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A place to seek and enter the Kingdom of God

Living Word Church has been committed to being God’s hand extended to the Syracuse community since 1972.

Home / About

A place to seek and enter the Kingdom of God

Living Word Church has been committed to being God’s hand extended to the Syracuse community since 1972.

At Living Word, we believe in

At Living Word, we believe in...

THE BIBLE

We believe that the Bible is the Word of God, written by men who were divinely inspired. In its original manuscripts it is infallible and complete. The Bible contains everlasting Good News that is as relevant today as the day it was written. The Bible tells of the Kingdom of God and how to enter. Centrally, it contains the accurate historical record of the life, death, and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ.

SALVATION

We believe that sin, whether much or little, separates people from God and His kingdom. No one is justified before God by good deeds because any sin whatsoever renders us guilty before the Holy God. Even though we have all sinned, God, in His love for us, offers the death of His own Son Jesus Christ to satisfy the penalty against us. In other words, Jesus’ death saves us from a guilty verdict before God. Salvation comes only to those who believe in Jesus Christ, turn away from their sinful ways, and follow Christ for the rest of their lives. We believe that God will reward those who accept salvation with eternal life in heaven, and He will punish those who do not turn from their sins with eternal torment in hell.

HOLY SPIRIT

We believe that the Holy Spirit is the third part of the Trinity. Since the Day of Pentecost, the Holy Spirit has been the agent of God on earth, conveying to the believer the promises of Christ. The Holy Spirit empowers a believer to be saved and live free from the control of sin. The baptism of the Holy Spirit is a second act of God’s grace that follows salvation. The baptism in the Holy Spirit will enable the recipient to speak in the gift of tongues of spiritual communion with God. The Holy Spirit may also grant any of the other eight gifts of the Holy Spirit.

OBEDIENCE

We believe that obedience to the commands of Jesus is bundled with faith and grace as the way of salvation. Obedience to Jesus is the infallible validation that someone has received the salvation of God. An obedient believer allows Jesus Christ’s authority to direct him or her, rather than acting on his or her own ideas and desires. Obedience often involves forfeiting something in this life for the promise of a greater reward in heaven.

WATER BAPTISM

We believe that baptism in water should be one of a believer’s early acts of obedience to Jesus. It is a personal decision for every Christian and a public declaration of their commitment to Jesus Christ. Baptism is a symbol of washing away the old life and entering, clean and pure, into a new life. We often perform baptisms as a complete immersion, in a baptismal built into the front of our meeting hall.

VOLUNTEERING

We believe in volunteerism as a Christian duty. Most of our members volunteer in the church ministries and projects in some way. Volunteer work creates valuable opportunities for fellowship, growth, and it helps to create a sense of ownership. A valuable by-product of our volunteerism is that our church has a relatively small paid staff.

Leadership

Bryan Rocine

Pastor
 
Pastor Bryan Rocine surrendered his life to Christ at age seventeen in 1975, when he was a freshman at Syracuse University. He knew almost immediately that the Lord had called him to preach. He shared the Word of God at the Living Word pulpit at the age of eighteen, and he has never been long absent from it since. He was ordained at Living Word Church in 1990, when he was installed as an associate pastor. Pastor Rocine has been involved in some way in most of the Living Word projects for the last forty-plus years including youth ministries, the establishment of Living Word Academy, Living Word Camp, and Christian Health Service of Syracuse. He has also managed several construction projects at the church, including the building of the Living Word Worship Center.

Ben Connor

Pastor
 
Pastor Benjamin Connor grew up in Central New York and committed his life to Jesus Christ at a young age while attending Living Word Academy. Through the years and into his adult life he has followed the draw to ministry God has placed in his life. From  this conviction, he has maintained his relationship with Living Word Church in various ways. For many years, he has hosted a weekly men’s Bible study group. He has helped organize many college-aged fellowships and has helped facilitate Living Word Camp’s Day Camp program. He has been involved in sharing God’s word to Living Word Church since his college days and more recently, has led yearly tent meetings at Living Word Camp. Pastor Connor was ordained at Living Word Church as an associate pastor in May of 2021.

Don Cullen

Elder
 
Brother Don Cullen is a teaching elder at Living Word where he regularly shares God’s word. He first came to know Jesus at the age of 14 on Long Island where he grew up. Several years later in 1979, while attending Cornell University, he began to attend weekly services at Living Word. He then met his wife at church and together they have raised their three children there. Over the years he has owned and operated two successful businesses in the Syracuse area thanks to the blessing of the LORD. Brother Don has been involved in various church ministries over the years including street preaching and Sunday School teaching and has served on the church board as Church Treasurer for 23 years and the board of Christian Health Service of Syracuse since 2010. Brother Don is involved every day overseeing the day-to-day financial operations of the church and its ministries.

Garry Maderi

Elder and Executive Director of Christian Health
 
Bro. Garry Maderi became a Christian at the age of 26 and shortly thereafter joined Living Word Church, along with his wife and three small children. Following a long career as a transportation manager, he worked at Living Word Academy, both as a fifth grade teacher and as an administrator. Over the years, Brother Garry has helped to establish several church ministries including Youth Sports activities, the Day Camp program, and Christian Health Service of Syracuse, of which he is currently the Executive Director. He regularly shares the Word of God and is President of the church board.

Tony Gray

Elder
 

Brother Tony Gray came to faith in Jesus when he was 7 years old and afterward attended a Christian school in Los Angeles.  Bro Tony and his wife Janet came to Living Word Church in 1974 while pursuing a Ph.D. in chemistry at Syracuse University.  After graduation, he worked for SRC, Inc. for over 35 years, retiring in 2015.  Since retiring he has served at Christian Health Service of Syracuse where he oversees the external programs that Christian Health participates in and also serves as an advisor to their board.  He additionally teaches the laboratory portion of Living Word Academy’s Regents chemistry and physics classes.  Bro. Tony and his wife jointly oversee the church’s adult learning classes, which help immigrants gain more proficiency in English.  Finally, he has served as one of the teachers for Living Word Church’s new believer’s class since 1989.

