Meet the Team
Our pastors love the Lord, the Word of God, and the community in and around Covenant Fellowship.
Meet the Team
Our pastors love the Lord, the Word of God, and the community in and around Covenant Fellowship.
OUR PASTORAL TEAM
JARED MELLINGER
Senior Pastor
JIM DONOHUE
Evangelism & College Pastor
Jim Donohue serves as Pastor of Evangelism and loves getting to know new people. He has served on the pastoral team since 1996. In keeping with his primary responsibility to direct the church’s call to evangelism, Jim also leads the college age ministry where he is able to care for college students as well as coordinate outreaches to local universities. He has enjoyed a number of Pastors College and seminary classes and also has a BS degree in Business Administration. He lives in West Chester with his wife, Tricia, and their four children, and spends his free time eating, reading, and working hard to beat his two sons at basketball, which may not last long.
ANDY FARMER
Community & Care Pastor
Andy Farmer joined the Covenant Fellowship staff in 1993. He currently oversees the Covenant Prime ministry (those over 55) and counseling ministry of the church. He received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from St. Andrews Presbyterian College and a Masters in Biblical counseling from Westminster Theological Seminary. Andy is the author of The Rich Single Life, Real Peace, and Trapped. He is never bored, endlessly distractable, and is always looking for new things to turn into hobbies. Andy and his wife Jill live in West Chester and have four children, all of whom are married, and a growing number of grandchildren.
ROB FLOOD
Community & Care Pastor
Rob Flood serves as the pastor responsible for small groups and the marriage ministry of the church. Additionally, Rob carries responsibility for Leadership Training, Women’s Ministry, and shares in the counseling of the church. He has a Bachelor’s of Music in Vocal Performance / Music Education with a minor in Choral Conducting from Rowan University. He also has a MAR from Cairn University and is a graduate of the Sovereign Grace Pastors College. Rob is the author of With These Words: Five Communication Tools for Marriage and Life. Rob has an interest in a wide array of music and film. He lives in West Chester with his wife, Gina, and their six children.
DOUG HAYES
Pastor and Director of Covenant Mercies
Doug Hayes joined the Pastoral Team in 2001 after graduating from the Sovereign Grace Pastors College. The following year, he was commissioned by the pastoral team to launch Covenant Mercies, a separate nonprofit organization established to carry out the church’s mission toward the poor. Doug continues to serve as director of Covenant Mercies to this day. He is a 1990 graduate of Messiah College, and he resides in West Chester with his wife, Rachel. They have 3 grown daughters.
MARTY MACHOWSKI
Executive Pastor
LEO PARRIS
Community & Care Pastor
Leo serves as a pastor in the Music, Youth and leads our Mens and Global Initiatives ministries. Leo received a Bachelor’s degree from West Chester University and a Master’s Degree from Edinboro University of Pennsylvania. He is also a 2017 graduate of the Sovereign Grace Churches Pastors’ College and was ordained in October 2017. He and his wife Missy have four children.
BILL PATTON
Community & Care Pastor
Bill Patton is the founding pastor of Covenant Fellowship. As such, he has been at the church since 1984. Prior to that he served on the Pastoral Team at Covenant Life Church in Gaithersburg, MD. Bill’s undergraduate work was in Electrical Engineering at the University of MD and he subsequently earned a Master’s Degree from Westminster Theological Seminary. He has enjoyed the technical and competitive aspects of the Ham Radio hobby from his earliest teen years. Bill resides in West Chester, PA with his wife Sue. They have 5 children and many grandchildren.
MARK PRATER
Sovereign Grace Churches
Mark Prater has served as an elder at Covenant Fellowship Church since 2002. In 1996, he led a church-planting team to Pittsburgh in order to begin Providence Church, where he served as senior pastor until 2002. Mark is the Executive Director of Sovereign Grace Churches. Mark and his wife, Jill, have three adult daughters and ten grandchildren. They make their home in West Chester. Mark loves spending time with his wife Jill and they love getting as much time as they can with their grandkids, especially at the beach.
