Leadership Team
The Mission Church
LEAD PASTOR
Gregg Johnson is Lead Pastor of The Mission Church where he has served for over thirty years. Known for its emphasis on foreign missions, community outreach, leadership development and discipleship programs, The Mission Church is a vibrant, growing church making an impact for Jesus Christ both locally and internationally.
Ordained with the Assemblies of God, Pastor Gregg also serves as Executive Presbyter for the Eastern Region of the Assemblies of God New York Ministry Network. In that capacity, he acts as leadership coach and consultant to the various pastors and leadership teams in the Eastern Region of New York State.
Pastor Gregg is also founder and keynote speaker of Global Leadership Training providing ministry coaching, study materials and leadership training conferences to church, civic and corporate leaders throughout East and West Africa, India, Cuba, Canada and the United States. These conferences have been endorsed and attended by respected leaders such as the President and Vice President of Ghana, the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Ghana and the Mayor of Kigali, Rwanda, Governor of Kampala, Uganda as well as Assemblies of God General Superintendents of Ghana, Kenya, Tanzania, Malawi and Rwanda and other denominational leaders.
Pastor Gregg has authored numerous books on leadership and personal development including, Pressure Points, Upward, How the Mighty Have Fallen, The Trust of Leadership, The Character of Leadership, Raising the Standard of Leadership, Ethics for Church Leaders, and Crisis, Conflict and Change. He is founder and publisher of Leadership Teaching Magazine and regularly publishes an online blog that addresses important topics on leadership, ministry and personal growth targeting leaders in developing countries around the world. He and his wife Laura live in New York and raised five children.
PASTOR LINDA SCHRECK
Executive PastorPastor Linda, an ordained minister with the Assemblies of God, has served in various pastoral roles before coming to The Mission Church and is thrilled to be a part of our team. She has been on missions trips to Argentina, India, and Zambia, and is an occasional guest speaker at churches and events. Pastor Linda and her husband, John have 4 sons, 4 daughters-in-law and 7 grandchildren…so far!
PASTOR KATHY DANA
Congregational Care PastorPastor Kathy serves as Congregational Care Pastor leading the Deacon and Benevolence Ministry, as well as secretary for the Missions Committee, and Connect Groups. She has coordinated and served on many foreign and domestic missions with The Mission Church and Joni & Friends Disability Missions.
Pastor Kathy is retired from a thirty-three year career as a Respiratory Therapist, and Director of Cadio-Pulmonary Services at Putnam Hospital Center, and is a former Vice President and President of the Board of Directors of Hudson Valley Cerebral Palsy Association. She is an Ordained Minister with the Assemblies of God and has two adult children, Joseph and Sarah, and two grandsons, Thomas and Maxwell.
Pastor Dylan Johnson
Youth PastorDylan grew up in the Mission Church and graduated from the Mission Church Youth Ministry in 2016. From there he attended and graduated from Northpoint Bible College with a Bachelor of Arts in Biblical Studies and Pastoral Ministry. He had also obtained his ministry license with the Assemblies of God in the fall of 2020. During his time in College Dylan interned at the Mission Church, working heavily with the youth ministry in all the years leading up to his eventual promotion to Youth Pastor. Dylan has a heart for teenagers and a special love for the same Youth Ministry that he had received the call of God in.
PASTOR ELIZABETH JOHNSON
Assistant PastorBorn and raised in Massachusetts, Elizabeth moved to the Hudson Valley and joined the Mission Church when she married her husband Dylan Johnson. Elizabeth both graduated from Southeastern University with a Bachelor of Science in Practical Ministries and obtained her Ministerial License with the Assemblies of God in the spring of 2020. Currently, Elizabeth works in social services empowering children and families to achieve optimal health and well being as she obtains her Masters in Clinical Social Work. Elizabeth has the amazing privilege of serving alongside her husband in youth ministry and leads the All In services the first Wednesdays of every month.
PASTOR JASON HIGDON
Assistant PastorJason has felt a strong call to serve God and others since his new life in Christ began in 2009. He is a Certified Minister with the Assemblies of God with passions for teaching God’s Word to newer believers and ministering to those who are facing challenges. In addition to serving as an Assistant Pastor, he also serves as a Deacon at The Mission Church. He and his wife Lindsay have been married since 2013 and are grateful parents to three children.
