Our staff


  • Pastor Vern Saile

    Interim Lead PAstor

    Pastor Vern lives with his wife Deb in Byron. They have three children (Matthew, Zack and his wife Kristyin and Ashley and her husband Colin) and three grandchildren: Charlie - two-year old daughter of Zack and Kristyn and Ephraim (age 10) and Brynn (age 8) - children of Ashley and Colin. Pastor Vern has a Masters in Social Work and a Masters in Divinity and worked for about 20 years in the fields of addictions and mental health before being called into full-time ministry. He has served the Free Methodist Church in Batavia as an Associate Pastor (6 years), in Gowanda as a Senior Pastor (6 years) and back in Batavia as a Senior Pastor (11 years). He and Deb both retired in 2024, but Pastor Vern is happy to be serving the Community of Hope Church as interim pastor at this time. 

  • Brenda L Bierdeman, Psy.D.

    Associate Pastor

    Greetings! I am Pastor Brenda Bierdeman, Ordained Elder in the Free Methodist Church and retired Psychologist. My role here at Community of Hope involves a variety of ministries from preaching and teaching, to organizing community events and leading the prayer team. I love to find new ways to bring hope and healing to the body of Christ. When I am not doing Kingdom work per se, you may find me working on a miniature scene, cutting wood with my husband, or playing with my grandkids.  I'm looking forward to meeting you and sharing life together through our church.



  • Kyle Holz

    Families Ministry Director, Office Manager, CMC-Pastor

    I've been attending AFMC for many years and volunteered in different ways.  Little did I know, God would be preparing me for a call to ministry.  I have a passion for kids and teens.  I am excited to see them grow in Christ.  I know what Christ did in my life starting at 4 years old when I first accepted Him.  Planting many seeds in my life along the way.  It is vital we reach our Youth for Christ.  I feel Gods call in my life to plant seeds with the youth and help them grow along all stages of their lives.  I have a wife and two kids, who all share a love for youth, and our church! We also own an ice cream business! 


    I am also a Conference Ministerial Candidate for the Genesis Conference.

  • Tom Smith

    Worship Director

    I have done life here with my wife Darryl and six kids since 1991. We have all been involved with praise and worship.

    AFMC is family, we worship, pray, celebrate and grieve together. God has helped us hold it all together for over 30 years. 

    My favorite part of doing what I do is hearing the crowd lift their voices with the band. I love all things Buffalo sports and

    have played in local bands in my spare time.