Senior Pastor - Rev. Harold D. Linder

Rev. Harold Linder is a graduate of Kent Christian College where he earned his B. A. in Biblical Studies. Upon graduating, he returned home to serve seven years as Youth Pastor of Bethel Pentecostal Church, Long Island, New York (Bishop D.D. Davis, Pastor Doug Davis). While residing in New York he also served six years as the Youth President of the New York Metro District, UPCI.

Bro. Linder's ministry has included missions work in Europe, Asia, and Africa. He has also traveled extensively throughout North America speaking at revivals, rallies, conventions, and camps. He has ministered at the North American Youth Congress and the North American Youth Workers Convention. He has also served the General Youth Division of the United Pentecostal Church as a member of the Executive Planning Committee.

Pastor Linder currently teaches Youth Ministry as an adjunct instructor at Northeast Christian College in Fredericton, New Brunswick Canada. He serves as the Foreign Missions Director of the North Carolina District and he is also a member of the Foreign Missions Board of the United Pentecostal Church International.

Since 2001, Harold Linder has faithfully served as pastor of Heavenview United Pentecostal Church in Winston Salem, North Carolina. He is very blessed to enjoy the capable support of his wife Lisa, their daughter Abigail (born on November 20, 2003), and Harrison (born May 13, 2007).

Please visit Pastor Linder's blog at HaroldLinder.com.

Assistant Pastor / Music Minister - Brian Careccia

Brian has served as a full time staff member and Minister of Music at Heavenview since 2003. In 2008 Brian’s ministry was expanded to include the responsibilities of serving as an Assistant Pastor here at the church.

Brian’s ministry to youth, as well as his gifted musicianship, has enabled him to travel throughout America, Canada and across Europe, speaking and ministering in music at youth camps, youth conventions and various Church revivals. Brian has also enjoyed being a part of the ministry team at the North American Youth Congress as well as the General Conference of the United Pentecostal Church International.

Brian is originally from the New York Metropolitan area where he served in numerous roles of ministry at Bethel Pentecostal Church, Long Island, New York (Bishop D.D. Davis, Pastor Doug Davis). Brian’s wife Jill is originally from Jonesport, Maine. Prior to accepting their call to minister in Winston Salem, Brian and Jill were both very active in ministry at The Pentecostals of Jonesport, under the leadership of Pastor Steve Bertrand.

Brian and Jill bring a youthful zeal and an eclectic creativity to all of their ministry efforts here at Heavenview. They both have a passion for service that demonstrates a genuine devotion to the Kingdom of God. They share an uncommon willingness to sacrifice that has generated tremendous blessings in the lives of those they love and lead here at Heavenview.

Community Pastor - Rev. Dan Ponjican

Rev. Dan Ponjican is a graduate of New Jersey Institute of Technology where he earned his Bachelor’s Degree in Mechanical Engineering.

Prior to becoming the Community Pastor at Heavenview in October, 2007, he served as Student Pastor in Lexington, NC. Dan also served on the North Carolina District Youth Committee for three years.

Pastor Dan's ministry has been built upon thirteen years of student ministry leadership, time spent on foreign soil connecting with real needs and the blessing of Godly mentoring from influential leaders around the world.

Dan is passionate about connecting with real people in hopes of establishing meaningful relationships that will point them to Christ.

His favorite verse is found in the book of Romans, “And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what [is] that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.” (12:2)

Please visit www.ServingOurGeneration.com and click on the link for “Freeing Our Community.” You will see how Pastor Dan and his wife Christie are helping us help others here at Heavenview.

Administrative Pastor - Rev. Wilbur Strout

Rev. Wilbur Strout was born in Calais, Maine in 1962. After the death of his father, he and his sister, Jeannie, moved, with their mother, to Ellworth, Maine. It was there that he gave his life to Jesus Christ, was baptized and received the Holy Ghost at the age of 15.

After beginning his preaching ministry at 16, he attended Texas Bible College in Houston, TX, where he earned a Bachelor of Theology.

