OUR LEADERS
Tom Lupien - Pastor
Born and raised in Brockton, Massachusetts, Tom was a machinist for 30 years before he was called to ministry.
Tom received the degree of Master of Arts in Theological Studies with an emphasis on Pastoral Ministry through Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in June of 2018. In September of 2018 Tom was called to be the pastor at Panton Community Church.
Tom had previously served the Lord for many years through various men’s ministries, coaching church softball, teaching Sunday School, youth group, and preaching.
Tom is married to Ellen whom he met at Bridgewater State College in 1991. Tom earned a Bachelor of Arts in History and Ellen a Bachelor of Sciences in Social Work. It was at BSC where both received Christ as their Lord and Savior. Ellen was also born in southeastern Massachusetts and raised to love the outdoors.
Tom and Ellen share an enthusiasm for hiking, biking, kayaking, backpacking, snowshoeing and birdwatching, and have embraced Vermont’s landscape as their playground for adventure. Tom and Ellen have three adult children: Eric, Abby, and Thomas.
Rich Rood - Elder
Rich and Suzanne Rood have been part of the Panton Church since moving to Vermont in 1992.
Rich grew up in the Detroit area and closely follows their sports teams. He currently serves as the church Treasurer and also loves to study and teach scriptures, especially the Old Testament. His desire is to see the church focus on the true work of Jesus and be knit together by God’s Spirit. On weekdays you’ll see him walking to Collins Aerospace where he works as a software engineer.
Suzanne serves as our Worship Coordinator, using her musical gifts as she leads the worship team most Sundays from the piano with a mix of contemporary praise songs and traditional hymns. Suzanne says she finds that there is something very healing and freeing in praising God even in the daily struggles. Suzanne has recently published a book, A Limp of Faith, about her own struggle of faith while living with a neuromuscular disease. She also teaches private piano lessons and has a vision for raising up the next generation of worship leaders.
Rich and Suzanne have a son and a daughter, both grown, married, and living in the Chicago area.
Dave Clevenstine - Elder
Dave says, “I Love God, wife and kids in that order. I was born into a family that loves Jesus. My wife Ellie and I try to show our kids the real love that we have for Jesus and what he has done for us. I am so thankful that my family has been brought to serve at Panton Community Church. I’ve been gifted to play the guitar and have spent most of my adult life standing up front and strumming at each church we have been at as God moved us around the country. Music is great and one of the few things we see that is done in heaven as well as here. I suspect in heaven I may even be able to sing!” Dave works as an engineer at Collins Aerospace and trains for marathons during his lunch breaks.
Ellie also shares her musical talents, playing percussion and/or bass guitar with the worship team most Sundays. She also enjoys running, hiking, rowing, and hanging out with her 4 amazing kids.
Dan Kehoe - Elder
Dan is a born and raised Vermonter, farming in Weybridge with his wife, Corinne, and their teenage son. Dan has been an elder at Panton Community Church for over 13 years and has a real heart for prayer, often leading our prayer time at the end of the Sunday morning service. Dan also enjoys refurbishing machinery and eating ice cream.
Corinne often serves in our Children’s Ministry, teaching Junior Church and Sunday school. You may also find her at the piano or singing with the worship team. She also coordinates special events, such as Family Fun Nights and the annual children’s nativity play.