OUR STAFF

LEAD PASTOR | REV. D. MARK MINDEK

Mark is the eldest son of a C&MA pastor's family of 4 children, and as a teen,  worked on the crab boats and in the watermelon fields of the Eastern Shore of Maryland. In high school, he competed in sports with the Track and Field Team doing shot put and discus as well as a member of the chess team.  His first car was a 1969 Nova from a junkyard, which he restored by rebuilding the engine. When he was 16, a missionary came to his church and stayed in his home. Through this, God called him to full-time missionary work. Mark attended Nyack College near New York city where he met his wife, Becky, who grew up attending Auburn Alliance. They attended Columbia International University in South Carolina, where he received his Masters of Divinity degree in Leadership, and Becky received her Master’s degree in Teaching English as A Second Language.  After graduating and receiving his ordination, he pastored at an Alliance Church in the Pittsburgh, PA area from 1995-2000.  After that, they were commissioned by the C&MA to serve as missionaries in Macedonia, where they lived and raised their 2 daughters from 2000-2011. They spent one year serving at the Alliance Missionary School in Germany before moving back to Auburn. Mark has been a pastor at Auburn Alliance for the last 12 years where he enjoys sharing from God' s Word, counseling from God's Word, learning from God's Word, building, fixing, hunting, fishing, carpentry, hotrods and humor. Mark and Becky's greatest joys are enjoying time and making memories with their 2 daughters, 2 sons-in law, 6 grandchildren and the people who make up their family at AAC. Mark’s favorite verse is: 2 Chronicles 16:9      ”For the eyes of the Lord roam to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose heart is loyal to Him. “

PASTOR OF DISCIPLESHIP | REV. JIM "PJ" BOGONIEWSKI

PJ and his wife Sandra joined AAC in 2019.  They have four adult children and one amazing granddaughter.  PJ roots for the Buffalo Bills and Sabres.  He also gives rides with Uber and Lyft as a hobby.  It's a great way to rub shoulders with un-churched people and give wise and godly counsel to anyone who asks for it.  Pj's passion for ministry is to make disciples, who make more disciples.  His undergraduate studies are in Writing.  To date, PJ has written 100 plays and 3 books.  He will be glad to ride Millennium Force with you, because it's simply the best roller coaster on the planet.      

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WORSHIP LEADER | PJ BARNER

PJ (“Praise Jesus”) is a missionary kid who was born and raised in Davao City, Philippines with a passion for reaching the lost for Christ. His parents, Rev. Paul & Elvie Barner, are ministers with the Christian & Missionary Alliance Churches of the Philippines (CAMACOP) and have planted 30 churches, 2 schools, and an orphanage in the greater Davao City region. PJ's journey includes touring over 50 churches across 20 countries with his family and experiencing a spiritual awakening at 16, followed by a baptism in the Jordan River. He attended Alliance University (then Nyack College) and graduated from SUNY Albany, having studied counseling psychology, sociology, and intercultural ministry. He is also an alumnus of LIFT, a yearlong Christian discipleship program in the Adirondacks, and has led worship in the USA, the Philippines, and the Dominican Republic. PJ now lives in Auburn with his wife Briana, and they are both passionately devoted to drawing the church closer to God through worship!

COMMUNICATION SPECIALIST | JENA VARGASON

Jena has been a follower of Jesus Christ from a young age.  She has served in many leadership roles at AAC.  Jena has served as Communication Specialist since 2023.  Jena grew up in Weedsport, NY, was raised in the church, and gave her heart to the Lord as a young child.  As a teen, Jena was very involved in Youth Group, Youth Worship Team, Drama Team, VBS and helping wherever needed.  She attended undergrad at Houghton University (then Houghton College) where she studied Inclusive Childhood Education and Intercultural Studies.  Following graduation , she married her husband, Tim, and they moved to Auburn, where they continued to attend AAC.  Over the years, Jena has served as Nursery Coordinator, Sunday School Teacher, VBS Director, Young Adult Leader, various roles on the Christian Education Committee as well as being a part of the Tech Team.  Jena and Tim currently lead IMPACT (AAC's Young Adult Ministry) at their home.  
Copyright © 2023 | Auburn Alliance Church | 630 N. Seward Ave. | Auburn, NY 13021 | 315-253-2650 | [email protected]