PASTOR MARISSA CURCIO
Girlfriends PastorMarissa is a graduate of Manhattanville College where she earned a Bachelor’s Degree in History and a Master’s Degree in Social Studies and Special Education. Marissa currently works as a public school special education teacher. She grew up in the Mission Church and began serving in Youth Ministry over 10 years ago and is a certified minister with the Assemblies of God. She currently leads our Girlfriends Ministry, which ministers to women of all ages! In the summer of 2023, she married the love of her life, Justin, and they look forward to all God has ahead for them — the best is yet to come!
PASTOR FREDDY BRANDENBERGER
Soul Care PastorPastor Freddy Brandenberger is an Ordained Minister of Elim Fellowship, an alumni of Fordham University’s Graduate School of Social Services, a New York State Licensed Clinical Social Worker, and an adjunct professor at Nyack College in its Alliance Graduate School of Counseling and Master’s Social Work Program. He currently facilitates Soul Care, a Christ centered support group, and provides individual, couples & family counseling at The Mission Church. Pastor Freddy has been married to Olga since February 1986, and they are blessed with two wonderful adult children and a cool little black and white dog named Snoopy. Pastor Freddy enjoys worshiping the Lord with his guitar and jamming with friends.
PASTOR PAUL DITORO
Prison Ministry PastorPastor Paul Di Toro is the Pastor of Prison Ministry. With a radical personal testimony of God’s life transforming power, Pastor Paul is effectively reaching men and women who are incarcerated in local prisons. He is ordained with the Assemblies of God, and currently works a full time job as a Credentialed Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Counselor, as well as a Certified Substance Abuse Recovery Coach. Pastor Paul is married to Deborah Lee, and they have one son, Ethan Thomas Di Toro.
MICHELE MASSI
Director, The Mission Church Academy & PreschoolMichele Massi has served as the Director of The Mission Church Academy & Preschool since its inception in 2005. Under her direction our school has become the premier standard of preschool education in the Hudson Valley. Michele received her professional training in Elementary Education, Psychology and Speech & Language Progression at Iona College, Mercy College and Cortland State University. She is highly respected by the parents who have entrusted their children to her care and deeply loved by the students she serves. Michele and her teaching staff set a standard of excellence in the preschool education community. She is married to Guy and has four children. They make their home in Carmel, New York.
ELDER TOM READYOFF
ElderTom Readyoff has served on The Mission Church Board of Trustees (1992-1998), the Board of Deacons (2000-2006), and presently serves as an Elder (2006-present). Tom is a retired high school teacher and high school principal of 21 years. He has acted as president of a two-county Principal’s Association, and served on the Putnam Chapter of Habitat for Humanity for many years. He is a founding member of the local annual Putnam County Leadership Prayer Breakfast, which has fostered prayer in the lives of over 250 local political and business leaders for the past 21 years.
ROB & AIMEE STIPAK
Audio & Visual DirectorsRob and Aimee have been members of the church since 2012 and have been blessed with 3 children. They both had been serving on the Production team for many years before taking on their roles of audio and visual directing. Rob directs all aspects of audio relating to in-house and broadcasting live services. He is passionate about collaborating with the band and speakers to deliver quality audio that glorifies God. Aimee directs both the in-house visual aspects of services, as well as the online broadcasting. She truly enjoys using her technical skills to ensure an effective and engaging worship experience.
WENDY CATAPANO
TreasurerWendy and her husband John have been members of the church since 2001 and they have 3 daughters. She has served as the treasurer since 2002. A graduate of Iona College, Wendy is a Certified Public Accountant whose experience includes 3 years with KPMG and 7 years with Westchester Medical Center. Her love of numbers and desire to serve the Lord, make this the best position she’s ever held.
AUDREY BOGERT
Administrative AssistantAudrey and her husband, Wayne, have been members since 1994 and have 3 adult children. She started volunteering in the church office over 12 years ago which eventually led her to a full-time position as an administrative assistant. She has served in many ministries over the past 23 years and will generally help out whenever and wherever there is a need.