IMPACT! Harrisburg Announces Pastoral Team

IMPACT! Harrisburg is a dynamic city-wide movement that begins with a vital merger of current ministries and then becomes a multi-site diverse community of believers who meet the physical and spiritual needs of our neighbors, invest in the lives of our neighbors, and offer hope to our neighbors. Bishop Jeremiah Park is excited to announce the first step in living into this vision. Pastors Kris Sledge and Deb Port will be two of the pastors of this newly forming faith community.

Pastor Kristopher “Kris” Sledge

Kris who has lived and studied in the city of Harrisburg, will move back to the city effective July 1, to take on this new appointment. His love and passion for urban ministry are self-evident. Kris was recently identified as a high potential church planter and moved into extension ministry to accept an internship at The Gathering in St. Louis, Mo. There he is learning from the pastors and staff of one of the fastest growing urban United Methodist Churches in the US. Kris is humbled and excited to begin serving as the Lead Pastor of this new faith community. He loves to drink coffee, travel, read, and connect with new people. His wife, Hannah, also serves in ministry at St. John’s UMC in Chambersburg.
Most recently, Kris served as pastor of State Line UMC near Greencastle, Pennsylvania. He was born and raised in Selinsgrove, Pa. He attended Messiah College where he graduated with a B.A. in Biblical and Religious Studies. Kris also holds a Masters of Divinity from Wesley Theological Seminary in Washington D.C. Before becoming the pastor at State Line, he served as a Pastoral Assistant and Director of Young Adult Ministries at Fishing Creek Salem UMC in Etters, Pa.

Pastor Deborah “Deb” Port

Deb, who currently serves at 29th Street UMC, has already been announced as the Interim Pastor through June 30 and is pleased to continue as part the new leadership team of this new faith community. She has an enthusiasm for urban ministry and wants to have a major impact on the city.

“God is at work and has placed the city of Harrisburg on my heart. I am confident that God will do amazing things and am humbled to be part of it,” said Port.

Living in Paxtang, just blocks from the city limits, Deb is an active leader in the community with many relationships. Like Kris, Deb was also assessed as a church planter with great potential.

Deb grew up in Middletown. Before she became a pastor, she worked as a Certified Nursing Assistant in a residential community and private in-home care. She graduated from the University of Pennsylvania where she majored in Jewish Studies in 2010. She later received her Master of Divinity from Evangelical Seminary with awards in biblical studies and systematic theology in 2017. Her first appointment was at Longstown UMC in York.

She has been married to her husband Nic for 14 years. They have four children: Abigail (7), Hannah (6), Elizabeth (3), and Jonathan (2). This year they are also hosting a German exchange student.