Elijah Shamenda

Founding Pastor

Elijah Shamenda is the founding pastor of Resurgence City in Buffalo, NY. He is passionate about discipleship, revival, and multi-ethnic ministry. His heart for seeing communities push past the barriers that at times hold people back from experiencing the fullness of what Christ has for them is what makes his heart beat, and why he felt led to plant in the city of Buffalo. He is married to Jaynee Shamenda. She was a Buffalo public school teacher before their family moved to Michigan. They are the proud parents of their son, Justus, and daughter, Eliah.

Tim Deporter

Interim Pastor

Tim is an ordained minister in the Wesleyan church who has a heart for the King and the Kingdom. His desire is to see people become who the Lord created them to be. He is a firm believer and advocate of the priesthood of the saints, meaning he loves to help people discover their spiritual gifts, authorities, and calling.

Tim is married to his bride of 10 years, Kara, and they have 3 children together: Eden, Joviana, and Micaiah. He was born and raised in Rochester, NY, and felt the call to follow Jesus in middle school. The call to follow led him to Indiana Wesleyan University, but after a year he ran from God.

In 2008, the Lord’s pursuit of Tim led to a return and repentance that changed him forever. Since then, Tim has been walking with the Lord and learning how to persevere through all of life’s ups and downs. His desire is to be a part of the Body of Christ that is biblical and the one that Christ died for.