Resurrection Life Church sits on Old Union Road in Cheektowaga, a suburb just east of Buffalo in Western New York. The building rises behind a long driveway, and its Family Life Center, classroom wing, and youth center next door at 2155 Old Union Road form a campus that draws families from across the region. The congregation calls itself a family church, and the language fits. Children meet in classrooms down the right-hand hallway, teenagers gather in their own youth center across the parking lot, and adults filter into the main auditorium on Sunday mornings to sing, pray, and hear the Word taught verse by verse. From its founding in 1984, the church has set its three core values in a fixed order: devotion, family, and outreach.
What a Sunday Morning Looks Like
Services begin at 10 a.m. and run for just under ninety minutes. The room opens with extended praise and worship led by Worship Director Brittany Piccirillo, then transitions into a teaching from the Word of God designed to leave listeners refreshed and empowered. Lead Pastor Dan Manns preaches most weeks, with Executive Pastors Ken Lombardo and Dave Marzak and Associate Pastor Nick Jankowski rotating through the pulpit on a regular schedule. Guest speakers fill in from time to time, including Pastor Emeritus Rev. John F. Tonelli, Jay Stockslader, Rev. Sam Chelladurai, RJ Smith, and Rev. Al and Deb Warner.
The dress code is simple: come as you are. A suit works. Jeans and a t-shirt work. Visitors who feel out of place need not worry; the room runs the gamut. Children's check-in opens thirty minutes before the service, so families with younger kids can arrive around 9:30 a.m. and have everyone settled before the music starts.
Pastors Who Grew Up Here
Resurrection Life has a habit of raising up its own leaders. Lead Pastor Dan Manns first walked through the doors as a troubled teenager in 1989. He put his trust in Christ during that visit, began teaching in the children's ministry soon after, and was ordained in March 1993 as the church's Youth Pastor. He spent thirty years guiding students before being named Lead Pastor in 2024. His vision maps directly onto the three core values: devotion to God's Word, growth of families, and care for the Cheektowaga community. Pastor Dan is married to Jessica Manns, who directs the children's ministry, and they have four children together. Outside the pulpit he plays and referees ice hockey, forges blades as a member of the NY State Designer Blacksmith Association and the American Bladesmith Society, and keeps music at the center of his personal life.
Executive Pastor Ken Lombardo joined the staff in 1993, the same year as Pastor Dan, and serves as the church's other Co-Executive Pastor. A graduate of the University at Buffalo with a degree in engineering, Ken handles much of the counseling (personal, marriage, financial, and career), officiates weddings and funerals, and manages all the IT systems in the building. He and his wife Dawnn have been married since 1986 and have four children and three grandchildren.
Executive Pastor Dave Marzak oversees the LifeGroups and Men's Ministries. He is married to Trish Marzak, who also serves on staff, and the two have two children, Nick and Mikaela. Dave's teaching has carried entire series, from Younique to Unobstructed Love, and he is known for a steady, expositional style.
Associate Pastor Nick Jankowski teaches often from Ephesians and from the Gospels, and has preached series including A Bigger, Better Gospel and The Way.
Worship Director Brittany Piccirillo grew up inside Resurrection Life and joined the pastoral staff as an assistant at sixteen. She spent three years in Sydney, Australia, earning a degree in Theology and Worship and Creative Arts at Hillsong College, then returned to Buffalo in 2009 and became Worship Director in 2013. Her role is to lead the congregation in song and to craft service experiences that make room for the presence of God.
Children's Ministry Director Jessica Manns has taught in public and private schools for more than twenty years, with degrees in bilingual elementary and bilingual early childhood education. She has built Res Life Kids around a simple goal: every child should want to come, every family should feel known, and every classroom should be safe and age-appropriate.
Administrator Greg Glovins has been on staff for thirty years and a member since 1989. He keeps the operation running and, in his spare time, volunteers with Kingdom Bound Ministries and cheers for the Buffalo Sabres.
Pastor Emeritus Rev. John F. Tonelli founded the church in 1984 after growing a series of home Bible studies into a full congregation. A graduate of Rhema Bible Training Center in Tulsa, Oklahoma, Pastor John is known for straightforward, dynamic teaching. He still lives in the area, with two grown children, Anthony and Katie.
The Food Pantry on Old Union Road
The Resurrection Life Food Pantry is one of the most active ministries on campus, designated as a high-capacity, high-priority emergency food relief organization for Western New York. Food Pantry Director Kim Reynolds has been on the pantry team for nearly twenty years and was appointed director in December 2014. She leads more than 130 volunteers and serves over 1,000 clients. The pantry serves first-time emergency food to households throughout the region and provides continued support to households struggling with food insecurity in Cheektowaga, as well as chronically homeless veterans connected with the VA's HUD-VASH program.
