Meet Our 2024 Camp Sychar Evangelists

EVANGELIST

Lane Loman is a native of Greensboro, NC. He has been lead pastor of churches in North Carolina, Tennessee, Georgia, and Indiana. Lane has served in The Evangelical Methodist Church, The Church of the Nazarene, The Friends Church and The Free Methodist Church. Lane is associated with the Southeastern Evangelistic Group, and a Francis Asbury Society Endorsed Speaker. He is an ordained elder and tenured evangelist with The Church of the Nazarene. Lane served in pastoral ministry for 23 years. He has now traveled 37 years in itinerant revival ministry speaking and singing in 15 denominations and 62 different denominational and independent camp meetings.

Lane also produces The Lights of Spiritual Guidance, a weekly 30-minute radio program started in 1937 by his father, the late Dr. J. Harold Loman. The program is heard over a network of 15 stations in Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, North Carolina, and Ohio.

Lane is a graduate of Atlanta Christian College (Point University) with a degree in Christian Education. He also studied Evangelism in the Local Church at Scarritt Graduate Center, Nashville, TN, and holds a Master of Arts in Religion and Spiritual Formation degree from Northwest Nazarene University. Lane has recorded 15 song albums and authored three books; "The Fruit Still Falls From The Tree”, “The Fruit Is Still Falling”, and “Road Moments - Memories of Living Life Out of a Suitcase.”

Lane’s wife, Gretchen, is a native of Bedford, Indiana. When travel logistics permit, she travels and sings with Lane in revival ministry. Gretchen also serves as the secretary for Loman Ministries and assists in the production of ministry product.

Lane and Gretchen have three sons and nine grandchildren.

GUEST SPEAKER

Rev. David Mills serves as the Vice President for Spiritual Life and Church Relations for Mount Vernon Nazarene University. With nearly 25 years in ministry, including 15 years as Lead Pastor at Generations Church of the Nazarene in Independence, Kentucky, David has an extensive background in church planting, building community engagement, and sharing the Gospel with everyone.

David holds a Bachelor of Science in Christian Education from Olivet Nazarene University and an MBA in Human Resource Management from Indiana Wesleyan University. David lives in Mount Vernon with his wife, Dr. Jodi Mills; daughter, Karly, a sophomore at Olivet Nazarene University; son, Davis, who will be a freshman at MVNU in Fall 2024; and son, Brady, a high school sophomore.

GUEST SPEAKER

Pastor Jerry Ernst joined Cornerstone Community Church as the Senior Pastor on July 1, 2023. Pastor Jerry was born in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, where his father, Rev. J. Richard Ernst, was a pastor in The Wesleyan Church. Jerry sensed a call to witness to his high school classmates after his salvation experience at age 16. Pastor Jerry has served in various types of ministry since the age of 18 when he joined an evangelistic Christian Rock band which traveled the USA, ministering to over 500,000 young people in school assemblies.

Pastor Ernst has been in full-time pastoral ministry since 1995, where he has served as youth pastor, inner-city church planter, and senior pastor for five previous churches (KY, WV, and Ohio) before starting at Cornerstone Community Church. Jerry’s passion in ministry is sharing Jesus, preaching, developing leaders through leadership training, vision casting and motivating people and churches to follow Christ with fervency. He enjoys running, coaching, camping, shoes, BMX bikes, playing the drums, hamburgers, Chinese food & connecting with people of all ages. Jerry has a heart for the “outsider” who knows nothing about the goodness of Jesus Christ.

Jerry has been married to his wife, Abbey, for over 28 years. She has been a valuable helpmate in ministry with her own leadership abilities and skills (Counselor & Social Worker – MA in Counseling; MSW, LISW). They have three young adult children, Gabe, Harper, and Josiah.

Jerry is a graduate of Cedar Rapids Jefferson High School (Iowa), Indiana Wesleyan University (B.A. Christian Ministries), and Asbury Theological Seminary (M. Div.). His life verses are from Matthew 9:35-38 where Jesus says, “The Harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few.”

GUEST SPEAKER

Pastor Keith is the senior pastor of Greater Life Church in Youngstown, Ohio. They launched the church in 2013 as a part of ARC (Association of Related Churches). He and his wife, Emily, have three daughters: Taylor (31), Carli (26), and Julia (Heaven). Pastor Keith earned his Bachelor degree from Life Christian University and is currently pursuing his Masters degree.

Pastor Keith and Emily are good friends with the Greenawalt’s, as Matt serves as worship leader at the church.

GUEST SPEAKER

Troy graduated from Mount Vernon Nazarene University with a Bachelor's degree in history, and received his Master's degree in pastoral counseling through Ashland Theological Seminary. Troy has been the lead pastor at New Life Church of the Nazarene since 2001. He lives right here in Mount Vernon, Ohio.

GUEST SPEAKER

Rev. Joshua Porterfield has been in full time ministry for 19 years serving in various roles including as middle school pastor, youth pastor, campus pastor, and currently as the Lead Pastor of Grace Life Nazarene Church. He previously directed the South-Central Ohio (Nazarene) Teen Camp for over 10 years and presently serves as the District New Works Coordinator. Both Josh and his wife Melanie are graduates of Mount Vernon Nazarene University where he earned his B.A. (Theological Studies) as well as his Master of Ministry (Practical Theology). Josh and Melanie have two daughters, Taylor (17) and Makenna (14). Josh enjoys playing golf, sand volleyball, watching sports, and traveling with his family and friends.

