Our Pastors

Rev. Arthur G. Stone, Senior Pastor, and his Wife Judy

Pastor Art has been in pastoral ministries for 29 years. He has served at churches in Jacksonville, Florida, Charlotte, North Carolina, and Oxford, Massachusetts. Pastor Art has served as Senior Pastor at Emmanuel since January of 1995.

The Senior Pastor's responsibilities include preaching the Word, church administration, counseling and visitation. Art has had the privilege of speaking at Christian Conferences, Camp meetings and seminars across the country.

Pastor Art's education includes a BA in Theology (1970) from Berkshire Christian College, a Masters of Education from Springfield in Counseling (1982), and is a candidate for a Ph.D. in Expository Preaching from Trinity College of the Bible and Theological Seminary.

Pastor Art resides in Rochester with his wife Judy who is a high school math teacher. They have three grown children, Christopher, Scott and Jenelle and grandchildren.

 

Rev. John A. Byars, Associate/Music Pastor, and Wife, Jeanne

John and Jeanne Byars came to Emmanuel AC Church, from central Florida. After this young couple married each other in 1979, they established most of their Ministry together in Florida. They started a church in Edgewater, Florida and co-Pastored with another Church of God Credentialed Sr. Pastor.That work exploded with growth in five years to over 340 average Sunday Morning Worship attendances. Working in Churches on the East Coast such as, Daytona Beach, New Smyrna Beach and Edgewater, Holy Spirit called them to Central Florida in 1995. There, they served faithfully until joining Emmanuel in January, 2005. Although holding credentials with Church of God (Cleveland, TN) they have been effective to which ever denomination Holy Spirit has called through the years.

Pastor John has been ministering in music for nearly 38 years while his Bride Jeanne, has been an effective nurturing teacher and singer for 30 years. Both love the Lord and enjoy ministering to God's children in a musical southern gospel style together while Pastor John enjoys leading in a more contemporary music style such as Vineyard, Integrity Hosanna, Michael W. Smith and Geron Davis as well as our Traditional songs that held together the faith of our forefathers. The adult choir at Emmanuel presently ministers with styles such as Clint Brown, Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir, Christ Church Choir and others alike.

We are "enjoying the journey" in the New England area and expect the Lord to be exalted and highly magnified as together with all God's children we raise our standards of belief in Biblical principals. Our God is lifted up!

 

Pastor Ed Cilley, Adult & Young Family Ministries, and wife Tammy

"I am truly humbled by being your servant in Jesus Christ. Nothing in my life story can compare to the blessings that come from being a servant of our Lord and Savior." Pastor Ed Cilley is a native of Rochester, NH. Ed enlisted in the United States Marine Corps as a senior and left for recruit training shortly after he graduated from Spaulding High School in June 1982.

A combat veteran of the Persian Gulf, he served in a variety of increasingly responsible leadership and staff positions during his military career. His last five years in the Marine Corps, were spent as the Non-Commissioned Officer in Charge of Multi-man recruiting offices in southern MA and western PA. Ed spent 12 of the 15 years as a Non-Commissioned officer and Staff Non-commissioned officer with the Marine Corps finishing the end of his active tour of duty in 1999 at the rank of Gunnery Sergeant.

Ed surrendered his life on August 19, 2000 while attending an evangelistic meeting at Emmanuel Advent Christian Church hosting David Ring. It was there that Ed surrendered his life to his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. While recovering from an injury that led to back surgery in 2001, Ed began to realize that he was being called to full-time ministry serving the Lord.

Ed has completed both Lay Pastor 1 and 2 as well the LAMP (Leadership and Ministry Preparation) courses and is currently enrolled in an Associate level in Biblical Studies through Liberty Home Bible Institute. Ed has served in a variety of laity positions at Emmanuel Advent Christian Church including Lay Leader and Lay Speaker. In addition to preaching God’s word in churches around the New England area, Ed has also served on the board of Deacons for several years, served 2˝ years in youth ministry and is still involved with nursing home ministry. Ed has recently received his credentials as a Commissioned Minister of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Pastor Ed currently ministers to the Young Adult & Family ministry here at Emmanuel Church as well as assisting the Executive and Associate Pastors with a variety of pastoral duties.

Interests include motorcycles, camping, and hiking. He enjoys all these interests with his wife, who is at his side on all these activities. Pastor Ed has been married to his best friend and ministry partner Tammie for 24 years and is residing in Farmington, NH. They are blessed to have two adult children Marc age 23 and Joshua age 20 both of which are serving in the United States Marine Corps. Ed and Tammie are also blessed to have a beautiful daughter in “Love” Monique who is married to Marc and is the mother of their wonderful grandson, Connor.

Pastor Ed is humbled and honored by this appointment. He is passionately dedicated to being in full service to the Lord while serving at Emmanuel AC Church.

You can meet Pastor Ed on Sundays or during the week. As a bi-vocational Pastor, Ed does hold office hours at the church. But please call ahead to schedule an appointment. His pastoral duties will sometimes dictate that the he will be out visiting.