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.
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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.
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Gerald & Sheryl Faulkner
Associate Pastor
Church Elders
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.
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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.
Mark & Levonne Leuenberger
Executive Director of Ministry (Mark)
Benevolence Deacons (Levonne)
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 and Kim Echols
Church Elders
Heather Schmidt
Children's Ministry Director
Heath and MaryAnn Westray
Students Pastors
Heath and MaryAnn grew up in church and have been serving in some capacity most of their lives. Heath and MaryAnn met in 2021 and recently got married in February of 2023. They gave their heart to Christ when they were younger. Both have enjoyed working with Pre-School, Elementary, Middle School, Junior High, High School, and College.
Heath has served at various churches throughout his ministry. He made his calling to preach at the age of 23. Most of Heath’s 15-year ministry has been with students of all ages (preschool through high college and career) on Wednesday nights and preaching as a traveling minister to the entire congregation on Sundays. MaryAnn has served in many ministries in her past churches. She has worked with nursery through young adults and has been very active in the Worship Ministry. MaryAnn previously worked at Eagle Ranch teaching children with special needs. She currently works at the Forsyth County Juvenile Court Clerk’s Office, as a Deputy Clerk.
They look forward to what God has in store for Living Word Church and the Student Ministry.
Favorite Bible verses:
Heath: Romans 8:38 and 39
38 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,
39 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
MaryAnn: 1st Timothy 4:12
12 Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity.
Shirley and Neil came to Living Word Church in 2022 following Neil's retirement as a lead pastor. Prayer has always been a part of her life, but it went to a whole new level under the leadership of a prayer pastor that served while Neil pastored in northern Indiana. After their move to Georgia, she led a community prayer ministry. Shirley believes there is only a successful kingdom fellowship when prayer is the foundation. Since accepting the opportunity to serve at Living Word where there was already a strong prayer foundation, the team has become 21 strong and growing.
Shirley and Neil Horner
Prayer Team Leader (Shirley)
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!
Fellowship Deacon
Wendy Negron
Mountain Movers Leader
5th to 8th Graders
Ms. Wendy is passionate about taking our teens, middle school to JR High school, grades 5 – 8 into growing with the Lord in a fun-loving, Christ-centered atmosphere where this ministry can nurture and work on spiritual and life growth. The ministry wants to grow with our teens and show them that Christ’s love is real. Showing them each day how to walk with the Lord and show the love of Jesus as they encounter the world and endure the trials and tribulations that we are guaranteed as Christian Followers. Our studies and activities are based on biblical principles and the Bible is the basis from where our instructions come from. Wendy strives to provide a safe place for our teens to feel safe and secure as they deal with the many challenges in this world and allowing them opportunities to talk through them with us as they feel comfortable.
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He replied, “Because you have so little faith. Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.”
Matthew 17:20