The Penn-Jersey District of The Wesleyan Church officially welcomed Dr. Karl Eastlack as the new district superintendent on June 14, 2012. The son of a Wesleyan pastor, Dr. Eastlack is ordained in the denomination and attended Houghton College and Indiana Wesleyan University. He has served as senior pastor of two Wesleyan churches in western New York, including 22 years at Eastern Hills Wesleyan Church in suburban Buffalo. During his stint at Eastern Hills, the church grew from 20 attendees to almost 3,000 in weekend attendance.
Most recently, Dr. Eastlack served as CEO and president of World Hope International, the official relief and development partner of The Wesleyan Church. He is also the author of Today’s Encouraging Word. Dr. Eastlack and his wife, Anita, have three children and two grandchildren. The couple has relocated to the Penn-Jersey District from the Washington D.C. area.
“Due to its incredible ethnic and cultural diversity, the Penn-Jersey District presents a marvelous opportunity to do Kingdom work with profound and global results,” says Dr. Eastlack. “Anita and I are very excited to bring our own global passion to our district churches and cities.”
Anita is an ordained minister within The Wesleyan Church. She most recently served as pastor of The Vine Community Church in La Plata, Maryland. Rev. Eastlack will serve in full-time ministry alongside her husband.
Dr. Eastlack and Anita have a personal goal to meet with each senior/solo pastor at their church facility during the first 100 days of his tenure.
He replaces Dr. Harry Wood, who served as district superintendent of Penn-Jersey District for more than 23 years (two separate tenures).
“Dr. Wood gave his very best to Penn-Jersey, and it is a privilege to take up the district mantle from him,” says Dr. Eastlack.