Distribution happens three times a week. On Tuesdays from 10 a.m. to noon, the pantry runs a drive-thru. On Thursdays from 10 a.m. to 12:45 p.m., the pantry opens its Client Choice market, where families and individuals select their own fresh produce, low-fat dairy, lean meats, and non-perishable items based on their household's needs. A second Thursday drive-thru runs from 6 to 7 p.m. on the first and third weeks of the month. Mobile delivery brings groceries to residents of five senior housing facilities (AHEPA 67 Apartments, Violet Apartments, Cayuga Village Apartments, Williamstowne Senior Apartments, and Maryvale East Senior Apartments) on the second and fourth Thursdays. For emergency assistance outside these hours, the pantry can be reached at 716-608-3400. The pantry also partners with the WNY Holiday Partnership each year to distribute toys to children ages 0 to 12 across the region.
Children, Students, and Middle Schoolers
Resurrection Life Kids welcomes children from newborns through eighth grade in a dedicated classroom wing reached through the doors to the right of the main auditorium. Each age group has its own room: Nursery (0 to 12 months) in Room 202, Toddlers (12 to 36 months) in Room 201, Pre-K and K (3 to 5 years) in Room 203, Elementary (1st through 4th grade) in Room 206, and Project 56 (5th and 6th grade) and Route 78 (7th and 8th grade) together in Room 210. Check-in is staffed by team members at two computer stations; there is no self check-in. Each child receives a unique ticket for the day, and only teachers and children are allowed inside the classrooms. Parents and siblings wait outside, and teachers bring children to the doorway for dismissal.
For nursing mothers, Room 204 is open as a Nursing Mother's Suite that can accommodate up to six mothers and their infants. Room 212, the Family Room, includes a changing table, books, and a few small toys; both rooms have a live view of the church service.
Route 78 is the ministry specifically designed for seventh and eighth graders, a group the church calls tweeners - too young to drive or hold a job, but already navigating the pressures of school, peer dynamics, and identity. The teaching is upbeat and relatable, and the leaders are committed to long-term relationships with students in this age group.
Jump Start is the high school ministry, meeting every Wednesday from 6 to 8 p.m. in the youth center at 2155 Old Union Road, just behind the Family Life Center. The format mixes friendship, games, and teaching from Scripture for students in grades 7 through 12. A separate Res Life Kids program on Wednesday evenings at 6:30 p.m. serves the younger children.
Worship Academy
Worship Academy is a free Wednesday evening program for students and young adults ages 16 to 30 who have musical ability and a desire to use it on a worship team. Sessions run from 6 to 8:30 p.m. and combine classroom instruction with on-stage rehearsal. The instructors teach musicianship - harmonizing, playing in tempo, working together as an ensemble - and pair that with character development and the heart side of leading others in worship. Lead Pastor Dan Manns and Worship Director Brittany Piccirillo lead the program, joined by Worship Ministry Team member Lee Hoffman, who has served at Resurrection Life for more than twenty-five years as a musician and audio engineer and has been involved with Kingdom Bound Music Festival since 2001.
The Power of Prayer on Wednesday Nights
Pastor Ken Lombardo teaches a weekly study called The Power of Prayer - Unlocking Heaven's Door, meeting Wednesdays from 6:30 to 7:15 p.m. in Room 212. The series is designed to demystify prayer for believers who want to grow but feel unsure where to begin. Topics include the significance and purpose of prayer, the different types of prayer, how prayer transforms believers, how to develop consistency, how to grow in confidence, and how to sustain a lifelong prayer life. The stated goal is not merely to learn about prayer, but to become people of prayer.
Iron Sharpens Iron: Men's Ministry
The men's ministry carries the name Iron Sharpens Iron, taken from Proverbs 27:17. Its purpose is to mobilize men to identify, establish, and sharpen their God-given gifts. The ministry promotes strong, transparent, accountable relationships among husbands, fathers, and men who want to grow into mature disciples. Activities include Bible studies, monthly breakfast meetings, sporting events (including softball teams), and gatherings simply meant for fun.
The monthly Men's Breakfast meets the first Saturday of each month from 9 to 10:30 a.m. in the Family Life Center. A $5 per person fee covers the meal. Each gathering includes a short Scripture-based teaching, honest conversation about real-life challenges, practical commitments, and prayer with brothers walking the same road. Topics focus on patience under pressure, right priorities, humility, courage, integrity, self-control, and servant leadership.
Women of Worth
Women of Worth is the women's ministry of Resurrection Life. Its desire is to encourage women to live fully, surrounded by God's grace and glory, through three habits: spending time in His Word, spending time with His people, and spending time doing His will. The ministry provides Bible studies, conferences, special meetings, and gatherings just for fun, along with a regular women's continental breakfast and brunch series. Trish Marzak, who also serves as the church's bookkeeper, leads the ministry and serves as Mentor for the local MOPS program and as an Area Coach for MOPS groups across Buffalo, New York State, and New England.
Gather: Community for Young Adults
Gather is a young-adult ministry aimed at men and women roughly 18 to 45. Four times a year, all three of its groups come together for a Gather event - dinners, summer parties, holiday celebrations, spring outings. Underneath those gatherings, three separate community groups meet on their own cadence throughout the year: Singles, Married Couples, and Married with Families. Leadership teams are in place for each group; meeting times and locations are announced through the church's social media channels. The aim is not a program but a community: the kind of friendships that hold up your faith when you cannot hold it yourself, and that make the good seasons of life richer.
