We are excited to launch Discipleship Teams for creative Christian teenagers (age 13-18) in Lancaster County, PA starting Fall of 2026! These Discipleship Teams are an opportunity for teens to learn and practice the spiritual skills of Bible memorization, leading a discussion-based Bible study, practicing accountability, mentorship, prayer, and evangelism. These spiritual disciplines will be taught during the discipleship training weekend. The teens will then have the opportunity to put all of these skills into practice throughout the semester while honing their creative skills and preparing to minister through their group’s artistic Scripture project.
Each team will consist of up to 10 teenagers and 2 adult leaders and will have a specific artistic focus: Theatrical Scripture Performance, Scripture Music, Scripture Dance, Scripture Video Production, Scripture Art, etc. The semester will kick off with a training weekend for all the teams on a Friday night and all-day Saturday led by Aaron and Emily House, founders of Piercing Word, and artistic professionals in each of the available artistic focus areas. Then each team will meet weekly for Bible Study, worship, prayer, accountability, and creation of their Scripture piece. Meetings will take place in a home or a church one evening each week for 13 weeks. During the semester, groups will do at least one evangelistic outreach event, one in-reach event at a local church, and share their Scripture piece for family and friends at the end of the semester.
Disciples Making Disciples
Discipleship Team Interest Meetings
Parents and potential students can join us on Tuesday, June 9th or Tuesday, July 28th to hear more about the fall semester. You will be able to hear a general overview of what to expect and further details for each group from the Directors themselves! No prior experience is required to join these groups. We are looking for teens who want to grow in their love for Jesus and in the knowledge of His Word through the creative arts.
June 9th & July 28, 7pm-8pm
Akron Community Church
613 Main Street, Akron, PA 17501
Join a Team!
Scripture Theatre Performance
This team will be studying, memorizing, and rehearsing passages on the theme of Knowing God. At the end of the semester, they have two weekends to present a Theatrical Scripture Performance at outreach opportunities as well as for the Family and Friends Performance.
Lexi Fisher is a performer, tea enthusiast, adventurer, book lover, and self-proclaimed foodie. But more than all these things, she is a redeemed, child of God. She resides in Ronks, Pennsylvania and currently works as the Resident Services Team Leader for Garden Spot Village. She attends Calvary Bible Church in Hanover with her family and enjoys any opportunity to spend time with them and her adorable Goldendoodle! Lexi has been greatly involved in Piercing Word since the autumn of 2019 when she participated in their Ignite internship program. Since then, the Lord has provided her with many opportunities to partner with the ministry. She is so excited to have the responsibility and privilege of co-leading a discipleship team. It is her prayer that the Lord would use this group to raise up a generation of wholly committed Disciple-Makers! ~ John 16:33
Elvin Martin attends Meckville Mennonite church, where he teaches middle school age Sunday school twice a month. He is also the president of the youth group. In 2025, he was a Piercing Word Kids Theatre Camp Counselor. He works as a machinist at Graybill Tool and Die. He is so thankful to be a part of this discipleship leadership team. He is actively growing in his walk with Jesus and is excited to help others do the same.
Cost: $150 (Scholarships available)
Ages: 13-18
Location: Ronks, PA
Backup Location: Akron Community Church – 613 Main Street, Akron, PA 17501
Discipleship Team Training Day: August 22, 2026, 9am-5pm at Akron Community Church
Evangelism Outreach: August 29, 2026
Semester: Every Monday at 6:30pm-9:30pm from August 24 to November 9, 2026
Rehearsal and Performance for Friends and Family at Akron Community Church: November 13 & 14, 2026
Potential Outreach Dates: November 15, 21, & 22
Scripture Musical Theatre Performance (Female Only)
This team will be studying, memorizing, and rehearsing the Psalms. At the end of the semester, they have two weekends to present a Musical Theatre Scripture Performance at outreach opportunities as well as for the Family and Friends Performance.”
Paris Black is a passionate creative who loves praising her Abba through music, stories, and encouraging conversation. She currently attends and serves the worship team at Lancaster Alliance Church, and is just finishing up an extended academic career at Lancaster Bible College- graduating with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Musical Theatre and Biblical Studies. A smattering of unconventional ministry experience includes mission trips to Ireland, Peru, and Puerto Rico, Bible Study leadership with various groups, and whatever random loving-on-people opportunities the Lord gives on the daily (these are her favorite). Paris is ECSTATIC for the revival of the Discipleship Teams that brought her to Piercing Word in the first place, leading to performances in runs of Stewardship, Love Thy Neighbor, and 3 years as a camp counselor for Piercing Word Summer Camp. It is her humble prayer to lead these young artists, by example and vulnerability, in the precious gift that is creating for and with the Creator who loves them more than they could ever imagine. She hopes to support and challenge them to dig deep into His Word as the Lord draws them close to His heart and cultivates true relationship with His beloved kids.
