Tom Ponchak is the Director of Adult Faith Formation at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel, a parish of 4,600 families in Carmel, IN. After graduating from the Franciscan University of Steubenville, he worked as a youth minister and high school teacher for several years. In 1997, Tom and his wife, Lisa, left the Catholic Church for a non-denominational evangelical church. He spent several years in pastoral ministry in Michigan and Florida. In 2004, Tom planted Matthew's House Vineyard Church in Lakeland, FL, and served as the senior pastor until 2007 when he and his family returned to the Catholic Church. Tom has been involved in various parish ministries including young adult ministry, healing ministry, RCIA, marriage preparation, and marriage enrichment. He is passionate about inviting people into a life-changing encounter with Jesus and living a life led by the presence and power of the Holy Spirit. Tom and Lisa live in central Indiana with four of their six children, a dog, two cats, and 3 hamsters.