Growth Track: Your Next Step
Growth Track is the church's four-week introduction for anyone who wants to know more about Resurrection Life, find a place to serve, and discover what God has for them. Classes meet Sundays from 8:45 to 9:45 a.m. in the Community Room, beginning each season with a new cohort. The class is open to first-time visitors and long-time members alike, and registration is handled through the church office.
Outreach and Missions
Outreach is one of the church's three core values, and missions flow outward from Cheektowaga to the ends of the earth. Resurrection Life supports a network of partner organizations, each described in detail on the church's Outreach and Missions page.
O'Dell Ministries, led by Jerry, Marilyn, and Chris O'Dell, focuses on Pakistan, India, and Honduras. The ministry organizes evangelistic crusades, supports local outreach, and invests in long-term discipleship through Bible Schools in Honduras. The O'Dells partner with in-country ministries and continue sending financial support even when travel is restricted.
Plymouth Crossroads, led by Jen McAndrew, serves disconnected, abused, and homeless young men ages 16 to 20. The transitional living program is offered at no cost and includes support in education, job readiness and placement, and essential life skills.
Set Free, led by Al and Deb Warner, engages business leaders, government officials, educators, and pastors across Western New York. The Warners work to connect and network community leaders and pastors, strengthening partnerships. Al Warner also serves as Chaplain to the Buffalo Common Council and five local businesses.
We R Buffalo Strong, led by Evette Phillips, serves homeless men, women, and veterans throughout Buffalo. Each month the Resurrection Life Food Pantry partners with We R Buffalo Strong to supply food and essentials; volunteers from the church also head into the community to serve hot meals and offer encouragement.
Timothy Alianello is currently serving in Japan through OMF, which supports the growth of the East Asian church and shares the good news of Jesus among the 1,200 East Asian Unreached People Groups. The church posts regular video updates from Tim.
Locally, the church also runs Adopt-A-Block, HOPE (a support group for those battling serious illness), Life After Life, a Mobile Food Pantry, NYLEAP, and WNY Bereavement.
What We Believe
Resurrection Life holds to a classical evangelical statement of faith with a strong Pentecostal emphasis on the person and work of the Holy Spirit. The Bible is the inspired Word of God, written by human authors under the supernatural guidance of the Holy Spirit, and is the supreme source of truth for Christian beliefs and living. God is one, manifested in three coequal Persons - the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
The church confesses the virgin birth of Jesus, His sinless life, His miracles, His vicarious atoning death, His bodily resurrection, His ascension, and His exaltation at the right hand of the Father. Salvation is God's free gift, received by grace through faith in Jesus Christ; no amount of self-improvement or good works can earn it. Eternal life begins the moment a person receives Jesus Christ by faith.
The church teaches that water baptism by immersion and the Lord's Supper are God-ordained rituals of the church. The Holy Spirit is coequal with the Father and the Son, indwells every believer from the moment of salvation, and gives every believer a spiritual gift; the church teaches that the initial evidence of this gift is speaking in other tongues. The doctrine of sanctification is understood as a definite yet progressive work of grace, commencing at the new birth and continuing until Jesus' return.
The church also teaches divine healing as provided for all believers through the work of Christ on the cross, and holds to the imminent second coming of Jesus Christ.
The Family Fall Fest and Other Gatherings
Each fall the church hosts the Family Fall Fest, a free community event that fills the campus with bounce houses, a golf simulator, farm animals, food trucks, balloon artists, hair tinsel, a pumpkin patch, a caricature artist, face painting, pet rescues, games, and snacks. The festival is open to the whole community, and the church invites friends, neighbors, classmates, and family members to come along.
Other recurring rhythms include the monthly Men's Breakfast, the Wednesday evening Prayer study and Jump Start youth night, the quarterly Gather events for young adults, and the seasonal Women's Continental Breakfast and Brunch series.
Giving
Resurrection Life practices tithing and giving as a matter of discipleship, and offers several ways to give. Online giving is available through a secure portal at the church's website, and donors can give a single gift or set up a recurring gift. Text-to-Give is available by texting a donation amount to (716) 330-3017. Envelopes are available on site during services for cash, check, or credit card gifts, and checks made payable to Resurrection Life can be mailed or dropped off at the office. The church also accepts gifts of appreciated stock and mutual funds, gifts of real estate, and tax-free IRA distributions for those 70 and a half and older. Resurrection Life Fellowship is registered with Amazon Smile, so shoppers who choose the church as their supporting charity generate a 0.5 percent donation to the church at no extra cost.
Live Stream and Sermons
Services are livestreamed on YouTube and Facebook each Sunday at 10 a.m., and recordings of recent messages are available on the church's YouTube channel (@reslife) and Facebook page (Resurrection Life). A large sermon archive is also organized by series on the church's website, with dozens of preaching series from the past several years available on demand, ranging from The Scarlet Thread of Redemption and Grace Like Rain to The Fullness of Freedom and Everything's Coming Up Good.
Resurrection Life Church is located at 2145 Old Union Road in Cheektowaga, New York. The office can be reached at 716-656-8995. Sunday worship begins at 10 a.m., and families, students, and visitors of every background are welcomed through the doors each week.