ALAN REDRUP
Community & Care Pastor
Alan Redrup served as an Intern at Covenant Life Church in Gaithersburg, Md. from 1981 to 1984. He was a part of the church planting team that started Covenant Fellowship Church in the fall of 1984. Early in 1985, Alan began serving as a pastor here at Covenant Fellowship Church. He received a Bachelor of Science in Urban Ministry Management from Geneva College. Alan enjoys studying and leading Bible studies. Alan and his wife Linda have four grown children and three grandchildren and make their home in Wilmington, DE. Alan loves spending time with his family and friends and playing golf.
JOSEPH STIGORA
Music & Worship Pastor
Joseph Stigora serves as a pastor in the Music and Family Life ministries. He currently leads worship and oversees the music and production teams. Joseph graduated from West Chester University in 1996 with a Marketing major and a Creative Writing minor then came on staff at Covenant Fellowship Church after graduating from the Sovereign Grace Pastors College in 1999. His interests include playing guitar, reading, listening to music, running, not being on Social Media and having his own punk band. Joseph loves spending time with his wife, Wendy, and their five children.
JARED TORRENCE
Community & Care Pastor
Jared Torrence serves as a pastor in the Music, Youth, and Singles Ministries. Jared received his B.A. from Northern Illinois University, has studied at the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, and is a graduate of the Sovereign Grace Pastors College. Jared enjoys laughing, discovering/playing music, working out, and wrestling. He and his wife Bethany live in West Chester with their four children.
OUR DEACON TEAM
WARREN BITTNER
Deacon of Ushers
Warren Bittner joined Covenant Fellowship Church in 1989. He currently serves as Deacon of Ushers. In addition to serving in the Sunday morning service he leads a Community Group in Aston. One of the joys in Warren’s life is that he met his wife, Betsy, at Covenant 22 years ago. Warren enjoys softball, coaching his grandchildren’s Little League team, and Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups. Warren resides in Aston with his wife, and son, Ben. He loves spending time with Betsy, Ben and his adult children and grandchildren and heading to the beach for fun family vacations.
HENRY COOPER
Deacon of Mercy Ministry
Henry serves as the Deacon of Mercy Ministry. He has been a member of Covenant Fellowship since 2006, and actively serves in the Bridge Course, Promise Kingdom, Nursing Home Ministry and with the Prophecy Team. Henry graduated from Temple University with his Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering and currently works as a Finance Officer and Business Manager. Henry is passionate about knowing Jesus and making Him known to the world. He greatly enjoys spreading the love of Jesus to all he comes in contact with in our Sunday services and in the community. He is married to Liliane, aka wonder woman, and they have six beautiful children. Henry and his family make their home in Essington.
JACK DEMPSEY
Deacon of Financial Review
Jack serves as Deacon of Financial Review. He has been at Covenant Fellowship Church since 2006, serving in various capacities and ministries. Jack has served as a coordinator in Promise Kingdom and is currently serving as a 5th/6th grade teacher. He and his wife have been Bridge Leaders for the fall Bridge course for the past several years. In addition, Jack serves in the Nursing Home Ministry at Fair Acres Nursing Home. He has completed both the Grow and Invest leadership classes offered at Covenant Fellowship Church. Jack has served as a chairman of the Financial Review Committee since 2014. He is a General Partner in Dempsey Weiss & Associates, an insurance and financial services firm, since 1989. Jack and his wife, Lisa, live in Glen Mills with two daughters still at home. Jack is a proud dad and stepdad to six grown children, and a very enthusiastic Pop-Pop.
TRISH DONOHUE
Deacon of Women's Ministry
Trish serves as the Deacon of Women’s Ministry. She has been a member of Covenant Fellowship since 1992 and currently serves in the Bridge Course, the Compass Homeschool Ministry, and the College Age Ministry. Since receiving her Bachelor of Science degree in Secondary Education English from Bloomsburg University, she has taught in a variety of contexts. Trish is also the author of Between Us Girls: Walks and Talks for Moms and Daughters. She and her husband Jim, who is a pastor at Covenant Fellowship, live in West Chester with their four children, two girls and two boys. Trish spends her free time peacemaking between the Cowboys and Eagles fans who live under her roof.
CHRISTIAN LOHMANN
Deacon of Sunday Teams
Christian Lohmann serves as the Deacon of Sunday Teams. In 1995, he joined Covenant Fellowship Church and has served in various capacities including Parking Team leader, Junior High youth leader, and seventeen years as a Community Group leader. Christian received a Bachelor’s degree from Penn State University. Since 1991, he has worked at a local financial firm where he currently supervises a team in the Service Recovery Department. Christian lives in West Chester with his wife, Theresa, and three children. In addition, he enjoys home improvement, reading and Philadelphia sports. His favorite way to spend free time is with his family!
