LWC Staff
"Keep watch over yourselves and all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. Be shepherds of the church of God, which he bought with his own blood."
Act 20:28
Mark & Donna Porado
Lead Pastor
Church Elders
Mark and Donna Porado have been in ministry together since 1999. Donna served as a Youth leader as a teenager. They served together in Student Ministry from 1999 until 2009 when they became Lead Pastors of their church in Cleveland, GA.
Mark and Donna founded and led a Motorcycle Ministry that saw many bikers come to know Christ. In addition, they operated "Holy Grounds Coffee House" in Cleveland, GA. Part of that ministry was serving free meals twice a week and providing free concerts to students in the area.
In 2015 Mark & Donna moved to Jasper to become Lead Pastors of Living Word Church. They have 3 adult children and 5 grandchildren.
Gerald and Sheryl Faulkner came to Living Word Church in 1989. They have faithfully served here in many capacities, including ministering to our children for several years. They have filled in as an interim pastor on several occasions as well.
Both Gerald and Sheryl are graduates of Southeastern University in Lakeland, Florida and International Seminary in Plymouth, Florida. At one time they were pastors in North Carolina and Pennsylvania. And they have both administered and taught in Christian schools.
Gerald & Sheryl Faulkner
Associate Pastor
Church Elders
Mark & Levonne Leuenberger
Executive Director of Ministry (Mark)
Benevolence Deacons
Kids' Ministry Dept. Head (Levonne)
Mark and Levonne Leuenberger have been leading and serving in various ministries since they moved to Georgia in 1989. This has included leading children’s ministries, sound team, and small groups as well as serving in many support ministries.
The couple started attending LWC when they moved from Atlanta to Jasper in 2019 and became members in 2020. Levonne currently serves in the children’s ministry.
The Leuenbergers became Benevolence Deacons in 2021. In March 2022, Mark assumed the role of Executive Director of Ministries at LWC. In this role, Mark oversees the day-to-day business and operational functions of the church.
Before getting married in 2016 at LWC, Billy and Kim were both serving separately in the church. Billy started attending Living Word in 2008 where shortly after he served on the Guest Services Team and led the Iron Men Ministry.
Kim came to LWC in 2011 and has served as Missions Liaison, Women's Ministry leader, and Prayer Team Leader. In 2021, the couple became Elders of LWC and continue to serve both the church and the community they love side-by-side.
Billy & Kim Echols
Church Elders
Pam Layfield is the Fellowship Deacon for LWC. Since helping her mother cook when she was a teenager, she has always loved to be in the kitchen. Pam understands the importance of fellowship that the word of God shares with believers.
Pam Layfield is a wonderful, daily example of someone who loves to serve by serving others!
Pam Layfield
Fellowship Deacon
Tom & Candice Fowler
United Youth Leaders
9th to 12th Graders
Men's Bible Study Leader