Leadership

Bryan Rocine

Pastor

Pastor Bryan Rocine surrendered his life to Christ at age seventeen in 1975, when he was a freshman at Syracuse University. He knew almost immediately that the Lord had called him to preach. He shared the Word of God at the Living Word pulpit at the age of eighteen, and he has never been long absent from it since. He was ordained at Living Word Church in 1990, when he was installed as an associate pastor. Pastor Rocine has been involved in some way in most of the Living Word projects for the last forty-plus years including youth ministries, the establishment of Living Word Academy, Living Word Camp, and Christian Health Service of Syracuse. He has also managed several construction projects at the church, including the building of the Living Word Worship Center.

Ben Connor

Pastor
 
Pastor Benjamin Connor grew up in Central New York and committed his life to Jesus Christ at a young age while attending Living Word Academy. Through the years and into his adult life he has followed the draw to ministry God has placed in his life. From  this conviction, he has maintained his relationship with Living Word Church in various ways. For many years, he has hosted a weekly men’s Bible study group. He has helped organize many college-aged fellowships and has helped facilitate Living Word Camp’s Day Camp program. He has been involved in sharing God’s word to Living Word Church since his college days and more recently, has led yearly tent meetings at Living Word Camp. Pastor Connor was ordained at Living Word Church as an associate pastor in May of 2021.

Don Cullen

Elder
 
Brother Don Cullen is a teaching elder at Living Word where he regularly shares God’s word. He first came to know Jesus at the age of 14 on Long Island where he grew up. Several years later in 1979, while attending Cornell University, he began to attend weekly services at Living Word. He then met his wife at church and together they have raised their three children there. Over the years he has owned and operated two successful businesses in the Syracuse area thanks to the blessing of the LORD. Brother Don has been involved in various church ministries over the years including street preaching and Sunday School teaching and has served on the church board as Church Treasurer for 23 years and the board of Christian Health Service of Syracuse since 2010. Brother Don is involved every day overseeing the day-to-day financial operations of the church and its ministries.

Garry Maderi

Elder and Executive Director of Christian Health
 
Bro. Garry Maderi became a Christian at the age of 26 and shortly thereafter joined Living Word Church, along with his wife and three small children. Following a long career as a transportation manager, he worked at Living Word Academy, both as a fifth grade teacher and as an administrator. Over the years, Brother Garry has helped to establish several church ministries including Youth Sports activities, the Day Camp program, and Christian Health Service of Syracuse, of which he is currently the Executive Director. He regularly shares the Word of God and is President of the church board.

Tony Gray

Elder
 

Brother Tony Gray came to faith in Jesus when he was 7 years old and afterward attended a Christian school in Los Angeles.  Bro Tony and his wife Janet came to Living Word Church in 1974 while pursuing a Ph.D. in chemistry at Syracuse University.  After graduation, he worked for SRC, Inc. for over 35 years, retiring in 2015.  Since retiring he has served at Christian Health Service of Syracuse where he oversees the external programs that Christian Health participates in and also serves as an advisor to their board.  He additionally teaches the laboratory portion of Living Word Academy’s Regents chemistry and physics classes.  Bro. Tony and his wife jointly oversee the church’s adult learning classes, which help immigrants gain more proficiency in English.  Finally, he has served as one of the teachers for Living Word Church’s new believer’s class since 1989.

Support Staff

Since our beginnings in 1972, many volunteers and a small paid staff have kept our church and school clean, organized, and running smoothly. Here are a few department leaders who help coordinate our efforts.

Art Marquis

Music Director

Terry Virag

Church Secretary

Isaiah Rocine

Academy Principal

John Laurin

Music Director

Amelia Weimar

Assistant Music Director

Terry Virag

Church Secretary

Isaiah Rocine

Academy Principal

Tiffany Paddock

Food Services

Ryan Domer

Sunday School Director

James Hester

Transportation Ministry

Janis Bernard

Nursery Director

Scott LaBarge

Facilities Manager

Frank Babiarz

Food Services

Mike & Auddie Mastroleo

Food Pantry Directors

Dan Plewak

Day Camp Director

Andy Hockenbery

Day Camp Director

Rich Carrier

Video Producer

Adam Hockenbery

Communications Director

Ed Knack

Webmaster

Reuben Connor

Webmaster

John Laurin

Music Director

Amelia Weimar

Assistant Music Director

Terry Virag

Church Secretary

Isaiah Rocine

Academy Principal

Tiffany Paddock

Food Services

Ryan Domer

Sunday School Director

James Hester

Transportation Ministry

Janis Bernard

Nursery Director

Scott LaBarge

Facilities Manager

Frank Babiarz

Food Services

Mike & Auddie Mastroleo

Food Pantry Directors

Dan Plewak

Day Camp Director

Andy
Hockenbery

Day Camp Director

Rich Carrier

Video Producer

Adam
Hockenbery

Communications Director

Ed Knack

Webmaster

Reuben Connor

Webmaster

We are a multi-cultural, multi-racial congregation, one local body in Jesus Christ. The love that Jesus has put within us spans across the natural differences that normally divide people elsewhere.”
 
– Mathiang D.
 
We are a multi-cultural, multi-racial congregation, one local body in Jesus Christ. The love that Jesus has put within us spans across the natural differences that normally divide people elsewhere.”
 
– Mathiang D.