OUR STAFF

LEAD PASTOR | REV. D. MARK MINDEK

Mark is the eldest son of a C&MA pastor's family of 4 children, and as a teen,  worked on the crab boats and in the watermelon fields of the Eastern Shore of Maryland. In high school, he competed in sports with the Track and Field Team doing shot put and discus as well as a member of the chess team.  His first car was a 1969 Nova from a junkyard, which he restored by rebuilding the engine. When he was 16, a missionary came to his church and stayed in his home. Through this, God called him to full-time missionary work. Mark attended Nyack College near New York city where he met his wife, Becky, who grew up attending Auburn Alliance. They attended Columbia International University in South Carolina, where he received his Masters of Divinity degree in Leadership, and Becky received her Master’s degree in Teaching English as A Second Language.  After graduating and receiving his ordination, he pastored at an Alliance Church in the Pittsburgh, PA area from 1995-2000.  After that, they were commissioned by the C&MA to serve as missionaries in Macedonia, where they lived and raised their 2 daughters from 2000-2011. They spent one year serving at the Alliance Missionary School in Germany before moving back to Auburn. Mark has been a pastor at Auburn Alliance for the last 12 years where he enjoys sharing from God' s Word, counseling from God's Word, learning from God's Word, building, fixing, hunting, fishing, carpentry, hotrods and humor. Mark and Becky's greatest joys are enjoying time and making memories with their 2 daughters, 2 sons-in law, 6 grandchildren and the people who make up their family at AAC. Mark’s favorite verse is: 2 Chronicles 16:9      ”For the eyes of the Lord roam to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose heart is loyal to Him. “

PASTOR OF DISCIPLESHIP | REV. JIM "PJ" BOGONIEWSKI

PJ and his wife Sandra joined AAC in 2019.  They have four adult children and one amazing granddaughter.  PJ roots for the Buffalo Bills and Sabres.  He also gives rides with Uber and Lyft as a hobby.  It's a great way to rub shoulders with un-churched people and give wise and godly counsel to anyone who asks for it.  Pj's passion for ministry is to make disciples, who make more disciples.  His undergraduate studies are in Writing.  To date, PJ has written 100 plays and 3 books.  He will be glad to ride Millennium Force with you, because it's simply the best roller coaster on the planet.      

​

WORSHIP LEADER | PJ BARNER

PJ (“Praise Jesus”) is a missionary kid who was born and raised in Davao City, Philippines with a passion for reaching the lost for Christ. His parents, Rev. Paul & Elvie Barner, are ministers with the Christian & Missionary Alliance Churches of the Philippines (CAMACOP) and have planted 30 churches, 2 schools, and an orphanage in the greater Davao City region. PJ's journey includes touring over 50 churches across 20 countries with his family and experiencing a spiritual awakening at 16, followed by a baptism in the Jordan River. He attended Alliance University (then Nyack College) and graduated from SUNY Albany, having studied counseling psychology, sociology, and intercultural ministry. He is also an alumnus of LIFT, a yearlong Christian discipleship program in the Adirondacks, and has led worship in the USA, the Philippines, and the Dominican Republic. PJ now lives in Auburn with his wife Briana, and they are both passionately devoted to drawing the church closer to God through worship!

COMMUNICATION SPECIALIST | JENA VARGASON

Jena has been a follower of Jesus Christ from a young age.  She has served in many leadership roles at AAC.  Jena has served as Communication Specialist since 2023.  Jena grew up in Weedsport, NY, was raised in the church, and gave her heart to the Lord as a young child.  As a teen, Jena was very involved in Youth Group, Youth Worship Team, Drama Team, VBS and helping wherever needed.  She attended undergrad at Houghton University (then Houghton College) where she studied Inclusive Childhood Education and Intercultural Studies.  Following graduation , she married her husband, Tim, and they moved to Auburn, where they continued to attend AAC.  Over the years, Jena has served as Nursery Coordinator, Sunday School Teacher, VBS Director, Young Adult Leader, various roles on the Christian Education Committee as well as being a part of the Tech Team.  Jena and Tim currently lead IMPACT (AAC's Young Adult Ministry) at their home.