Letter from the New Pastor
Hello there!
It seemed good to me to write a short letter to the congregation to tell you a little bit about my story and my vision for Penn Hills Alliance Church. It would be impossible for me to tell you my story without telling you of the people who helped me get where I am. I’m not a self-made man. I’m a mosaic portrait of many people’s sacrificial time and energy.
I came to know the Lord Jesus as a young child. I grew up in a household with two believing parents who were foundational in passing on a love for Jesus. You’ll probably hear me reference my parents in my sermons.
Despite constantly picking on my father, he really is my hero. Dad taught me to trust the importance of obedience to God not just through words but actions. My Dad showed me how God the Father loves his children. I praise God that for me, to think of God as Father comes with no baggage or daddy issues because of the goodness of my dad.
The fierce passionate side in me is something I probably get from my mother. I don’t think anybody can outwork her as she’s just too strong and determined to get the job done right. Yet Mom often showed her strength by sacrificing her time and energy for my benefit. Mom modeled for me Christ’s sacrificial love as I know my mother would do anything for me.
In high school, I read the Gospel of John in one sitting and when I closed the book, I knew that I needed to change my life to live for God or quit calling myself a Christian. It was at that moment I came to the end of myself and conceded all of my life to God. It has been the most empowering and lifechanging decision I ever will make.
It was at this same time that I started to be discipled by Dr. Dan Russell. He was a former missionary feared by the Russian mob in China, a boxer in the Philippines, and is currently professor at Liberty University and director of CEF Franklin and Fulton County. Dr. Dan is a kind of Apostle Paul to my Timothy. He taught me the importance of evangelism and missions. Dr. Dan spoke of a God whose primary character trait was reaching out to the lost. His guidance has had profound impact on my ministry to this day.
My senior year of high school I enrolled at Liberty University and began to take college classes early. In 2020 I graduate with a Bachelor of Science in Religion: Biblical and Theological Studies. During my college career I worked for Child Evangelism Fellowship (CEF). After I graduated, I accepted a position at Crossroads North Church where I met an incredible congregation who helped me in my a crazy first pastoral tenure.
It was while at Crossroads that I met the kindest and most beautiful woman, Mikelle. After our first date, I knew she would be my wife. She loves Jesus, she’s sweet, she’s funny, and she has a heart of pure gold. I am so excited to spend the rest of my life with this woman. Through her actions, God has expressed to me how he is a happy and kind God, not a hard task master. Together we felt a call to find a pastorate that could be a long-term position for us to raise a family and grow old in.
Which brings me here to Penn Hills Alliance Church and to the most important person who has contributed to the mosaic of my life, Jesus Christ. For 25 years Jesus has been working through amazing people, more people than I can even list! Jesus has been reaching out to me and in Him I have found my ultimate satisfaction and joy. Jesus is my everything, he’s been far more faithful than I deserve and abundant in blessings. And with all of my soul I believe Jesus has brought you, the people of Penn Hills Alliance Church, into my life to grow me and teach me. I believe that he has brought me into your life to also grow and teach you. And I believe Jesus is calling us to work together to mobilize PHAC to go rescue people from the kingdom of darkness and transfer them into the kingdom of light by the power of the gospel. Leading Penn Hills in this gospel mission is the honor of a lifetime.
My hope is to make this church an army for the Kingdom bent on tearing down enemy strongholds and establishing the Kingdom’s presence here on earth. I want us to be busy making here in Penn Hills as it is in heaven, full of praise and worship of King Jesus.
Sincerely,
Pastor Justin