Pastoral Staff

 

Lenny Bernotas, Senior Pastor

Born and raised in Riverside, N.J., Lenny was “reared” in the Roman Catholic faith. After graduating high school, Lenny served as a submarine navigator in the U.S. Navy. Following completion of his naval career, Lenny embarked on an unsuccessful “search for truth,” which led him to various occult practices. Finally, at the age of 30, he was introduced to a bible study by his soon-to-be-wife Karen, where he discovered the truth and dedicated his life to the Lord in 1977.
 
Lenny and Karen eventually attended Trinity, where both began serving in ministries in 1985. After being happily married for 21 years, Karen was called home to be with the Lord following a two-year battle with ovarian cancer. At the time, Lenny’s daughter Stephanie was 11 years old and he thought his “life was over.” But the Lord had other ideas.
 
The Lord brought Cyndy, a former missionary, into Lenny’s life soon after and they were married March 4, 2000, at Trinity. Meanwhile, Lenny also served as an interim preacher at Trinity for two years before being called as the Senior Pastor on December 1, 2000. He was ordained April 21, 2001.
 
Cyndy has been a great source of encouragement to Lenny and now serves as Children’s Ministry Coordinator at Trinity. His daughter Stephanie attends Philadelphia Biblical University and has served in 9 different countries on short-term missions trips. Lenny also has a son (Brian) and two stepsons (Scott and Chris). Lenny enjoys oil painting, graphic art, and traveling, but most of all, he enjoys preaching the Word of God and serving the people of Trinity.
 
His life verse for ministry is 1 Corinthians 4:5-7: “For we do not preach ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus' sake. For God, who said, "Let light shine out of darkness,"made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ. But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us.”

 

 

Jeremy VanSant, Associate Pastor

Jeremy has been serving at Trinity since 2007. He was born in Pennsylvania into a pastor’s family and learned to love and cherish service in pastoral ministry. Jeremy responded to the Gospel call early in his life, and then received the call to pastoral ministry during his teenage years. He was given many opportunities to serve in his home church where his father mentored him.
 
Jeremy went on to attend Lancaster Bible College where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Bible with a focus in pastoral ministry. He was ordained by First Baptist Church of Bloomfield in October of 2006. In April of 2007, Jeremy was called by Trinity to serve on the pastoral staff. He is continuing his education through the distance learning program of Baptist Bible Seminary via the internet.
 
Jeremy was married to his wife, Rachel, in December 2008 and they continue to enjoy the blessings of marriage together. Jeremy oversees the teen ministry, young adult ministry, and Sunday morning worship service. He also delights in occasional preaching opportunities that arise in the sermon schedule. Jeremy enjoys playing sports, reading, debating theological topics, and spending time with his wife.
 
His life verse for ministry is Colossians 1:28-29: “We proclaim him, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone perfect in Christ. To this end I labor, struggling with all his energy, which so powerfully works in me.”