CYNDI SMITH
Deacon of Membership
Cyndi serves as Deacon of Church Membership and has been a member of Covenant Fellowship since 1985. She also serves alongside her husband as a Community Group Leader, is on the Women’s Ministry Leadership team, and the hospitality team for Women’s Meetings. Previous service includes Promise Kingdom and Prayer Team ministry. Cyndi has been married to her husband, Tom, since 1982, and together they have been blessed with 8 children, 4 of whom are married, and an ever-growing number of grandchildren. Cyndi has a BA in Social Work from Shippensburg University, and has worked as a full-time mom, homeschool mom, and homemaker for over 35 years. Born in Hagerstown, MD, she and her family live in Westtown, PA.
TOM SMITH
Deacon of Membership
Tom serves as the Deacon of Church Membership and has been a member of Covenant Fellowship since January 1985. He also serves as a Community Group Leader, and a speaker in the Prison Ministry at Covenant Fellowship. His previous service includes being a teacher in Promise Kingdom, and in the early days of our church, was a member of the Sunday set-up team. Tom has been married to his wife Cyndi since 1982, and together they have been blessed with 8 children, and an ever-growing number of grandchildren. Tom has a B.S. degree in Biochemistry from Penn State University, and has worked for over 35 years in science, biotechnology and pharmaceutical research, currently at Johnson & Johnson in Malvern, PA. Born in Wichita, Kansas, he and his family live in Westtown, PA.
GERARD SNYDER
Deacon of the Bridge Course
Gerard serves as the Deacon of the Bridge Course. He has been at Covenant Fellowship since 1988, serving in various capacities which include 16 years as a Community Group Leader, many years in Promise Kingdom as a Coordinator, helping in the Bridge Course, and filling in for vacationing pastors in the Explore class. He has a Bachelor’s Degree in Sociology with a minor in English from the University of Delaware (go Blue Hens!). Gerard currently works as a supervisor for a payroll processing company. Gerard has very eclectic tastes, and is passionate about theology, history, and sports, about which he can talk endlessly. He used to enjoy playing sports, but now, when he feels the urge to jog, he lays down to let it pass. Gerard likes to spend his time with his family. A native of Delaware County, Gerard lives in Brookhaven with his very patient wife Lori, his three wonderful children, and cat, Harley.
LORI SNYDER
Deacon of the Bridge Course
Lori serves as the Deacon of the Bridge Course. She has been a member of Covenant Fellowship Church since 1990 and has served in various capacities including 15 years as a Community Group Leader, Promise Kingdom coordinator and has assisted in administrating the Bridge Course since 2000. Lori graduated from Eastern University in 1985 with a Bachelors degree in Elementary Education. In her free time, Lori enjoys spending time with her family, playing games, watching movies and tackling home projects around the house. She is a jack-of-all-trades! She and her husband, Gerard, live in Brookhaven with their three wonderful children.
CRYSTAL ZEPP
Deacon of Promise Kingdom
Crystal Zepp serves, along with her husband Kevin, as deacon of Promise Kingdom. Together they lead the children’s ministry, overseeing the weekly administration of curriculum, workers, and coordinating team. She graduated from Philadelphia College of Pharmacy & Science (University of the Sciences) with a Masters degree in Physical Therapy in 1995 and is employed at a local hospital treating medically complex patients. Crystal enjoys various types of physical fitness, cheering for her children from the sidelines during sporting events, and the cherished moment of reading with a cup of coffee. Crystal and Kevin live in Garnet Valley with their daughter and son.
KEVIN ZEPP
Deacon of Promise Kingdom
Kevin Zepp serves as the Deacon of Promise Kingdom, our children’s ministry. Kevin has served in Promise Kingdom for the past eight years. He currently leads the ministry, overseeing the weekly administration of curriculum, workers, and coordinating team. He received a Bachelor of Science in Graphic Design from Drexel University in 1994 and currently owns and operates his own graphic design company. Kevin enjoys fishing, cooking, home repair, and playing as well as coaching sports. Kevin resides in Garnet Valley with his wife Crystal and their two children.
