Elders

Pierino Pieri, Elder / Senior Pastor
Pastor Pierino and his wife, Lisa, are lifelong natives of Erie, Pennsylvania. Raised Roman Catholic, he never attended church after graduation. He and Lisa met in 1989 and while dating the Lord saved them both by grace alone the same day. Things in their life have never been the same.

Since 1994, the Lord has given Pierino the privilege of serving in both full-time and part-time pastoral ministry. After beginning in youth ministry, he attended Practical Bible College to prepare for a lifetime of Christian service.

In 2000, Pierino planted a church in upstate New York and faithfully served as its pastor through 2008. After moving back home to Erie in 2008, he continued serving local congregations through his interim pastoral ministry and pulpit supply. In 2024, the Lord led them to Immanuel, where he served as Sunday School teacher, Deacon and pulpit supply. In 2026 Pierino answered the congregation’s call to become Senior Pastor.

Pierino and Lisa have been married since 1992 and consider each other best friends. They are blessed with one son, a cherished daughter-in-law and four cherished grandchildren, Darren, Scarlet, Lincoln & Hadley. They love spending time with family and friends. Lisa is a talented and enthusiastic baker and gardener with extensive knowledge of nutrition. Pierino enjoys studying theology, spending time with family, exploring technology, and working with classic cars—a passion he and Lisa enthusiastically share.

Pierino’s favorite authors are Michael Horton, Joel Beeke, as well as The Puritans and the Reformers.

Rob Ahrens, Elder
Rob grew up in Northeast Ohio and moved to Erie in 2022. He values Immanuel Baptist Church for its strong community and commitment to sound Bible teaching. Before becoming an Elder, Rob served the congregation at Immanuel as a Deacon.

Rob graduated from Clarks Summit University with a degree in Biblical Studies with an emphasis in Youth Ministry. He also holds a Master of Higher Education Administration from Marywood University.

Rob is the Head Coach for Women’s and Men’s Cross Country and Compliance Assistant at Gannon University.

His favorite authors are John Piper and C.S. Lewis.

Tom Breter, Elder
Tom has lived in Erie all of his life. He grew up Catholic, attending Catholic schools during his childhood and one year of High School. He then went on to become a “Centaur,” attending Tech Memorial for his last 3 years of High School. During this period of time and including a few years after graduation, Tom left the church behind. But God had other plans. He came back to the Catholic church with a zeal for their traditions and teaching. One night in 1992, he came upon a Baptist preacher named Charles Stanley on TV and the message of the gospel of being “saved by grace through faith, apart from works” broke through by God’s sovereign mercy.  God has been refining and “Reforming” his theology over the years since then. Tom has been attending Immanuel since 2000. He’s served the church faithfully as a Deacon and is currently an Elder.

Tom has worked at a plant that makes wind pipe organ parts for 40 years. Tom’s years in wood shop at Tech helped him land the job. That is where he met his future wife, Dee. They were married on June 24, 2000. Every year they celebrate their anniversary by serving at Immanuel’s VBS! They have one daughter, Angela, who is a Labor and Delivery nurse at Hamot.

Tom’s favorite authors and teachers are John Piper, James White and the Puritans.