Ministry Partners
Working through para-church organizations in the Pittsburgh region, our Ministry Partners complement the mission of Orchard Hill Church which is to “Help People Find and Follow Jesus Christ”.
Brian Cook
Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA)
Brian is the All-Abilities Area Representative of FCA for Southwest Pennsylvania. FCA’s mission is to lead EVERY coach and athlete into a growing relationship with Jesus Christ and His Church. He is responsible for engaging, equipping, and empowering people with special needs and disabilities to grow in Christ through FCA huddles, camps, sport programs, events, and accessible Biblical resources.
Brian grew up in Pittsburgh, PA, where he and his sister were raised by their Deaf parents. In his youth, Brian developed a passion for sports. The love of sports motivated Brian to attend college at the University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown where he became a member of the wrestling team. After college, Brian served as a teacher and coach in a variety of schools in Dallas, TX and Pittsburgh, PA. Following a 12-year career in education and athletics, God opened the doors for Brian to combine his love of sports and background in education to make an impact for Christ through FCA.
In 2022, Brian pursued a unique calling and organized an FCA sports camp for Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing youth in partnership with Eden Christian Academy. Through this FCA Deaf Camp, God has given Brian a heart to make Jesus known among the deaf, hard-of-hearing, and the larger all-abilities community.
Brian and his wife, Emily, live in Ross Township. They have three children: Abraham, Jude, and Eve. The Cook family has been attending Orchard Hill Church since January 2022. Brian has served with Kids Ministry and led an ASL Interest Group. Brian and Emily love being a part of the Orchard Hill community and are thankful to be a part of this body of Christ.
FCA Website - https://www.fca.org/
FCA Pittsburgh Website - https://fcapittsburgh.org/
FCA Deaf Camp Video - https://vimeo.com/798524753/ed69fa5102
Todd Harris
InterVarsity Christian Fellowship USA
Todd grew up in Warren, MI, attending Western Michigan University, where he got involved with InterVarsity Christian Fellowship/USA. Throughout those years, he participated in numerous short-term mission programs. Todd joined Orchard Hill Church in the Fall of 2008 upon moving to the area to work with IV. For his first seven years, he served at Clarion University and Grove City College. From summer 2015 through December 2021, he served in a regional capacity, sending teams of students and staff from three and a half states to countries like Bolivia and Jamaica to serve with local university student movements. He was also responsible for developing relationships and partnerships with these movements and ensuring that staff and students were adequately trained for these cross-cultural experiences. Since January 2022, he has been serving in two roles:
As the West Virginia Rural Program Director, responsible for developing and leading the Spring Break Rural Program. He delights in seeing students learn about themselves and encounter God through off-campus programming. In this case, his sincere hope is that as they learn about and from West Virginians, they will come to see that the people of Appalachia have something beautiful to offer the world - something unique woven into the fabric of who they are and where they live.
As part of the Global Engagement & Justice Department of IV, responsible for ensuring open and reciprocal communication between the department and all Field Ministry Regions that enables a stronger and more effective partnership. He’s excited to play a role in helping more students and staff make room to participate in the wide variety of service and learning opportunities provided by the department.
Todd married his wife, Missy, in 2013. Born in Monongahela, she spent her formative years with her missionary family in Belo Horizonte, Brazil. They have three children, Caleb, Eliana and Lincoln, and have been part of Orchard Hill Strip District Campus since it began in 2013, volunteering with the Worship Team and Kidzburgh Ministry. Todd and Missy enjoy spending time with family and friends in and around Pittsburgh, Brazilian Churrasco, and traveling.
Global Programs - https://vimeo.com/174385182
Global Urban Trek - https://vimeo.com/89944211
Kortney & Bryce McGarvey
Urban Impact Foundation (UIF)
Kortney grew up and gave her life to Christ at Orchard Hill Church, where she was highly involved in Student Ministry and worked as an intern for two summers during college. Kortney met Bryce at Waynesburg University where they were both pursuing degrees in Biblical and Ministry Studies Urban Missionaries. During their time at Waynesburg, God developed in both Kortney and Bryce a burden for youth and for missional living.
