John Kitchen, Senior Pastor
John became our Senior Pastor in 2001. He came to know Christ as his Savior in his home town in central Iowa while in junior high school. John became convinced of God's call to ministry while making a living in sporting goods at age 21. Later, while in college, he met and then married Julie. Together they enjoy their three children, Melody, Joe and Clint. When he's got some free time, John enjoys long bike rides, good books and fun with his family.

Check out Pastor John's books

jkitchen@stowalliance.org

John Cervone, Associate Pastor
John came to the ministry staff out of the business world in 1993. While working at the Pillsbury Company in Minneapolis, MN, he encountered Jesus Christ as his Savior through the ministry of a coworker. After moving to Corning, NY, John sensed God's call to ministry at the Missions Rally of the General Council of the Christian & Missionary Alliance in Rochester, NY. John met his future wife, Nancy, while attending Allegheny College in Pennsylvania. They have one daughter, Amy who is in seminary. Outside of his church responsibilities, John enjoys reading, is an avid sports fan and participates in an early Friday morning Bible study.

jcervone@stowalliance.org

Seth Bisheimer , YOUTH Pastor
Seth became youth pastor in May 2005. He came to know God at a young age in Akron, Ohio and while attending Nyack College grew into a deeper relationship with God through a number of close friends and mentors. While at Nyack, Seth met his wife Sara in a Communications class and they led worship together for the campus. They were married on June 13, 2003 in New York. After moving to Kansas City in January 2004, Seth sensed God's call on him to be in full time ministry. Seth enjoys movies, guitar, climbing mountains, road trips, and flipping burgers in the summer.

sbisheimer@stowalliance.org

Julie Kitchen, Director of worship Ministries
Julie became the Director of Worship Ministries in the summer of 2005. She committed her life to Christ at the age of 10. While going to an Alliance church in Minnesota, Julie committed herself to serving God fulltime during her teen years. She went to Crown College and met her husband John. During John's seminary training, Julie earned her B.S. in Bible, with an emphasis in Church music and Christian education. She has three children, loves biking, walking, and traveling.

juliekitchen@stowalliance.org

Don Miller , Director of discipleship ministries
Don assumed his duties as Director of Discipleship in January of 2006 following a career in sales. He has attended Stow Alliance Fellowship for 25 years and has been active in lay leadership. While a student at Kent State University, Don came to know Jesus Christ as Savior after reading a gospel tract from SAF. He married his high school sweetheart, Cindy, and they have two adult daughters, Ashlee and Hayley. Don has a passion for sports, loves to read, collects Civil War books and enjoys time with family.

dmiller@stowalliance.org

Ryan Steedly, director of children's ministries
Ryan joined the staff as the Director of Children's Ministries in January of 2009. She came to know Christ as Savior at a young age at a church in Deerfield, Ohio. Ryan began attending Stow Alliance as a freshman in high school, and it was then she began to sense God's call on her life to Children's Ministry. She attended Geneva College in response to that call and graduated in May of 2006. While at Geneva, she met her husband Kenneth and they were married on October 10, 2007. In her spare time Ryan enjoys reading, knitting/ crocheting, hiking, and spending time with her friends and family.

rsteedly@stowalliance.org

Lena Walters, preschool administrator
Lena became the Stow Alliance Preschool Administrator in July of 2005. She comes to Stow Alliance with an Associate Degree in Early Childhood Education from the University of Akron. Lena came to know God as a young child, and rededicated herself as an adult. Lena met her husband in 1998, and they married in May 2000 and have four children, Gabrielle, Logan, Emmalynn and Lucas. Lena also participates in a Wednesday Night Bible Study and teaches Sunday School. In her free time she enjoys reading, walking, and spending time with her husband and young children.

lwalters@stowalliance.org

Bob Sawders, facilities manager
Bob became the Facilities Manager in April 2002. He and his wife Mary Ann have been married since 1962 and have 2 children, Deborah and Kenneth, and 3 grandchildren, Timothy, Charles, and Rene. Bob started attending Stow Alliance Fellowship in 1975 and came to know the Lord in 1980. He and Mary Ann have participated in two missions trips to Russia - one in 1996 for a year, and one over the new year holiday in 2005.

rsawders@stowalliance.org

Kim Richard, Business Manager
Kim grew up in Chagrin Falls, OH and graduated from The Ohio State University with a BSBA in accounting and worked in business for 15 years. She came to know Christ as her Savior in December 2004 at a C&MA church plant in NE Ohio. Shortly thereafter, she began to pray the Lord would provide an opportunity to use her business background in service to Him. In October of 2007 her prayers were answered and she became a part of our SAF family. Kim and her husband John are remarried and are blessed to share and love five children between them: Meredith, Allison, Ian, Andrew, and Aaron. In addition to her responsibilities at SAF, Kim runs on a regular basis and teaches group cycling at her local YMCA. The Richard family spends their free time running, biking, kayaking, camping, reading, and eating -- but not necessarily in that order!

krichard@stowalliance.org