CENTRAL LEADERSHIP TEAM
PASTOR JONATHAN WALKER
Pastor Jonathan Walker is the Lead Pastor of Church on the Rock. He and his wife Kitri have experienced the overwhelming impact of Jesus in their own lives and have been motivated to love and serve others as a result. They consider it a privilege to spend their lives extending that invitation to others. Jonathan first moved to Alaska in 1993 and simply fell in love with this place and its people. Over the years, the Walkers have taught at Alaska Bible Institute, hosted conferences for parents and teens throughout the state, served as youth pastors, and been church planters in Homer, AK. They are honored to lead the passionate and gifted team of people at Church on The Rock.
PASTOR Jonathan Garland
Pastor Jonathan Garland serves with the Central Leadership Team at Church on the Rock. He married the love of his life, Shannon, in 2000. Outside of a growing affection for coffee and Crossfit, they enjoy spending time with their four outdoorsy, often rambunctious, Alaska-loving children: Seth, Kate, Ethan and Alivia. The Garland’s moved to Palmer in 2016 to invest in training the next generation of ministry leaders with Alaska Bible College. Before their move, Jonathan served in Oregon as a youth pastor, camp director, and senior pastor. Jonathan loves leading others into a deeper, richer, more full relationship with Jesus and is excited to run with the amazing Church on the Rock family.
COTR Campus Pastors
PASTOR paul sliwa
WASILLA CAMPUS
Paul Sliwa serves as our Wasilla Campus Pastor. Paul and Emily have four children, two incredible boys and two beautiful girls. Paul and Emily are lifelong Alaskans and have grown up attending Church on the Rock since it started in the year 2000. In 2016, he became the Youth Pastor at the Wasilla Campus and served for nearly 8 years. They are passionate about helping people learn and experience what it means to journey through life with Jesus!
PASTOR Josh O'Donnell
PALMER CAMPUS
Josh O’Donnell is our Palmer Campus Pastor. He and his wife Audra have called the Matsu Valley home since 2013. They married in 2007 and are blessed with four incredible children who share their passion for Jesus and the church. Josh has held various roles, including youth pastor, intern program designer and director, and associate pastor.
In addition to full-time ministry work, Josh received his master's in Christian counseling and founded a renewal and restoration ministry focused on supporting Christian leaders. His greatest passions lie in studying God's Word, teaching others, and witnessing God's power at work in people's lives. The O'Donnell family is deeply honored to serve the Palmer campus and its community.
PASTOR Jonathan Aho
WILLOW CAMPUS
Jonathan Aho is our Willow Campus Pastor. He and his wife Alexis moved their family of six to Willow in 2019. The Aho family is a balance of outdoorsy and indoorsy, enjoying Alaska’s beauty from both sides of the windowpane. Jonathan’s personal ministry has included 15 years of construction and 15 years as a public high school teacher. He is excited to serve the church and community in this new chapter of God’s redemptive work in the Valley. Jesus has transformed his life, his marriage, and his family, and his greatest desire is for others to discover and abide in the love he knows in Christ. Jonathan is FULL SEND in his faith with an insatiable appetite for the Word and obedience to serve God by supporting COTR’s purpose to develop people who live, love, and lead like Jesus.
PASTOR Codie Farrington
TALKEETNA CAMPUS
Codie Farrington is a life long Alaskan, growing up in rural Alaska, he loves family, outdoors, sports and studying God’s Word and the history of His Church. In 2009 Codie moved to Wasilla and met his super smoking hot wife Sophie, also a life long Alaskan, at our very own Church on the Rock. Codie & Sophie were married on a baseball field in 2010 and have their very own team of 6 children. As a family, they love to go on adventures in the beautiful Alaskan summers and snuggle on the couch while reading or watching a good movie in the winter. The Farrington Family is honored to be serving the Talkeetna campus and they hope be a blessing to the communities they serve.
