Meet Our Staff

Kessia Reyne Bennett

Lead Pastor
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Pastor Kessia Reyne Bennett is a PNW native, raised in a non-religious family. At age 13 she came to know Christ and became a follower of Jesus. A year later she was baptized and officially joined the worldwide fellowship of Seventh-day Adventists.

Theology immediately became a passion of hers, and her service in lay ministry started right away. At age 19 her local church sent her to study for the ministry. During her studies she met Joshua who became her husband, and they now have two girls together.

Kessia Reyne has served in churches very large and very small, on college campuses, in Conference work, and in academia. She loves telling people the very good news of what God has done in Christ. “I’m grateful for God’s love and leading throughout my life,” says Kessia Reyne, “and grateful to be in ministry with my family.”

Greg Phillips

Associate Pastor
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Pastor Greg Phillips spent the first years of his professional life as an ER nurse. He’s been a pastor since 1999, focusing on ministry to high school students and young adults. Ministry has been an incredible adventure, taking him to amazing locations like Ethiopia, Peru, Fiji, and Nicaragua.

Born and raised in a Christian family, Greg was baptized at the age of 12. In high school, though, he made choices that put him on a different path–a path of sinful selfishness and pain.

As a junior in high school, I was doing a pretty good job of messing up my life. God met me right where I was and showed me how much I needed His forgiveness, grace, and mercy. I’m so thankful that He didn’t give up on me! Now I’m living for Him–forgiven and free!

Pastor Greg and his wife, Sandi, have been part of the PVC family since February of 2013. They have have two beautiful daughters. An avid skier, whitewater enthusiast, and fly fisherman, Greg believes that spending time in creation helps to connect humans to their Creator.

Tyler Morrison

Assistant Pastor
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Hellooo! I’m new to the PNW… and I’m loving it. I grew up all over the mid-west until I landed in Lincoln, NE from 2010 to 2020. There I met my wife, Morgan Huffman, and received a degree in religious education. Interestingly, I wanted to teach the Bible but I had yet to experience true freedom in Jesus! Praise the Lord that a few years later, He absolutely and completely changed me, changed my wife, and transformed our marriage.
Ever since then, it’s been the joy of our lives to share the gospel and build communities of faith with anyone who wants it, everywhere we go.
Most recently it took us to the island of Oahu, HI for a few years and now… Pleasant Valley Church! God is good!
As a PS, if you’re interested in my personal interests for some reason, here ya go:
Jesus, Relationships and Reconciliation, The NBA and Anthony Edwards of the Minnesota Timberwolves, Surfing, aaaaaaaaaaaand Taco Bell.

Hannah Wachter

Minister of Music
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Hannah was born and raised in Washington D.C. in a Presbyterian home. Hannah grew up in the church, and though her dad was a lead elder in the church, he was also abusive. Because of the abuse and Hannah’s church hurt, Hannah walked away from the church during her college years. However, the Lord never stopped pursuing Hannah. After graduating from the University of Virginia with a BA in Religious Studies, the Lord continued to come alongside Hannah in gentleness and love. Hannah decided to move to the West Coast in a last ditch effort to reconnect with her faith. Arriving in the PNW in 2007, Hannah connected with a body of believers in Milwaukie, and was reunited with her first love, Jesus.Shortly there after, Hannah’s heart became set on becoming a Worship Pastor. To better equip herself for that calling, Hannah decided to attend Multnomah Biblical Seminary. She attended from 2010-2013, before taking a break to focus on her mental and emotional health. During her pause from Seminary, Hannah met and married, her husband Glenn Wachter, who grew up Adventist. In 2016, Glenn brought Hannah to PVC and she instantly felt at home. They decided to make PVC their church family. Since then, Hannah has volunteered on the worship team and found tremendous joy leading the PVC family in praise. Still feeling called to be a Worship Pastor, Hannah pursued her degree again in 2019 and graduated with honors and a Master of Christian Leadership.But it still wasn’t her time to step into leadership. From seminarian turned makeup artist turned Coach, Hannah would wait four more years before her calling could be fulfilled. With the arrival of Kessia Reyne Bennett as PVC’s new Lead Pastor in 2022 and the confirmation of the Spirit in both of their hearts, Hannah finally stepped into her long-desired dream of becoming a Worship Pastor. She currently serves her PVC Fam as the Minister of Music. In addition to her role at church and Hannah is an Advanced Grief Recovery Coach with The Grief Recovery Method. Hannah loves encouraging and building others up. With kindness and clarity, Hannah helps others turn their pain into purpose, cultivate healthy growth, and better navigate change. She is a gifted writer, speaker + singer, and is determined to use her voice to help others know and believe in their own value and worth.

Miranda Horger

Office Administrator
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Miranda Horger always dreamed of using her professional skills to serve in Christian ministry. That dream became a reality in 2013 when she joined the PVC staff as Office Administrator. She loves Jesus, and it shows in the way she treats people! Miranda and her husband, David, have two adult children, Philip and Emily, one horse (Tango), and three cats (River, Bodie & Buttercup). Miranda loves travel, art, kayaking, and Thai cuisine.