Our St. John Team

St. John is blessed and thankful for our wonderful and talented staff. Each member of the St. John team is essential to keeping our church thriving and maintaining our ability to serve the Lord and the Sebring community.

REV. RONALD DE GENARO JR.

senior pastor

Pastor Ron has served at St. John Methodist Church of Sebring since July of 2005 as Senior Pastor. He has served previously in Tampa, Punta Gorda, Fort Myers, and New Port Richey. He was a 2000 recipient of the Marcy Preaching Fellowship at Candler School of Theology.

Pastor Ron loves God and his church. Ron became a committed follower of Jesus Christ as an 18-year old searching for meaning and purpose in life.

Born in Jersey City, NJ, Ron moved to Florida with his family when he was 12-years old. In 1993, Ron married his wife Jeannine and have been partners in ministry ever since. Ron has 5 grown children and 6 wonderful grandchildren.

Rev. Ronald De Genaro Jr. was ordained a Deacon in the Florida Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church in 1996, an Elder in 1999, and transferred his ordination to the Global Methodist Church in 2023.

M.A. in Divinity, Biblical Theological Seminary, 1989
M.A. in Old Testament, Biblical Theological Seminary, 1988
B.A. in Bible, Nyack College, 1985

REV. DORMAN DOWLING

minister of discipleship & evangelism

Rev. Dowling is a retired Navy Chaplain who also pastored several churches giving him a combined 28-years of ministerial service. During his years as a Navy Chaplain, he had the privilege of being a chaplain to the U.S. Marines and the U.S. Coast Guard. Pastor Dorman also served with the U.S. Air Force and has traveled and lived in many countries around the world. The Southeast U.S. has been his home for the past 28-years.

Rev. Dowling was born and raised in Sacramento, CA where he came to know Christ at 8-years old. in 2000, Pastor Dorman married his wife Janice of Anderson, SC. They have 2 grown daughters and 4 grandchildren. Rev. Dowling and his wife made Sebring their home in 2023.

M. Div., Nazarene Theological Seminary
M.B.A. and M.A. in Counseling, Webster University
B.A. in Philiosophy/Religion, Northwest Nazarene University

REV. PETER MICHAEL

visitation pastor

Rev. Peter Michael is a retired Elder from the West Ohio United Methodist Conference and served in extension ministry in Southern Ohio. Having spent 30-years as a Hospice Chaplain for Southern Ohio Medical Center, Pastor Pete has worked with clients and families spanning 5 counties in both outpatient and inpatient settings. Rev. Michael has also served in several positions within local Ministerial organizations and homeless shelters.

Pastor Pete is a graduate of Asbury Theological Seminary, and resides in Sebring seasonally with his wife, Kathleen, as "snowbirds" from Indiana.

REV. TOM BRIDGES

visitation pastor

KATHRYN KIPP

music director

Kathryn Kipp is a native Floridian who grew up in the Central Florida area. She was always interested in music and was very active in chorus in high school. She went on to receive her bachelors degree in Music Education from Florida State University.

After graduation, Kathryn went on to teach chorus and musical theater at the high school level for 8-years. Deciding she needed a change of pace, she switched her focus from teaching to ministry, using her musical gifts to help lead worship in song.

Kathryn has been the Music Director for St. John since 2019. She enjoys helping people use their gifts and talents to further the mission of the church. To quote one of her favorite worship songs, "All are welcome in this place."

B.M.E. in Choral Music, Florida State University, 2003

MADISYN MIENTEK

communications coordinator

Madisyn Mientek has been part of the St. John team since the Summer of 2022, upon relocating to Sebring from Bismarck, ND.

With a passion for creativity and finding the beauty in all aspects of God's world, Ms. Mientek serves St. John through overseeing the church's communications in advertising and marketing, brand identity, social media presence, and church office general operations.

In addition to her main position in communications, Madisyn is a talented vocalist and regularly leads hymns and performs special music on Sunday mornings. Madisyn began performing at a young age and has experienced a rich and fulfilling career since.

Ms. Mientek has performed with several choral ensembles throughout high-school, university and professionally with Dakota Pro Musica and Cantori: Choral Artists of East Texas. Ms. Mientek has had the honor of singing as a soloist with the Bismarck-Mandan Symphony Orchestra in 2022, and was the recipient of the Sandra Nicholson Award for Vocal Excellence from the University of Mary in 2021.