ARC Pastors

Allegheny River Charge:    First United Methodist Church Kittanning, Ford Memorial United Methodist Church, Manorville United Methodist Church, Union Avenue United Methodist Church.

 

 

Dayton is an ordained elder, having started as a licensed local pastor in May 1996. He had felt a call to ministry as a 17 year old, but spent the next 17 years trying to argue God out of it. During that time, he had worked in health care, a bank, as a houseparent for a childrens’ group home, as a free lance reporter/photographer, a part time DJ for Christian radio station WCTL, a youth director, and worked as a teacher in Clymer, NY for a couple years before starting on the path of pastoral ministry. He has a B.A. History from Edinboro University of PA (1992) and an M.DIV. from United Theological Seminary (1999). He and his wife, Gay, were married in 1991 and have 2 adult daughters, 1 adult son, and a 9 year old daughter still at home. He loves history, camping, photography, genealogy, and traveling with his family.

He as been serving as Senior Pastor of the Allegheny River Charge since 2023.

 

Pastor: Terri Wells

Terri Wells grew up in Penfield, Pennsylvania in a family that didn't attend church. She says she has not walked a perfect path in this life, and "I praise Jesus for hanging on to me and not letting me go, even when I was trying to make my own way without him." 
She earned a bachelor's degree in Administration of Justice, with a minor in Psychology, from Penn State University and has worked in retail store management, as Asst. Deputy Warden of Treatment for Clearfield County Jail, Correctional Counselor for Indiana County Jail, Drug and Alcohol Treatment Specialist, for TSS, as a bank teller, a caseworker for Jefferson County Children and Youth and Indiana County Children and Youth, and a forensic Interviewer of children of sexual abuse. She currently is the Foster Care Coordinator for Indiana County Children and Youth.

Terri attended Penfield United Methodist Church, starting at the age of 10 and was confirmed as a member of that church at the age of 14. In 2006, she transferred her membership to the Smicksburg United Methodist Church. She has served the church as Admin Council leader, Women’s Group Leader, Vacation Bible School Leader, Youth Group Leader, and Sunday School leader.  She sang in the choir at Penfield for over 20 years. 

Terri married Ron in 2006 and he is her best friend. She has two adult sons from her first marriage. Keith Crawford is married to Lisa and they have two children Madelyn and Kodi. He is a former Marine and Air National Guard veteran and teaches at a State Correctional Facility in Eastern PA. Jason Crawford, his wife Kim and their sons Cullen and Liam live in Wiesbaden, Germany. He is on year 18 for the 82nd Airborne Paratroopers in the Army. 

Ron has a daughter Alicia Moore, who is married to Pat and they have two sons Peyton and Tanner. Ron also has an adult special needs son, Nathan Wells, who resides in a group home in Black Lick. 

Terri says that with all her life experiences and achievements, she values the next chapter of her life as "the greatest opportunity that I could ever have, to dedicate my life to sharing the love of Jesus Christ. I am so excited to explore the word of the Lord with my new brothers and sisters in Christ. To allow God to work through me and use me to bring souls home to him." 

She had been serving as Lay Minister of the Allegheny River Charge since July 2021 and Pastor since May 2022.