Tyson Severin joined Piercing Word in 2015. She has performed, directed, costumed, or stage-managed many touring Scripture Performances, including The Advent of Christmas, The One Story, Parables of Jesus, Sermon on the Mount: The Musical, Women of the Bible, Ruth, Ephesians, Grace Family Christmas, Christmas Through the Ages, and Esther. Tyson has been a performer with Sight & Sound Theatres since 1996 and has performed in shows continuously there as a singer, dancer, actress, and child coordinator. She is currently the child actor coordinator for the show Joshua. She lives in Lancaster, and in the past, Tyson has also served in the student ministry at First Assembly of God in York.
Cost: $150 (Scholarship available)
Ages: 13-18 (Female Only)
Location: Lancaster, PA
Backup Location: Akron Community Church – 613 Main Street, Akron, PA 17501
Discipleship Team Training Day: August 22, 2026, 9am-5pm at Akron Community Church
Evangelism Outreach: August 29, 2026
Semester: Every Monday at 6:30pm-9:30pm from August 24 to November 9, 2026
Rehearsal and Performance for Friends and Family at Akron Community Church: November 13 & 14, 2026
Potential Outreach Dates: November 15, 21, & 22
Scripture Music & Storytelling
The Bible was written by the greatest Storyteller and Music Maker. This team of singers and musicians will learn and perform a pre-written musical and storytelling piece with the opportunity to begin writing their own Scripture composition as a tool for Bible memory and deeper understanding of the themes in the passages.
Scripture Themes: Suffering, Sovereignty, and Rest
Nate Garland serves as Executive Assistant & Tour Team Lead for Piercing Word. He and his wife Melanie, both from Lancaster County, PA, have three children: Fiona, Piper, and Oliver. Nate has an Associate Degree in Bible from Lancaster Bible College. Nate has served at Burning Hearts Community Church as Director of Praise for 11 years. He has also served in youth and children’s ministry while mentoring young men to be passionate about the abundant life that Jesus offers. Nate has written and produced his own personal music and enjoys collaborating with others to show how music is instrumental in telling stories.
Melanie Garland has been serving in ministry for around 20 years, working primarily with children, teens, and individuals with special needs. Melanie has a special passion for connecting with people in unique ways to draw them closer to the Lord, which she found through using animals in ministry. Currently, she serves in her church’s toddler class, sings worship alongside her husband, and is on the deaconate team. Melanie is a mother to 3 wonderful children and is married to her high school sweetheart, Nate. Though the seasons change, Melanie has never losther love and passion for mentoring people and speaking the Lord’s truth over their lives.
Sarah Ziegler, originally from California, loves her family of God here in Lancaster, both at Calvary Church – where she’s been a member since 2020 – and in the community. On a Sunday morning, Sarah can be found either in the disability ministry with her dear sweet friends, playing in the orchestra (any of the four string instruments, she’s not picky!), walking strollers for the nursery, and of course sitting with her dear friends and church family in the Deaf ministry for the message. An avid lover and reader of the Bible, getting a biblical studies degree from Lancaster Bible College was a no brainer, and she’s so grateful for the way her professors helped her see just how wonderfully simple yet complex, cultured, and incredible God’s word is! Sarah’s time with Piercing Word began the summer of 2025 when she had the privilege of working as a director and the Production Manager for the first week of camp. She’s fallen head-over-heels in love with Piercing Word’s message and people. Above all, she loves our incredible, infinite God and loving Father and can’t wait to see lives changed by getting glimpses of just how much bigger and more amazing He is than anything we can ever imagine!
Cost: $150 (Scholarships available)
Ages: 13-18
Location: Brickerville, PA
Backup Location: Akron Community Church – 613 Main Street, Akron, PA 17501
Discipleship Team Training Day: August 22, 2026, 9am-5pm at Akron Community Church
Evangelism Outreach: August 29, 2026
Semester: Every Tuesday at 6:30pm-9:30pm from August 25 to November 10, 2026
Rehearsal and Performance for Friends and Family at Akron Community Church: November 13 & 14, 2026
Potential Outreach Dates: November 15, 21, & 22
Scripture Film Production
Coming Soon!
Ben Wenger has served with Piercing Word Ministries in a variety of roles since 2017. As an actor, he’s performed in numerous Scripture presentations, including their Israel tours. In addition to acting, Ben has produced video projects for both Piercing Word and Warriors of the Word. He currently works as a video content creator at Calvary Church, where he continues to combine his creative gifts with his commitment to faith. He and his wife, Adelina, have one daughter, Amelia, and one on the way! They live in Denver, PA and are members of Christ House Church in Ephrata.
Film is a powerful medium to share the Word of God. This group will get hands-on experience with the production aspects of film as they create and edit a piece for the Bible Arts Festival and other outreach opportunities.