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Leadership
The
spiritual leadership of Praise Tabernacle is fashioned after the
Apostle Paul's letter to Timothy. Elders in conjunction with the
pastor, prayerfully decide on the affairs of the church. Deacons
perform the practical ministries to serve the church body.
Rev.
Steve Rahter is a graduate
of Berean College and holds a Master's Degree in counseling. He
is retired as Student Counselor from the Somers Point School District.
Besides pastoring the church, Steve is an anointed Praise &
Worship Leader, heads up a soft gospel rock group, Crown of Thorns,
and oversees the church's ministry to the Atlantic City Rescue Mission
once a month. Pastor Rahter is also the director of Praise Bible
Institute. A talented and gifted man of God, Praise is blessed to
have Steve and his wife, Laurie, and their two daughters, Jessica
and Julie.
Youth Pastors, Joshua Kennedy
and his wife Loraine, oversee all the Youth
Ministries at Praise with a special emphasis on our teens, YouthAflame.
Before coming to Praise, Josh and Loraine served with Youth With
a Mission in St. Croix, V.I. for 2 years and 1 year as Youth Leader
at Quinault Valley Chapel in Washington state. Josh's experience
also includes serving for 5 years as a full-time minister with Speak
the Word Ministries International in St. Croix and also serving
in various departments, namely: Children’s Ministry, Youth
Ministry, leading instruction classes for new converts and as the
Pastor’s Lead Assistant. It was there that he became a licensed
minister. Loraine served as an Elder, was on the Praise and Worship
team, led the dance ministry and assisted Joshua in his leadership
roles. Loraine has a Bachelors Degree in Literature from Stockton
State and is continuing to pursue an Associates Degree from Atlantic
Cape Community College. In addition both are continuing their education
in church ministry. Pastor Josh and his wife have two children,
Elisha and Israel.
Rev.
Joe Stabler was born in the
coal mining regions of Pennsylvania where he attended the Lutheran
church and served as altar boy. He moved to New Jersey when he was
in high school. After a tour in Viet Nam, Joe married his bride,
Karen, and they have two sons, Eric and David. In 1974, Joe was
radically saved at a nearby church. Since that time he has had a
passion for Intercessory Prayer and has led many prayer meetings
and continues to lead small groups here at Praise. Joe is an excellent
teacher and an anointed Praise and Worship leader. He desires revival
and to see the Body of Christ mature and hunger for the deeper life
in God. Joe moves in the gifts of the Holy Spirit, especially in
the prophetic.
Rev.
Roger E. Perry grew up in
western New York and graduated from Columbia International University
in Columbia, South Carolina. He served as pastor at Praise Tabernacle
from 1985 until his retirement in 2003. He remains at Praise as
Pastor Emeritus, Dean of Students of Praise Bible Institute and
an Elder. Roger was a missionary with CLC International for 17 years
in various countries in the Caribbean and Central America as well
as the United States. He is married to his lovely wife, Barbara,
and is the step-father of three children and six step-grandchildren.
Barbara is also an excellent Bible teacher and personal counselor.
Deacons
perform the practical ministries to serve the body of Praise Tabernacle.
They are: Joe Allegretto, Dennis and Shirley Bell, Russell Beckman,
Tom Coggins, Joe Daly, Tom Davey, Ed and Pam Fugee, George Heil,
John Loreaux, Ann Maselli, Al Reese and Kathy Reese, Carol Russell,
Bob Smith, Ken Southard, Harry & Gayil Warren, and Bill and
Debbie Weaver.
Elders
of the church prayerfully decide on the affairs of the church. They
are: Rev. Steve Rahter, Pastor Joshua Kennedy, Dr. Tom Adams, Le
Borden, Rev. Roger Perry, Reg Sappie, Jeff Wolfe, Joe DiMeglio and
Phil Westhuis.
All Rights Reserved Copyright 2007
Praise Tabernacle
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