Pastors and Elders
Senior Pastor
David, Sobeyda and kids were living in North Jersey, where David was pastor of Crossroads Free Methodist Church. They moved to Astoria in July, 2001 and began networking with people in the community. In September (shortly after the terrorist attacks on our city) a Launch Team was formed of individuals who wanted to help start the new church - ACC.
Associate Pastor
Rev. Darcy was ordained as a pastor in 1986 in the Presbyterian Church of Brazil. He came to the USA in 1988, serving at Comunidade Crista Presbiteriana (CCP) in Newark, NJ. He was transferred to the Presbyterian Church in America (PCA) in 1992. In 1994 he and Cristina moved to Long Island to plant a church among Brazilian immigrants. In 1998 the CCP (Presbyterian Christian Community) in Mineola, became the first PCA church in Long Island and the first Brazilian PCA church in New York State. In the autumn of 2000, the Redeemer Church Planting Center met with him and David Ellis to ask them to consider the plan to start a new church together in Queens (they accepted the challenge and became very good friends). Pastor Darcy loves the Lord, Cristina, the city and to encourage people. He really likes BBQ, video games and to travel. As the associate/executive pastor of ACC, he works with the leaders of the Sunday Worship and Operations; Outreach, Mercy and Missions; and Finances. (www.pastordarcy.com)
Elders
Blaine Hicklin (Blaine@AstoriaChurch.org)
Ben Kaufmann (Ben@AstoriaChurch.org)
Ryan Myers (Ryan@AstoriaChurch.org)
Brad Wade (Brad@AstoriaChurch.org)
The Pastors (teaching elders) and elders (ruling elders) together form a group called the "session" whose responsibility it is to teach, equip, discipline, nurture and shepherd the congregation.
This group of ruling elders, has been trained by the pastors, examined and tested by elders from other churches in our Presbytery (the regional church) within the denomination and elected by our congregation in April of 2004.
Pastors have also devoted themselves to the study of Scripture by formal education in Greek and Hebrew and pastoring through graduate Seminary degrees.
