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.”

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. He’s even been to Boring, OR!

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 rock climber, mountaineer, skier, and fisherman, Greg believes that spending time in creation helps to connect humans to their Creator.

Hello! My name is Emily Ellis and it is such a blessing to be able to be on staff here. I grew up in Auburn, WA and spent my formative years at the local SDA Schools Buena Vista and Auburn Adventist Academy. It was in my sophomore year at AAA that I became so strongly convicted of the gospel message and began to get heavily involved  in ministry. Slowly over time God put it on my heart to study theology, and so I decided that I should follow that conviction! I spent all four years of my undergrad at Walla Walla University, and it was some of the best years of my life! God opened so many doors there, including the door to come to PVC!

In my free time I enjoy running, playing pickleball, skiing, and reading. It’s been so wonderful being able to live here in Oregon because all of those activities are so accessible! Thank you for being a part of the PVC family. This church is a better place because you are here, and it has been such a joy getting to know each and every one of you.

Emily

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).