BIBLE TEACHER

Dr. David R. Bauer is the Ralph W. Beeson Professor of Inductive Biblical Studies and Dean of the School of Biblical Interpretation. He has served on Asbury Theological Seminary’s faculty since 1984.

He received a B.A. from Spring Arbor College (University), an M.Div. from Asbury Theological Seminary and a Ph.D. from Union Theological Seminary in Virginia. He also has done postdoctoral studies at Princeton Theological Seminary.

Dr. Bauer is the recipient of the American Bible Society Award for Excellence in Biblical Studies, Asbury Seminary’s Award for Excellence in Teaching and Learning, Asbury Seminary’s Excellence in Mentoring, and the Spring Arbor University Alumni Association Award of Professional Excellence.

He was director of the Institutional Self-Study for Asbury Seminary from 1992 to 1994 and has served as a member of the executive committee of the Institute for Biblical Research. He has served as chair of the Matthew Group of the Society of Biblical Literature and chair of the Hebrews Consultation of the Society of Biblical Literature.

Dr. Bauer is an ordained elder in the Free Methodist Church of North America and a member of the Study Commission on Doctrine for the Free Methodist Church of North America. He serves in the Wilmore Free Methodist Church as director of seminary ministries and is the facilitator of the Free Methodist Fellowship on Asbury Seminary’s campus. He is also a frequent speaker, preacher and teacher at camps and local churches and is involved in organizations offering education and support to families who adopt international children, especially international special-needs children.

SONG EVANGELIST

Ron is a returning Song Leader at Camp Sychar.

​He's a fun-loving fellow! He’s been “doing music” since high school, when he sang in choirs and ensembles, and sang Charlie Dalrymple in “Brigadoon.” He went to college and kept singing…choirs, solos, festivals…then on to graduate school, and community and professional singing in opera, operetta (his first role!), oratorio, concerts, and recitals. He also has done significant work in choral conducting, coaching, church music seminars, and academic presentations internationally.

Ron is married to soprano Chery Brendel, and is dad to Anna Marie, a theatre girl. Along with singing, his responsibilities teaching, directing musical theatre, and directing the graduate programs in music at Lee University, he is the minister of music at Michigan Avenue Baptist Church.

YOUTH EVANGELIST

We are beyond excited to welcome Rev. Franco Salvatori as our 2024 Youth Evangelist! Many of our youth will remember Franco as he, and his family, have joined us at Camp the last two summers, once as one of our Missionary Day speakers, and a second time as our youth evangelist. This year, our students will have the opportunity to hear from Franco, once again, each morning as he passionately brings the Word to us.

Franco is a graduate of Asbury University and ordained in the Mennonite church. With over 20 years of ministry experience, Franco has had many experiences and possesses the wisdom to speak into each of our students’ lives. Currently, the Salvatori family lives in Dublin, PA where they own and operate Farm to Toast, a local cafe.

YOUTH SONG EVANGELIST

CHILDREN’S EVANGELIST

Charissa is excited to be returning for another year as our Children's Evangelist! She is currently serving as the Worship and Youth Pastor at Trinity Assembly of God in Columbus, Ohio with her husband, Gary, and their daughter, Emery, their nephew, Bryson, and niece, Espyn. After growing up at Camp Sychar and having life changing moments in both the Children's program and Youth program, Charissa has been ministering since 2003 in a variety of roles including 20 years as a Children’s, Youth and Worship Pastor. She is honored to be a part of a legacy of leaders that instill God's love in the next generation and beyond.  

TINY TOTS

Carmalita is looking forward to returning to Sychar for her 6th year of teaching with the Tiny Tots. This year, she is excited to share the Good News of Jesus with the little ones - supporting, guiding, and encouraging them to receive His promises for them and to go on and share them with the world. With a Master’s degree in Elementary Education- Carmalita taught for 4 years but is currently working as a stay-at-home mom. In less than a year’s time, her family grew from three to five and with two new additions-she joyfully claims that while her hands are full, her heart is FULLER.

​She currently lives in Suffolk, VA with her husband- Jeremy, 3 kids- Madelyn, Ralph, and Tobias, and her in-laws.

TINY TOTS

Nicola is excited to be joining the preschool ministry team this year helping with crafts and other activities. As a stay-at-home mom to an energetic and curious ten-year-old, she is looking forward to serving Camp Sychar and inspiring our smallest Christians about what the love of Christ means.

Nicola holds a Bachelors degree in Finance from The Ohio State University and lives in Pataskala, Ohio with her husband, Drew, their son, John and their dog Lucy.

HILL SERVICE

Pastor Keith is the senior pastor of Greater Life Church in Youngstown, Ohio. They launched the church in 2013 as a part of ARC (Association of Related Churches). He and his wife, Emily, have three daughters: Taylor (31), Carli (26), and Julia (Heaven). Pastor Keith earned his Bachelor degree from Life Christian University and is currently pursuing his Masters degree.

Pastor Keith and Emily are good friends with the Greenawalt’s, as Matt serves as worship leader at the church.