Pat Stark Joins Serve Locally as Director of Church Planting

Rev. Pat Stark joined the denominational team of the Evangelical Covenant Church in the role of director of church planting.

Rev. Pat Stark joined the denominational team of the Evangelical Covenant Church in the role of director of church planting. He will work with Mary Hendrickson, director of missional vitality; Fil Nesta, newly named director of bilingual churches; Glenn Peterson, senior director of church planting, and the rest of the Serve Locally team in encouraging health, renewal, and multiplication within local churches.

“In a season marked by the pursuit of greater integration between Missional Vitality and Church Planting, Pat brings a rich history of relational connection, missional zeal, and experience to support our ongoing and renewed commitment to Start and Strengthen Churches,” said Peterson.

As a pastor, planter of Genesis Covenant Church in Phoenix, Arizona, and associate superintendent of the Pacific Southwest Conference, Stark has modeled a commitment to seeing people experience the love of Jesus. In his new role, he will seek to see individuals and churches practice evangelism, discipleship, and leadership development. He says, “The Covenant has been my spiritual home throughout my ministry, and the churches and conference I’ve served have prepared me for this moment. Our Covenant family is uniquely positioned to plant new churches and embodies the best of evangelical life—rooted in the gospel, committed to community, and eager to extend Christ’s love.”

Pat is ordained by the Covenant and studied at Fuller Theological Seminary (MDiv), Seattle Pacific University (master’s of marriage and family therapy), and Washington State.

Pat and his wife, Karen, live in Phoenix, Arizona, and have three adult children. He began his new role on December 16.

CONTINUE READING

Explore More Stories & News

News

No Roads, No Problem

Joel Oyoumick Jr. is the pilot who gets kids from Alaska’s remote villages to Bible camp—a journey that, by any other route, would take days.

Features

God’s Mercy and Our Response

This is a special additional week of Covenant Home Altar devotions from Linda Gilmore, reflecting on God’s mercy and forgiveness. Through Scripture and stories from everyday life, Gilmore considers how God’s mercy shapes the way we understand forgiveness, community, and our own response to God’s grace.

Features

Building Bridges with Curiosity

“Immigration has my face.” A Latina pastor on the bridges people built toward her and the ones she is still crossing.

Rev. Dominique Gilliard leads a group of participants on the Sankofa journey.
Features

Making God’s Name Known and Love Shown

Dominique Gilliard on why he believes evangelism and justice belong together and where he sees hope in a searching world.

Features

A Little Corner of Peace

A mother’s desire for a place where her daughter could belong has grown into a ministry helping children with special needs and their families find a place to belong.