Pastor Rodney Lord
Senior Pastor
Pastor Rodney Lord is a native of Maine. After completing his associate degree in Engineering Technology at the University of Maine, he attended and graduated from Christ for The Nations Institute in Dallas, Texas. He served 11 years as an associate at Church of The King in Dallas. His wife Stephanie (Wells) Lord, was born and raised in Vienna, WV., they have seven children. Pastor Rodney and Stephanie were part of a church planting team in Huntington, WV, for three years before moving to Marietta in 1997 to become part of the staff of Valley Harvest Church. In 2002, Pastor Rodney became the Senior Pastor when Pastor Stan Wells transitioned to an associate position at the church. Pastor Rodney helps lead a local relational network of regional pastors. He also serves on the apostolic council of Arise WV, which is a group of leaders across West Virginia seeking to connect catalytic leaders together for revival and statewide transformation. He has traveled in missions in Europe and Africa since the early 80's. Freedom Gate Church is part of a network of churches called the Federation of Ministers and Churches International where Pastor Rodney serves as part of the Apostolic Council. www.FMCI.org
Senior Pastor
Pastor Rodney Lord is a native of Maine. After completing his associate degree in Engineering Technology at the University of Maine, he attended and graduated from Christ for The Nations Institute in Dallas, Texas. He served 11 years as an associate at Church of The King in Dallas. His wife Stephanie (Wells) Lord, was born and raised in Vienna, WV., they have seven children. Pastor Rodney and Stephanie were part of a church planting team in Huntington, WV, for three years before moving to Marietta in 1997 to become part of the staff of Valley Harvest Church. In 2002, Pastor Rodney became the Senior Pastor when Pastor Stan Wells transitioned to an associate position at the church. Pastor Rodney helps lead a local relational network of regional pastors. He also serves on the apostolic council of Arise WV, which is a group of leaders across West Virginia seeking to connect catalytic leaders together for revival and statewide transformation. He has traveled in missions in Europe and Africa since the early 80's. Freedom Gate Church is part of a network of churches called the Federation of Ministers and Churches International where Pastor Rodney serves as part of the Apostolic Council. www.FMCI.org
Stephanie Lord
Children's Director
Stephanie Lord is from Vienna, WVa. She finished her high school and college education in Dallas, Texas while her family attended Christ for the Nations. She graduated from Dallas Baptist University with a degree in Education and married Rodney Lord in 1985. She has homeschooled their 7 children for the past twenty years. She participates on the worship team and directs and teaches in the children’s ministry.
Children's Director
Stephanie Lord is from Vienna, WVa. She finished her high school and college education in Dallas, Texas while her family attended Christ for the Nations. She graduated from Dallas Baptist University with a degree in Education and married Rodney Lord in 1985. She has homeschooled their 7 children for the past twenty years. She participates on the worship team and directs and teaches in the children’s ministry.
Julie Clark
Worship Leader
Julie was born and raised in the Mid-Ohio Valley and the oldest of 7 children. She earned her bachelor’s and master’s degree in Music Performance from The Ohio State University, where her primary instrument was the Oboe and her secondary the Piano. Julie has served in the Music Ministry for the greater part of 25 years and views her service to the church body with passionate devotion. She currently works alongside her husband, David, in the Real Estate Industry at Berkshire Hathaway Professional Realty. She is also the proud Grandmother of two darling little girls, Madeline and McKenzie.
Worship Leader
Julie was born and raised in the Mid-Ohio Valley and the oldest of 7 children. She earned her bachelor’s and master’s degree in Music Performance from The Ohio State University, where her primary instrument was the Oboe and her secondary the Piano. Julie has served in the Music Ministry for the greater part of 25 years and views her service to the church body with passionate devotion. She currently works alongside her husband, David, in the Real Estate Industry at Berkshire Hathaway Professional Realty. She is also the proud Grandmother of two darling little girls, Madeline and McKenzie.
Pastor Stan Wells
Associate Pastor
Pastor Stan is a native of the mid-Ohio Valley. He grew up in Parkersburg, WV, and graduated from Marietta College. He and his wife Jean raised their large family of seven children in Vienna,WV. In 1980, Stan and Jean packed up the family and moved to Dallas, Texas, so that he could attend Christ for the Nations Bible Institute. He later became part of the Pastoral staff at Church of the King under the leadership of Jim Hodges. He moved back to the Mid-Ohio valley in 1992 to plant a charismatic church with the focus of the gifts of the Holy Spirit being released and restoration coming to the body of Christ. He was senior Pastor of Valley Harvest Church (now named Freedom Gate Church) until 2002. As a staff pastor at FGC, Pastor Stan has been very instrumental in developing and teaching foundational classes for the church body at Freedom Gate.
Associate Pastor
Pastor Stan is a native of the mid-Ohio Valley. He grew up in Parkersburg, WV, and graduated from Marietta College. He and his wife Jean raised their large family of seven children in Vienna,WV. In 1980, Stan and Jean packed up the family and moved to Dallas, Texas, so that he could attend Christ for the Nations Bible Institute. He later became part of the Pastoral staff at Church of the King under the leadership of Jim Hodges. He moved back to the Mid-Ohio valley in 1992 to plant a charismatic church with the focus of the gifts of the Holy Spirit being released and restoration coming to the body of Christ. He was senior Pastor of Valley Harvest Church (now named Freedom Gate Church) until 2002. As a staff pastor at FGC, Pastor Stan has been very instrumental in developing and teaching foundational classes for the church body at Freedom Gate.
Judy Ball
Administrator
Judy was born in Morgantown and raised in Parkersburg. She graduated from PHS and then WVU with a degree in psychology. Judy worked with disabled children and adults before becoming a stay at home mom. She has been the secretary at FGC since 2002. She also facilitates missions activity at the church. Hobbies, besides her grandchildren, are cooking, reading and governmental intercession.
Administrator
Judy was born in Morgantown and raised in Parkersburg. She graduated from PHS and then WVU with a degree in psychology. Judy worked with disabled children and adults before becoming a stay at home mom. She has been the secretary at FGC since 2002. She also facilitates missions activity at the church. Hobbies, besides her grandchildren, are cooking, reading and governmental intercession.
Tyler Preston
Youth Director
Tyler Preston was born and raised in Marietta, Ohio. He attended the highly accredited Marietta College where he received his bachelor’s degree in Public Relations and Communications. He was also the public relations chair of the organization Charles Sumner Harrison, a multicultural group funded to bring awareness to diversity to the campus. Two years after graduating he decided to attend Preston’s Beauty Academy. After obtaining his cosmetology license in 2014 he began to work in the salon until 2018, when he opened his own barber shop, Mr. Golden Scissors. Tyler has a heart and passion for being on the worship team and helping the youth know their identity in Christ.
Youth Director
Tyler Preston was born and raised in Marietta, Ohio. He attended the highly accredited Marietta College where he received his bachelor’s degree in Public Relations and Communications. He was also the public relations chair of the organization Charles Sumner Harrison, a multicultural group funded to bring awareness to diversity to the campus. Two years after graduating he decided to attend Preston’s Beauty Academy. After obtaining his cosmetology license in 2014 he began to work in the salon until 2018, when he opened his own barber shop, Mr. Golden Scissors. Tyler has a heart and passion for being on the worship team and helping the youth know their identity in Christ.