The Executive Council

Rev. Preston K. Mathena was elected superintendent of the Appalachian Conference at the 100th Annual Conference session in June 2010. Prior to his election he served as the Conference Missions/Evangelism Director for nine years. Before his Conference duties, Mathena pastored the Voice of Praise Worship Center for 17 years, from which Destiny Outreach Center was planted. Bishop Mathena holds a master’s degree in church planting & revitalization from Southwestern Christian University, where he received the 2000 Southwestern Graduate School Distinguished Leadership award. He also earned a bachelor’s degree in Pastoral Studies from Emmanuel College. He and his wife, Kathy, have been in ministry together for the past 32 years.
 

Rev. J. Frank Neff was elected as Secretary of the Appalachian Conference in June 2010.  Prior to his election he served as a Conference Council Member for 8 years.  Before becoming a council member, he served 12 years on the Discipleship Ministries Board of the conference.  
Along with his Conference duties, Neff pastored Life Line Ministries Church in Hot Springs, VA for 38 years.  He and his wife Beth have been in ministries together for the past 44 years.

Rev. Stacy C. Cope is a loving husband, and father to 4 sons.  He has been a licensed and ordained minister with the International Pentecostal Holiness Church (IPHC) for 23 years.  Stacy has been the Senior Pastor of Tower of Refuge Church in Dublin, Virginia, since 2009.  He served as a Youth Pastor / Associate Pastor in previous years.  He has also served on the Discipleship Ministry Board for the Appalachian Conference from 2006-2018 and served as the Assistant Director, Secretary, and Conference Youth Pastor positons.  Stacy was elected to the Appalachian Conference Executive Council as a board member in 2018.  He is also the liaison to newly licensed and ordained ministers coming into the Appalachian Conference and into Maranatha College in Dublin.  Stacy was the first young man to receive the Gold Medal of Achievement, the highest honor, in the Royal Rangers in the Virginia Conference now called the Appalachian Conference.  He then went on to win the National Royal Ranger of the Year in 1988.  Stacy attended Emmanuel College in Franklin Springs, Georgia.  Currently, he is also the CEO & owner of Southwest Calibration in Pulaski, VA and has authored two books, "Untold Testimonies Told" & Testimonies Told".

Rev. Larry D. Meadors received his ministers license with the Appalachian Conference in 1984 after graduating from Oral Roberts University. He returned to his home church, New Life Christian Ministries in Roanoke, VA, and served as Associate Pastor until 1989. Larry pastored the Abundant Life Fellowship Church in Pilot, VA for thirteen years.  During this period of ministry, he graduated with a Masters of Ministry from Southwestern  College of Christian Ministries and also served on the Conference Discipleship Ministries council in various roles until he was appointed as Conference DM Director from 2002-2010. He presently serves as the conference Missions and Evangelism Director. He and Gloria have served together in ministry since their marriage in 1983 and enjoy their family, especially their four grandchildren.

Wanda Myers was elected as a board member of the Appalachian Conference at the 100th Annual Conference session in June 2010.  She was the first woman in 100 years elected to the board. Prior to being elected, she served as the Conference Women’s Ministries Director for twelve years. She has served in pastoral ministry for 37 years with her husband Larry at three conference churches.  Since her husband retired, she is presently pastoring Good News Ministries in Staunton, VA and has been there for five years. She has served as an instructor for Maranatha College, teaching several classes throughout the years. She is a certified John Maxwell Coach and owned her own company “Leading in Harmony,” focusing on training and coaching leadership skills. She has 28 years of banking experience and retired early from BB&T as a Sales Management Consultant, VP in 2013. She was a Certified University Instructor with a BB&T Process Master Certification.  She also attended Lord Fairfax Community College.  She and her husband Larry, have six children with eleven grandchildren and several great-grandchildren.  

Dr. Jim Tunnell was elected to the Appalachian Conference Executive Council in June 2014. He also serves as the Lead Pastor at Baker’s Chapel PHC in Wythe County, VA and has since 2003. Along with his beautiful wife, Melinda “Kitten” Tunnell, they are passionately dedicated to discipling others. Under their leadership, Baker’s Chapel has grown and reached new ministry heights. They have two adult sons, Aaron and Brandon. Dr. Tunnell holds several earned professional degrees including a bachelor’s degree in Management from Bluefield State College, a master’s degree in Bank Management/Finance from UVA, two masters’s degrees (MA, MDIV) in Pastoral Studies from Liberty University, and a doctorate in Professional Leadership from Liberty University.