LEADERSHIP
PETER AND KELLY JANKOWSKI
LEAD PASTOR AND CO-LEAD PASTOR
Pete felt the call to be a pastor at the young age of 13. For Kelly, it was around 11. But it wasn't until years later that Pete they were part of the team that planted Life Church Buffalo. Serving together as volunteers Pete was an important fixture helping our founding pastor Craig McLeod in almost every area, while Kelly served as the church's first worship leader.
In 2012, Pete accepted a full-time position in vocational ministry in Columbus, Ohio. After living in Buffalo for most of their lives, he and Kelly with their two boys in tow left his job and moved their life to Ohio to follow God's call on their lives.
However, God unexpectedly called Pete and Kelly back home to Buffalo three years later. For a year, Pete co-lead Life Church with Pastor Craig, and was installed as the Lead Pastor in June 2017. Kelly now serves alongside Pete as the Worship Director.
Peter and Kelly have been married since 2006 and have two awesome boys, Samuel and Isaac. They love good food, really good coffee, and their two rescued dogs.
LOREN SPERREY
EXECUTIVE PASTOR OF OPERATIONS
Loren started following Jesus at a very early age and was baptised at just 7 years old. Although he had been close with God his whole life, he began to understand His mercy, grace, and sacrifice for us on a higher and more meaningful level as he walked through a season of addiction recovery in the early 2000s.
As early as his decision to follow Jesus, Loren also knew he was called to vocational ministry - but also knew it was not a call to preach! That calling led him to a fruitful career in Christian television production, where he spent 22 years in various roles bringing the message of Jesus and God's word to audiences in a number of markets. Like Pastor Pete and Kelly, he was part of the team that helped plant Life Church under Pastor Craig in 2006, and officially joined the staff as Executive Pastor in 2011.
Although he grew up on a potato farm in Maine, Loren's not a big fan of the spuds (aside from potato chips - who doesn't like potato chips?!). He loves all things fast - especially cars - and his heart melts for his wife Janie, daughters Jenna, Ashley, and Avery, two son-in-laws Josh and David, and his grandson Wyatt.
BETH MILLER
EXECUTIVE PASTOR OF MINISTRIES
Pastor Beth accepted Jesus at 5 years old and from a very young age was volunteering and serving at her church. While serving as a volunteer children's director at a church in Niagara Falls, she moved to Columbus, Ohio and finished earning her degree in biology.
Soon after her move and degree, she realized God was calling her away from her own plans to be a dentist and into full-time ministry! She's been serving since 2002 and joined Life Church in 2018.
Beth loves her husband Joe, her two girls McKenna and Addison, and cooking for the people she loves.
BETHANY MAZUR
CONNECTIONS PASTOR
Bethany has been a Christian since a very young age and in 1997 began serving at her church after understanding Jesus's love for her on a new level.
Bethany has been at Life Church since its formation in 2006 and has served in some capacity since then. In 2016 she joined the staff, and in 2020 obeyed God's call for her to leave her career in higher education to join the team full-time.
Bethany and her husband Mike are happy raising their adorable girls Joanna, Lydia, and Tabitha. She loves apologetics, the Sabres, and dark chocolate truffles.
Rich Clarkson
COMMUNITIES PASTOR
Rich, like many in WNY, grew up in the Catholic church. He felt a call early on in his life to enter ministry. In 2005 - while motorcycling across the Republic of Chile - his personal relationship with Jesus blossomed when seeds that had been planted by Christians throughout his life took root and God transformed his religion into a relationship.
When Rich began attending Life Church in 2016, he quickly began serving on the Dream Team and joined a Life Group. It wasn't long before he was reminded of the call God had on his life and, leaving behind his military and corporate exec careers, began a year-long internship at Life Church before joining our staff full-time in 2019.
JORDAN BENNETT
STUDENT PASTOR
Jordan accepted Jesus' gift of dying on the cross when he was twelve years old at a church that his parents planted in Lafayette, IN. He didn't understand the fullness of God and how real He is until later, when the Holy Spirit made it known to him through worship. He was baptized at a young age at his home church in Indiana.
Jordan knew that he was called to full-time ministry as a teen, through the encouragement of his parents when they saw how God was using him to teach and lead worship. He joined Life Church Buffalo in 2022 when he accepted the position of Student Pastor - alongside the call to leave Indiana and move to Buffalo!
Jordan likes to travel, go on adventures, and discover new spots! He also likes to be around people, play music, and Purdue sports.
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