PASTORAL STAFF
Pastor Eric Stokesberry became Walnut Grove Assembly of God's 5th Senior Pastor on May 15, 2022. He was born on August 6, 1974 in Rochester, New York. At the age of 12, he accepted Christ as Lord and Savior. By age 17, he knew there was a call on his life into full-time ministry. In 1991, he enrolled in Zion Bible College in Barrington, Rhode Island (now known as Northpoint Bible College in Haverhill, MA). He graduated with a Bachelors of Bible and a minor in Pastoral Studies. During his time at Zion Bible College, he ministered in various ways in churches throughout the New England states. He traveled with the singing/drama group called the Zion Couriers, where he ministered in churches, coffee houses, outdoor concerts, and in the country of Slovakia. In 1996, he met the love of his life, Elizabeth, and was married two years later. He and Elizabeth are blessed with three children, Rachel, Joshua, and Hannah. Throughout Pastor Eric's life, he has had a passion for the Word of God and a desire to reach others with the life-changing grace of God.
PASTOR ERIC AND ELIZABETH STOKESBERRY
SENIOR PASTOR
PASTOR ARMANDO & SARAH RAYGOZA
CHILDREN'S PASTOR
Pastor Mando has been the Children's Pastor at Walnut Grove since December 2013. He was born in Los Angeles, CA and was raised in La Puente, CA, a small city about 20 miles east of LA. In 2007, God called Armando and his family out of CA to Pittsburgh. Taking a huge step of faith, they were obedient to move. They saw God align their every step. He provided a job, a home and most importantly to the Raygoza's, a church family. He currently lives in West Mifflin with his wife Sarah, and his children Adrianna , Anthony, Reichel, Elvis, Jordyn and Annalissa. Armando is currently a certified minister through Assemblies of God's "Global University," but is continuing his education to eventually become ordained.
PASTOR LINDSAY & MATT PIERMANI-BRACE
Youth Pastor
Pastor Lindsay joined the Walnut Grove staff as the youth pastor in October 2021. She was born in Scranton, Pa and grew up there until she departed for college in 2012. Until that point she had served faithfully in her home church as a youth leader, nursery coordinator, preteen Bible study teacher, and anything else they would let her do! She got her Bachelors in Youth and Family Studies from the University of Valley Forge in 2016. Immediately after college, she left for Richmond, Indiana to work at a boarding school for troubled youth. In 2019, a youth ministry pursuit called her to the Pittsburgh area where she met her husband, Matt. They met during the early months of the Covid-19 pandemic. Over the coming months they fell in love, got engaged in November of 2020, and were married February 6, 2021. They streamed the ceremony online for friends and family. Pastor Lindsay has a heart and passion to share Jesus with teenagers and help them engage with their own giftings that God has given them to help them minister to others. She loves traveling, Oreos, hiking, biking, camping and cooking. She also enjoys reading, Marvel movies, making all kinds of crafts, and taking care of her two bunnies, Simba and Zazu.
_JPG.jpg)
PASTOR WILLIAM GALUS AND MARY
Pastor Emeritus
Pastor Bill Galus served as Walnut Grove's Senior Pastor from September, 2001 until his retirement in 2022. Currently, he is Pastor Emeritus. He first came to Walnut Grove in 1995 as an Assistant Pastor and Children's Pastor. Previously, Pastor Galus was the Lead Pastor at Trinity Assembly of God in Lawrenceville, PA. He also was a short-term Missionary Pastor in the South Pacific island nation of Samoa. In the 1981, he earned a Bachelor's Degree in Biblical studies from Central Bible College in Springfield, Missouri. Pastor Bill and Mary are third generation Pittsburghers and have two grown, married children: Jeremiah and April. They also have seven grandchildren. Pastor Galus' primary focus is preaching and teaching the Word of God. He loves World Missions, (having been on 14 mission trips thus far), and loves to see people find Christ, be set free, and discipled into a deeper relationship with the Father.