Greater Works School of Ministry, Niecy served over 25 years at Mellon Financial Corporation (now BNY Mellon) in Operations and Human Resources. She resigned in 2007 as VP of Talent Engagement to focus on WDGA. In August 2015, Niecy became lead pastor of The Lord’s Church of Pittsburgh – founded by her parents: Archie and Claudette Dennis. Serving alongside is her devoted husband—Curtis White and her adopted nephew / son: Archie Dennis IV.

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Ron Heitman

Ron Heitman was elected Assistant Superintendent of the Illinois Assemblies of God in June 2017 with a special assignment of church planting in the urban, inner city and suburbs of Chicago. Ron has served as pastor of Evangel Assembly of God in Hanover Park since 2004. Ron has established a network of ethnic parent-affiliated churches (PAC) including Evangel Indian Church, Espanol Evangel Church, and Evangel Mongolian Church. Ron and his wife Tamra reside in Bartlett, Illinois, and have two daughters in college, Makenna and Matison.

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Brad Leach

As founder and lead pastor of City Life Philly, Brad loves to preach inspiring messages that help people laugh, cry, and love Jesus more deeply. Brad is husband to Leah, and father of Gabby, Claire, Caleb, and Karis. Originally from Michigan, Brad gladly made the move to Philly in 2010 when it became clear that God was calling him to start a new church in this beautiful city. Brad has been a pastor for over 16 years.

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Ron Johnson

Ron Johnson is the Senior Pastor at One Church in Longwood, Florida. One Church is currently meeting in 8 locations. Before this, he pastored Bethel Temple in Hampton, Virginia for 16 years until 2008. He has been a spiritual dad to Jeff Leake since 2003.

 

Financial Task Force

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Tendani Mitole

Tendani Mitole is currently a Global Procurement Director at Arconic Inc. He holds an MBA in Finance and a Bachelors Degree in Accounting. He has attended APC since 2008. He has been on the Finance Task Force for 7 years. Tendani and his wife, Joyce, have one son, C. Michael.

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David Ackerman

Dave has been a member of Allison Park Church for many years. He retired from U$X Federal Credit Union after serving as its president for 20 years. Previously, he was the Chief Financial Officer for Aurora Earthmover Credit Union for 13 years.

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Steve Chaney

Steve Chaney functions as APC's CFO. He is the president of Chaney & Associations, founded in 2002, to serve churches and faith-based non-profits with cloud-based accounting services.

LaToya Sawyer-Ndizeye

LaToya is a finance and banking attorney at Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney PC. She obtained her legal degree from the University of Pittsburgh School of Law and her undergraduate degree from Wake Forest University (NC). LaToya has attended APC since 2010 and serves in a variety of capacities. She and her husband, Jackson, met at APC and have two young sons.

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Lance Stoddart

Lance Stoddart is the US Program Director for Leadership Training International. In 30 years of full-time ministry, he has served on the pastoral teams of 4 churches and with 3 mission organizations. Prior to moving to full-time ministry, he served for 11 years in the U.S. Coast Guard. He graduated from the U.S. Coast Guard Academy in 1987, with a BS in Civil Engineering, and his MA in Applied Theology from Logos University is in progress. Lance and his wife, Melanie, currently attend the Butler campus. They have 3 adult children, and they reside in Mars, Pennsylvania.

 

AFFILIATED CHURCHES

Story Collective Church

Meet Pastor Kelli and her husband, Ben!

Kelli is a pastor, writer, and speaker. She’s also an incredibly talented singer who has recorded and traveled with multiple gospel artists. Pastor Kelli loves to watch people come alive to the love of Jesus.

Ben is a multi-media consultant and musician. He plays bass, percussion, and is a classically trained pianist. Ben enjoys mentoring young creatives and musicians.

Kelli and Ben have been married for over 17 years and have three kids together. They’re so excited to launch Story Collective Church in Lawrenceville in March 2023!

Forged in Faith Church

Pastor Vince and his wife April Arnone lead Forged in Faith Church, formerly the Deer Lakes Campus of Allison Park Church. The church is located in Russellton, PA.

Vince Arnone has pastored for over 30 years in several roles in multiple and diverse mission agencies, denominations and independent, Spirit-Filled fellowships. He holds degrees and certifications in both theology and ministry from Christian Leaders Institute and Global University. He is the author of “You Have Spiritual Gifts,” "The Sons and Daughters of Blessing Curriculum" and "Miracle on 5th Avenue".

He and April have been married for over 30 years and they have two daughters, Isabella and Galilee.

Revival Church International

Revival Church International is a church that started in 2020 and is designed to reach those who live in Pittsburgh, but are from the region of East Africa (Burundi, Rwanda, Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania and the DAR). Services are held primarily in Swahili.