The McGarveys now work and live on the North Side of Pittsburgh with their dog, Clover, as Urban Missionaries at the Urban Impact Foundation (UIF). UIF's mission is to holistically impact the North Side one person, one family, one block at a time with the good news of Jesus Christ.
Kortney has been with Urban Impact since 2019, where she serves as the Options Department's Manager of School Partnerships, Coaching, & Spiritual Development, where it is her job to support high school students and their families as they transition through and beyond High School into a post-secondary track. Upon getting married, Bryce started at UIF as the Missions Trip Coordinator, where it is his job to bring in short term mission teams to serve our North Side Community and train the visiting team how to live missionally as they return home to their own communities.
Over the past several years the Lord has given Kortney and Bryce a heart for the City of Pittsburgh, where has God has called them to be planted active and involved members of their communities. They are so thankful for Orchard Hill Church's prayers and support!
Info Video - https://youtu.be/pYOdOIFa9KY
Danny Parker
Christ Led Communities (CLC)
Danny is the Pennsylvania Director and “Beyond” for CLC and has served in that role since 2010. Under his leadership, CLC has grown substantially in Pittsburgh, NE Ohio, Kentucky, Colorado, Georgia, and beyond.
Our discipleship model of growing men of extraordinary faith requires sacrifice and the risk of vulnerability. And that investment results in a transformation marked by a greater understanding of who God is, a stronger relationship with him, and a powerful bond with Christian brothers. Through this journey, God shapes men into bold, zealous leaders who are equipped to lead others toward Christ
CLC Challenges men to an uncommon pursuit of Jesus Christ. In making disciples we equip men for a lifetime of leadership in their homes, churches, communities, and the marketplace.
Before CLC, Danny served as Director of Men’s Discipleship at Orchard Hill, Wexford campus. He used CLC as a springboard and teaching tool that God used powerfully in men’s lives. Prior to Orchard Hill, Danny worked in the insurance industry, was a Pastor in the Presbyterian Church, and a Young Life Area Director in Augusta, GA, and Johnson City, TN. Danny graduated from The University of Tennessee (BA), Fuller Theological Seminary (MAR), and Columbia Theological Seminary (M. Div.).
Danny and his wife, Anna, have two sons and six grandchildren. His love for Jesus shines brightly throughout the Pittsburgh area.
Email - dparker@clchq.org
CLC Website - https://www.clchq.org/
CLC Introduction - https://vimeo.com/196677070
Pastors Endorse CLC - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cw4MrtNTvWY
Olivia Parsons
Young Life
Olivia is the Area Director of Young Life in the North Boroughs of Pittsburgh. Young life’s mission is to introduce adolescents to Jesus Christ and help them grow in their faith. She oversees ministries in Avonworth High School/Middle School and Northgate High School/Middle School, with hopes to start ministries in North Hills and Shaler in the future.
Olivia grew up in Columbus, Ohio were she became acquainted with Young Life through her local youth group. After starting her college career at the University of Pittsburgh to play soccer, she became acquainted with the city of Pittsburgh and grew a desire to do ministry here. Olivia finished her college experience at Miami University of Ohio where she developed a heart for high school aged students and then worked in Columbus City Schools for a time following graduation.
She decided to go into full time ministry with Young Life in 2017 and God brought her back to Pittsburgh to work with students in the North Side. In 2020, she expanded her role to oversee ministry in Avonworth and Northgate. She loves teenagers and sharing Jesus with them through deep friendship. Young Life seeks to reach the furthest out kids. As kids hear about Jesus through YL Club (outreach) and grow with Christ in Campaigners (bible study), we hope to plug them into the local church so they become life-long followers of Christ. Olivia trains and leads a volunteer team of leaders that do direct ministry, oversees adult committee, and does direct ministry with students.
Olivia and her husband, Logan, live in Bellevue and got married in 2020. Logan also volunteers with Young Life in Northgate and coaches varsity football there. The Parsons have been attending OHC in the Strip District for the past 6 years. Their baby girl, Joanna Jean Parsons, was born in December 2022 and their love for the Lord motivates them to love the community that they live in.
Young Life Website - https://www.younglife.org/
North Boroughs Website - https://pittsburghnorthside.younglife.org/
Young Life Pittsburgh Video - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DkSoa2p3Xr0