Listed below are the Elders currently serving at PGC.
Elders
Leadership
Justin Franchino
Teaching Pastor
I was born in a trailer park in Warsaw, IN, while my dad was finishing up seminary at Grace College. We moved to Soldotna when I was 9 months when my dad was called to be youth pastor right here at Peninsula Grace. I started in the nursery, where I was know as "Justin Wailer," and have been making noise here every since!
I came to know Jesus in the back of my parents' station wagon at the bank drive-through, talking with my mom. Growing up in a Jesus-centered home and church, I slowly fell deeper in love with Him. I really made my walk with Him my own through some high school conferences and missions trips, as well as Bible school.
In August 2018, I was introduced to my wife, Jill, through a random guy who met each of us for an hour and said we should meet. We were married in June of 2019, and she moved up here from CA.
I received a Bachelor's Degree of Intercultural and Biblical Studies from New Tribes Mission (now Ethnos 360) in 2007. I also received a Bachelor's Degree in Elementary Education in 2015 before the Lord led me to be the lead pastor of PGC in 2016.
Fun facts: For a solid decade I wore nothing but inside-out yellow t-shirts, and I visited all 30 major league baseball stadiums over 96 days in the summer of 2014.
Ross Skjold
Family Pastor
I was born in Soldotna, AK and raised down the road in Kasilof. God used the faithfulness of my parents and local church family to draw me into a relationship with himself at a young age. It was in high school, however, while attending SoHi that I first remember being broken by the Gospel--my need for grace and faith in Jesus' death and resurrection in my place.
It was also while in high school that I began dating the beautiful girl who would become my (even more beautiful) wife. Monica and I were married four years later, in 2014. We now have three sons and a daughter.
After graduating high school, I moved to Columbia, South Carolina to study the Bible at Columbia International University. God used my experience in college to grow my desire to pursue ministry. After college I attended seminary where Monica and I began to long to return to Alaska and serve a local church in our hometown. After serving a local church in Columbia as a pastoral resident, God opened the door for me to join the Peninsula Grace family in August of 2019.
In my spare time, I love to spend time with my family in the great outdoors. I enjoy hiking, hunting, fishing, and camping. I'm also known to spend an unusual amount of time reading and drinking Dr. Pepper.
Danny Mangione
Youth Pastor
I came to Alaska in 2009 and since then have developed an incredible love for the state and the people. I began my Youth Ministry journey in 2013 and look forward to the many years to come. My wife, Brandi, and I have been married since 2016 and have three children, Eliza, Wesley, and Fletcher. We love getting to know new people over a meal, games, and our weekly gatherings.