Our Pastors
Senior Pastor Brad & Heidi Carpenter
Pastor Brad Carpenter and First Lady Heidi Carpenter served as Associate Pastor of Life Ministries for three years until 2024, when God elevated them to the role of Senior Pastor.
Pastor Carpenter, has served in several roles within the UPCI during his ministry. These include, Ohio District Sectional Youth Representative, Ohio North American Missions Secretary, Ohio Apostolic Man Representative and church planter. He is also a graduate of Purpose Institute and the Texas Bible College Excel program. Along with supporting her husband, Heidi has served the UPCI as an Ohio District Ladies Representative. She was the Ladies Director at the Pathway Pentecostals and is currently the Sunday School Director at Life Ministries.
The Carpenters have been happily married since 1997. They currently reside in Marshallville, Ohio, and enjoy spending time with their adult children and traveling.
Bishop Ed & Mina Nichols
Bishop Nichols served as lead pastor of Life Ministries for 40 years before transitioning to overseer in 2024. He and his wife, Mina, are former AIM missionaries to Thailand and he has had additional ministry experience in India, Tanzania, and Ethiopia. His most recent trips abroad were with a team that went to Guatemala to address IT needs. Bishop Nichols has served the United Pentecostal Church International as both the Director and the Secretary/Treasurer of North American Missions for the Ohio District. He is a gifted teacher and counselor and holds numerous certifications, including Grief Recovery Specialist, Prepare/Enrich Facilitator and trainer, and other specialties within the American Association of Christian Counselors. He and Mina also have 14 years experience as foster parents, and he has served as a trainer of foster parents for licensing in the state of Ohio. Bishop Nichols is a long-time instructor at various Purpose Institute campuses.
The Nichols live in Sterling, Ohio and enjoy spending time with their two adult children and their families.