He married Deborah Wright, a pastor’s daughter from the State of Missouri, in 1982. Deborah is an accomplished musician and singer.

Together, they served in a Pastoral role for 25 years at churches in Maine and Tennessee. They also spent two years crisscrossing North America in an evangelistic ministry, with their two children, Shanna Renee (born March 17, 1986) and Wes (born March 5, 1991).

Rev. Strout has served in several leadership capacities in the United Pentecostal Church International as District Presbyter in the Maine District, District Sunday School Director and as a member of the General Sunday School Planning Board. He has also served as Interim Pastor at several churches.

While teaching as an adjunct instructor at Northeast Christian College in Fredriction, New Brunswick, Canada he became acquainted with Pastor Harold Linder of Heavenview. Their subsequent friendship eventually paved the way for Wilbur to become the Administrative Pastor at Heavenview.

Administrative Ministries Director - Lisa Linder

Lisa Linder responded to the call of God from her childhood. She was just a young girl when she surrendered her heart to Jesus Christ. Lisa recalls being only seven years old when she was baptized in Jesus Name and subsequently filled with the Holy Ghost as evidenced by speaking with other tongues.

At a young age Lisa began follow the leading of the Holy Spirit into avenues of ministry. She was twelve years of age when she first started assisting with Bible study teaching, Sunday school ministry, and child care ministries. As the years passed her passion for the work of the Lord ignited and she became very active in Music ministry, Youth ministry and small group ministry. Lisa was also instructed and involved in the huge task of providing administrative support to a large and growing church in suburban Long Island, New York.

As her ministry developed, Lisa remained very conscientious regarding her education and career objectives. She became a licensed Optician and dedicated many years to managing one of the leading retail establishments in the New York Metropolitan area dedicated to vision care.

Since 2001 Lisa has invested her education and expertise into the development of the Administrative ministries of Heavenview. She has worked intimately with the Finance Team of the church to oversee a multi-million dollar expansion of the Heavenview campus. Lisa is intricately involved with the development and maintenance of the administrative support systems that are at the foundation of the daily operations of Heavenview.

Although her first love in ministry is the servant-leadership opportunities that she manages at the church; Lisa is very dedicated to the music department of Heavenview. She is an active part of the leadership team that oversees the Choir, music, and special singing ministries of the church.

Above all else, she is a loving support to her husband (our senior pastor) and a devoted mom to their two gorgeous children.

Community Ministries Director - Christie Ponjican

Christie Ponjican was born in Elkton, Maryland on December 9, 1976. She and her husband recently moved to Advance, North Carolina after living in Lexington, North Carolina for five years.

Christie’s love for God, her husband Dan, her family and the community of Winston-Salem has made a lasting impression on the lives of others. Her love has encouraged others to discover the beauty of being accepted by a Heavenly Father who loves us all so deeply with no conditions.

Christie’s passion for helping people began at seventeen years of age. From her youth she has been active in church and Para church ministries in North America and around the world. Her ministry has included involvement in missions efforts in Mexico City, Monterrey Mexico, Manila Philippines, Montego Bay Jamaica and Colombo Sri Lanka.

She is thankful for the mentors in her life that have influenced her toward Christ in positive and meaningful ways and wants to give back to others because of the love she has been shown in her lifetime.

Christie served at The Arts Council of Winston-Salem and Forsyth County as a Director in Development for five years. Following her investment in The Arts Council, Christie prayerfully decided to become a Community Volunteer but has recently accepted a position at The Winston-Salem Chamber of Commerce where she coordinates their Senior Academy Program. This program has been created to increase the Graduation rate in Forsyth County.

Christie also donates her expertise to Heavenview by serving as our Community Ministries Director. She works tirelessly organizing and equipping teams of volunteers from the church and the community. Under her leadership, these individuals regularly invest their talents in various quality of life improvement initiatives throughout Winston Salem.

Please visit www.ServingOurGeneration.com and click on the link for “Freeing Our Community” to learn more about the Community Ministry opportunities at Heavenview.