John Amandola, Jr.
Senior Pastor / Elder - Email

John and Caryn Amandola have been married since 1986 and have three boys. They have always enjoyed serving together as partners in ministry - first as youth leaders in their church, and then on staff with Campus Crusade for Christ for nine years. John then served for the next six years on the staff of Northwest Community Church as Student Ministries Pastor, with Caryn working alongside helping to train and disciple many students and leaders. They were then sent out by NCC to lead a new church plant to the growing north Peoria area, which they still greatly enjoy leading! John is a native New Yorker and a graduate of Phoenix Seminary. Caryn is originally from Chicago, and grew up in Phoenix.

Hometown: North Babylon, Long Island, NY
Favorite TV Shows: Seinfeld reruns (Not that there’s anything wrong with that!)
Favorite Books Robinson Crusoe, the Mutiny On The Bounty trilogy
People Who Have Influenced You The Most: My parents, my wife and Dr. Steve Tracy
Favorite Movie That Thing You Do!
How do you like to spend your free time? Reading seafaring novels; listening to music; watching baseball (Mets and D-Backs); and especially spending time with my wife, either antique shopping, going to wine cafés, or just dreaming together
What are you passionate about? Bringing a balance of grace and truth into the church; Helping people recover from legalism and finding freedom in Christ, while also growing and maturing in their knowledge, wisdom and maturity as believers.
What would you like to see God do in the American Church? All the above, plus bring back an appreciation and love for the arts.
Spiritual Gift: Wisdom and Teaching

Joe Tuerff
Elder - Email

Joe and Carol have always worked closely with John and Caryn. They are a great compliment in giftedness and passions. The Tuerffs are part of the original core team of four couples who started this church. They bring to this church a wealth of leadership ability and experience to our church. Joe is an area director for a large temporary labor firm in the valley.

Hometown: Gary, Indiana is where I am originally from but I did a lot of growing up in Brookfield, WI
Favorite TV Show: None. Really...none
Favorite Book: I really like reading Flying magazine 
People Who Have Influenced You The Most: Dad, good leaders at work, other godly men
Favorite Movie: The Hunt For Red October 
How do you like to spend your free time? Lately, I have found more joy riding my Harley. Just spending time with my wife Carol lifts my heart.
Hobbies: Harley riding, watching movies with Carol, aviation
What would you like to see God do in the American Church? Unite the brethren in denominations everywhere in a large movement of prayer with the result of seeing millions of Muslims turn to Christ throughout the world.
Spiritual Gift: Giving and Wisdom 

Steve Pipoly
Elder - Email

Steve and Debbie have also worked in ministry with John and Caryn for many years, and came with the original launch team from Northwest Community. They bring with them a vision to reach the community and the world through leading the missions and outreach teams at Lake Pleasant. They have already led three teams into Asia, and are planning the fourth! They are also coordinating local outreach to our community. Steve and Debbie have together founded and run a large national sports league for youth.

Hometown: Phoenix, AZ
Favorite TV Show: NFL Sundays
Favorite Books: Ted Dekker books
Person Who Has Influenced You The Most: Charlie Bell: a football coach, elder and mentor.
How do you like to spend your free time? Traveling with my wife and kids
Hobbies: Scuba Diving, Sports
What are you passionate about?  My wife, My kids, Green Bay Packers football
What would you like to see God do in the American Church?  Energize
Spiritual Gift: Leadership

Ross Bentley
Core Team Member - Email

Ross and Tracey are some of John and Caryn's oldest friends. From serving together as youth leaders in the mid 1980's, to serving on staff with Campus Crusade together, and then to being part of the core team of four couples who started this church, they have always been side by side with John and Caryn. They have a wealth of church planting experience, adding much wisdom, skill and especially humor to the team! They also bring a heart for true, expressive, authentic worship, which has greatly benefited our church. They have three kids and are very involved in the community. Ross is a software engineer and Tracey is an interior designer.

Hometown: Mattydale, NY
Favorite TV shows: The Dick Van Dyke Show, Lost (Season 1), 24 (First 4 seasons), Heroes, Newhart, The Wallace and Ladmo Show
Favorite Books: The Singer Trilogy by Calvin Miller
Person Who Has Influenced You The Most: My Dad
Favorite Movies: 12 Angry Men, The Shawshank Redemption, Braveheart
Stranded on a desert island with three cd’s – which would they be? Abbey Road (The Beatles), Complete Prestige Recordings (John Coltrane), The Voice of Mozart
How do you like to spend your free time? Laughing with friends, playing music, enjoying Creation, sports
Hobbies: Music
What are you passionate about? Grace and Truth, Worshiping God
What would you like to see God do in the American Church? Create such a holy passion within us for Him that those around us are compelled to ask, “What must I do to be saved?”
Spiritual Gift: Exhortation and Leadership

Dhondi Wiegel
Student Ministries Pastor - Email

Dhondi and his wife Lariate have both worked with John and Caryn as youth leaders at Northwest Community Church. They both had very successful ministries with high school students when John and Caryn recruited Dhondi to join them in helping to start LPCC as our youth pastor. Dhondi then recruited Lariate by giving her a ring! Dhondi works part time as a network administrator and gives the rest of his time to LPCC and leading an on campus ministry. Lariate enjoys being a mom and ministry partner to Dhondi.

Hometown: I was too transient to have a hometown!: Chicago; San Francisco; Kamwele, Kenya; Brussels, Belgium; Seattle, WA; Phoenix, AZ
Favorite TV Shows: Heroes, House
Favorite Books: The Bible, Radical Reformission, Mark Driscoll
Person Who Has Influenced You The Most: My Dad
Stranded on a desert island with three cd’s – which would they be? Mario Frangoulis, Rock 'n Roll Worship Circus, Coldplay
How do you like to spend your free time? Tinkering with computers, looking up latest technology on Internet
Hobbies: Anything computer
What would you like to see God do in the American Church? I'd like to see the American Church have more compassion and sacrifice more for the sake of the poor of our nation and of the world.
Spiritual Gift: Exhortation

Sarah Chatelain
Administrative Assistant - Email

Sarah and her husband began attending Lake Pleasant on the first Sunday the church started, after just relocating to Phoenix from Oregon only days before. Sarah’s administrative gifts were quickly recognized, and she has since served as John’s assistant, keeping him out of trouble for many years now!

Hometown: Billings, MT
Favorite TV Show: Friends
Favorite Books: Night by Elie Wiesel; anything by John Grisham, To Kill a Mockingbird; Of Mice & Men; 1984; Fahrenheit 451.
Person Who Has Influenced Me The Most: My mother
How do you like to spend yoour free time? Reading, watching movies, taking pictures, hanging out with family/friends playing games, bowling, exercising
Hobbies: Photography, scrapbooking
What would you like to see God change in the American church?  Less vanity; Having an urgency and hunger to worship & learn.
Spiritual Gift: Administrative/Helping