Leadership

Pastor Jim became the founder and Senior Pastor of House on the Rock Family Church in Bangor, PA in 1989. In 1995 HOTRFC built its new facility at its new location in Bushkill Township. House on the Rock Family Church has expanded its facilities and property over the years and now also includes Seeds of Faith which is our pre-school. Pastor Jim also serves on the Apostolic team of Covenant Ministries International which includes over 1900 member churches world-wide. Pastor Jim has had the privilege of teaching and preaching in churches all over country, including teaching annually at the Faith International Training School which includes students, ministers and pastors from all over the world. He is also currently serving on the Board of Directors of four other churches.
Pastor Jim’s vision and mission is to teach the Word of God in a practical, understandable way so that people can easily apply the principles of the Word of God to their everyday life. During his more than 30 years in ministry, Pastor Jim has seen thousands saved, healed and matured through his teaching of the Word of God.

Russell M. Starks has been a member of the ministry team here at House on The Rock since 2015. He came on board in November of that year. However, Russell does and always has viewed HOTR as his home church. He and his family started to attend back in 2000. Russell was a part of the youth group when Dr. Mike was the youth director. He also was the assistant youth director to Rev. Eric Schwartz for a brief time, before heading out to El Paso Texas to learn from Pastor Charles Niemen’s Faith Masters Commission bible program. Russell has over 18 years of experience working with youth age with environments that range from churches to juvenile corrections and mental health facilities. Russell has been with his beautiful wife Rachael since 2005, they were married in 2014. As of, August 2019, they welcomed their first child, Carter into their lives. Russell and Rachael are excited to see what God has in store for them.

Kevin has been a bi-vocational minister for almost 40 years. Jesus became Lord of His life in 1979 and shortly after that he attended and graduated Rhema Bible College, Tulsa, OK. He and Pastor Jim served in the same church in NJ in the early days of their walks with the Lord.
Kevin has served in every aspect of local church ministry including being a church plant founding Lead Pastor. He serves at HOTRFC as our Worship Leader and also has an anointing to teach God’s Word.
His wife of 35 years, Vera, also serves at HOTRFC and gets to share her teaching gift with our women’s ministry. They live in NJ and have two grown children. Kevin Jr. and his wife Joyce also live in NJ where they are raising their first son, Kevin III. Their daughter Sarah and her husband Tim live in PA. Like their parents, both Jackson children and their spouses faithfully serve in ministry in their home churches.
Kevin’s favorite Bible book is Romans; favorite meal is Sunday Italian; favorite movie is Groubdhog Day and favorite ice cream is any!

Gerry has worked several positions over the years at House on the Rock.  She started as a teacher in Seeds of Faith Preschool, has been a part of the cleaning staff. She serves in the Children's ministry and she is currently a pre-k teacher in Seeds of Faith Preschool.
Gerry loves children and she loves teaching them about God.  She is very blessed and amazed at what God has done in her life.  She is very excited to see what God has planned for her in this new season, and feels blessed beyond measure to love and teach your children.

As a child I grew up number 5 of 6 siblings on a 118-acre dairy farm in Pen Argyl.  
I’m 100% Pennsylvania Dutch and love to cook & bake.  I was so blessed to have learned to cook & bake from my mother & grandmother.
Before I married Pastor Jim, I worked a very fast paced and stressful job as a
Quality Control Technician of controlled substances for a Pharmaceutical Packaging Company.
I never dreamed God would put a "Farm Girl" together with a "Pastor".
I love serving My Lord and Savior.  Pastor Jim & I have been married since October 21st 2011.  I’m so blessed to have a Godly husband and I’m honored to be standing by his side and fulfilling God’s calling on our lives.
In my free time I enjoy being with Jim and our 4 dogs rescue dogs Zoe, Oreo , Ginger & Valor.
I love watching the Victory Channel with great preachers like Kenneth  & Gloria Copeland, Andrew Womack, Jerry Savelle,  Bill Winston & Nancy Dufresne.   I also love Flash Point with Gene Bailey and his regular guests

Kathy Antoniello  has served as the Director of Seeds of Faith Preschool (SOF) since March 2010.  Miss Kathy has been the Lead Teacher in SOF’s pre-kindergarten class since 2007.  Prior to joining the HOTRFC and SOF team, she was a stay at home mom.  For over 15 years, Miss Kathy lead the Parent Teacher Association (PTA) and held various roles in her children’s education.  Miss Kathy loves children and feels honored and privileged to serve as the Director of SOF.

Sarah has been attending House on the Rock for several years.  Sarah started as a Rock Solid Youth Group Volunteer prior to coming on staff.  She currently serves as the  Asst. Youth Director, Head of the Media Ministry, and oversees Graphics & Communications for HOTR.