PASTORAL STAFF

Pastor Ed Holland

Ed Holland accepted the role of Senior Pastor at ABT in December, 2006. Prior to the work here, Ed pastored works in Toledo, OH, Deerfield Beach, FL and Abilene, TX. Prior to accepting the position at ABT, Ed served as a senior consultant to mega churches across the country with leadership expert John Maxwell and INJOY Ministries in Atlanta, Georgia. He has had the privilege of consulting and advising pastors for some of the nation’s largest and fastest-growing churches.

Ed holds a Master of Divinity degree as well as an MA in liberal studies. His wife Kathy completed her Bible and psychology degree at Liberty Universtiy. Kathy presently designs and coordinates many of the ministries at ABT. She also writes and teaches women's Bible studies.

Ed and Kathy have served God together for over 30 years. They have three children and five grandchildren.

Their family is their highest value and beyond that their passion is to bring real hope to real people in a real world.

Check out Ed's blog: www.edholland.org
Real Leaders (leadership training): www.realleaders.org

Pastor Ernie Kemppel

As executive pastor, Ernie Kemppel handles all the daily workings of the church and staff. He is also the director of “Golden-Agers,” which is our group of lively senior citizens. From dinners to dramas, and from day-trips to overnight excursions, our active seniors’ ministry thrives under Ernie’s leadership.

Ernie became a believer in Jesus Christ in 1971. He was ordained at ABT in 1998 and has assumed various staff roles for the past 12 years. He and his wife Carolyn have four married sons and 12 wonderful grandchildren.

Email: ek@abt316.com

Pastor Brent Malone

Brent grew up hearing about Jesus and was saved as a child of six. His career path followed that of his father who was also an ordained pastor at ABT.

Brent’s redefined role at ABT is that of kids’ pastor, and our kidzone ministries are being totally reinvented under his leadership. His goal is to create a place where kids will experience Jesus in an exciting atmosphere through Sunday worship as well as extra curricular programs such as Upward sports and KidzCity.

Brent’s life verse is Philippians 4:13 “I can do all things for Christ.” He desires to live a believer’s life of true integrity, so that others will see Jesus. Brent and his wife Joy have one son - Travis.

Email: bm@abt316.com

Pastor Mike Prebynski

Mike is a long-time member of ABT, and joined the church staff over 10 years ago. Though he has served here in many capacities, Mike presently oversees our Care Ministries, which include service to local nursing homes and shut-ins, as well as maintaining our community food pantry, the Always Hope Center, located on the church property.

This ministry fulfills God’s command to love others, something that is so important to Mike and his wife Brenda. They have two children, Joshua and Brittany; and with ministry, family, and their dog, Maggie, life is very busy, but Mike says they wouldn’t have it any other way.

Email: mp@abt316.com

Worship Pastor Sean McNeill

Sean and his wife Mindy, felt the Lord call them to Akron in the spring of 2008. Music has always been a part of Sean and Mindy’s lives and is what drew them together back in college at Liberty University.

Sean and his wife traveled together all over the country leading worship and sharing the love of Christ throughout their college career as well as serving at other churches throughout the southeast.

Sean was privileged to make it to the Hollywood round of American Idol in 2004, the year Carrie Underwood won, and has tried to use that platform to advance the kingdom in anyway possible. His heart is for worship and lifting Christ up, so that all that hear of Jesus would be drawn by His love.

Email: sm@abt316.com

Worship Pastor Jim McFarland

Jim came to ABT in the summer of 2009 as the full-time worship pastor for The Temple service. He has been playing the piano in church settings for over 35 years, and has been in staff ministry positions for the last 28 years. Jim is a very capable and accomplished musician. He has played with such artists as Squire Parsons, Ken Turner, Eva Mae and others. He has also been featured on five different recordings over the years.

Email: jm@abt316.com





Youth Pastor Jason Knight

Jason is a life-long member of ABT, growing up through the youth department. After getting married to Valerie in 2003, they felt God's calling to volunteer in the Jr. High Crossroads department. In 2008, God called them into full-time youth ministry and they took over the Sr. High Connect department.

They have three children, Gavin, Alyson & Lincoln, as well as a desire to see life change in students by helping them move toward a stronger connection with God.

Email: jk@abt316.com





Pastor Bryan Vaudrin

Bryan is a native of northeast Ohio, who accepted Jesus Christ into his life as a seven year old boy at ABT. He and his wife Laurie have 2 sons: Chaese, and Chandler.

Pastor Bryan originally served as an ABT Senior High leader, but in recent years became the director of the college and young singles. He has a keen understanding of the challenges young adults face today and strives to provide a ministry to help them face those challenges. His heart's desire is to help those around him discover how they can have a personal relationship with Christ, develop their own “personal community”, and in turn take what Christ has done in their lives to those around them.

Email: bv@abt316.com