About

I am Maureen and currently serve as the Worship and Communications Pastor at New Life Community, Carlisle, PA, where I have been working alongside my husband Ryan in pastoral leadership since 2002. Before this assignment, we both served on staff in Ryan’s home church, at Stayner, Brethren in Christ Church, in Ontario, Canada. I’ve had the distinct pleasure of leading worship, teaching, and mentoring for my entire adult life thus far.

The call to ministry came clearly when I was 15 years old, while on a short-term summer mission trip. That encounter led to ministry involvement in my home church, and ultimately the pursuit of a ministry degree. I graduated from Emmanuel Bible College with a Bachelor of Religious Education in Professional Studies, with a double minor in Christian Education and Music, in 1996, and then I married Ryan—the love of my life. Together we have two adult children and the recent addition of a son-in-law, all serving Jesus in their various gifting and calling.

It is a great honor to serve as the Director of Awaken, working with the church to encourage and equip women who are discerning the call to ministry leadership. I am excited as we pursue greater breakthroughs in diversity and unity in our churches, building a goodness culture that radiates the heart of God.

Ryan and his wife Jen moved to Pasadena five years ago from Lancaster, PA. Ryan graduated from Fuller Theological Seminary with Master of Art degrees in Theology and Inter-Cultural Studies. With a background in youth ministry (YFC) and missions (Eastern Mennonite Missions), Ryan currently is the Associate Pastor at Solid Ground Church and the Director of Emerging Leaders for Pacific Conference BIC.

Ryan is passionate about many things, including coffee, soccer, running, traveling, meeting new people, and experiencing new cultures. I love the diversity of Southern California, including the mountains, beaches, but most of all the people. I believe each person uniquely reflects the image of God, and when I experience something new, I often marvel at God’s creativity and wonder what these people might have to teach me about God. 

I am excited to work with Awaken, because of the many amazing women who have led me and invested in my life. The Gospel was first proclaimed by women, and they served vital roles in the early church. I’m excited to see the church be a stronger, safer, and more creative body as we embrace the diversity of the gifts God has given to the body to lead.

Rev. Vicki Podjasek is a pastor in the Brethren in Christ denomination, and currently serves as the Program Coordinator for Pastors of Excellence at Ashland Theological Seminary (ATS). She is also the Director of Adult Education and Small Groups at New Vision Brethren in Christ in Pewaukee, WI. Vicki and her husband Jeff are both cancer survivors. They spent approximately a decade ministering to children as licensed foster parents, which led to the adoption of their daughter, Alexis, who is now in college.

Amber is currently serving as the Children’s Director at Cedar Grove BIC and working toward full pastoral licensure.  She also serves on the board of the Christian Retreat Center (CRC), a BIC camp located in East Waterford, PA. CRC is where she encountered God as a young teen and grew spiritually and in leadership skills.  She felt a call to full-time ministry in college but was unsure what that would look like at that time.  She attended Slippery Rock University, where she obtained a B.A. in Psychology and in Spanish.  She is currently working through the Directed Study Program offered through the BIC denomination.  Amber is looking forward to encouraging women as they answer the call that God has placed on their lives.

Amber and her husband Adam have three children.

Pam has been part of the BIC since 1995. Her family served with BIC World Missions in Zimbabwe and prior to that, they worked on educational projects in Indonesia and Uganda. Pam has worked in the BIC offices since 2003, serving in the general church and now with BICWM. Pam and her husband attend Mechanicsburg BIC and help lead a Bible Fellowship group for new believers, serve in the healing prayer ministry, and in At the Cross Recovery.

Margaret co-pastors the Abilene BIC church part-time with her husband. Her husband, Dale is primarily responsible for preaching, weddings, and funerals whereas Margaret cares for visitation, administration, and Christian Education. Margaret is the daughter of a Presbyterian pastor; she attended Messiah College where she met Dale. Margaret has taught school for nearly 30 years mostly working with at-risk teenagers. Dale and Margaret have 6 children (3 by birth and 3 adopted through marriage) Heather and Bob Beaty (Rancho Cucamonga, CA), Jen and Matt Bierlein (Columbus, OH), and Matt and Amber Engle (Abilene, KS). Margaret and Dale have 6 grandchildren: Roc, Tyler, Sterling, Alana, Emmett, and Anna.

Carmen is a lifelong church member and pastor’s wife of 30 years. She has served in almost every area of church life:  teaching, leading, and mentoring people of all ages in various ministry areas.  Her home church is Koinos Community Church in Reading, PA where she serves as an occasional preacher, worship team member, and small group leader.  

Carmen has been married to Andrew Carpenter for 30 years.  They have two children, Cole, 26, and Claire, 23.  Besides being a busy wife, mom, and church volunteer, Carmen teaches and runs her own music lesson business as well as working as an editorial assistant for a popular music teacher website.

Carmen is passionate about helping women to explore their giftedness and empowering them to lead and serve in their church and community context.  She is thrilled to be a part of the Awaken team!