Church Staff

Pastor Matthew Truax is a retired U.S. Army officer whose greatest calling is to serve Christ and His Church. He came to faith in Jesus Christ at the age of nine and has since devoted his life to walking with Christ, sharing the gospel, and serving the local church.

After Pastor Matt retired from the Army, God opened the door to vocational ministry. The leadership, discipline, and compassion developed through military service continue to shape how he shepherds God’s people. He holds a Master of Divinity degree from Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary and a Master of Arts in Business and Organizational Security Management from Webster University.

Matt’s philosophy of ministry is simple and Christ-centered: Know Christ. Make Him Known. He is committed to the faithful preaching and teaching of God’s Word, holding firmly to the sufficiency of Scripture, and equipping believers to grow as mature disciples who live out and share their faith (2 Timothy 3:16–17).

Matt and his wife, Natalie, have been married since 2007 and are blessed with four children. His prayer remains the same: to glorify God by pointing others to Christ—the only Savior and the only hope of the world.

Gabriel Zelaya serves as the Pastor of Worship and Discipleship at Pisgah Baptist Church. He gave his life to Christ at the age of seven and has since dedicated himself to serving the local church through pastoral leadership in congregational worship. With a deep love for the gathered church, Gabriel is passionate about helping God’s people sing, believe, and live the truths they proclaim.

Gabriel earned a B.A. in Worship Ministries from Spurgeon College in 2021, a Master of Divinity in Philosophy & Apologetics from The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in 2025, and is currently pursuing a Master of Arts in Worship Ministries at Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. Following this degree, he intends to pursue doctoral studies in Worship Leadership.

Gabriel’s philosophy of ministry is Christ-centered and joyfully Trinitarian, grounded in the conviction that biblical worship must be shaped by the Word and expressed through song. He believes congregational singing is one of God’s primary means of forming His people, as the church gathers to proclaim and declare His truth together. The aim of worship ministry is to see believers anchored in Christ, matured by His Word, and strengthened through corporate praise as they grow in every way into Him, the founder and perfecter of their faith.

Gabriel has been married to his wife, Samantha, since March 7, 2020. Together they are raising their two sons, Elias and Alexander. Their home is also joyfully occupied by a German Shepherd named Addie.

Josh Linehan is a youth pastor from Branson, MO, with a passion for sharing the gospel and discipling the next generation. He grew up in a Christian home where he was immersed in God’s Word and participated in the life of the church from an early age. However, it wasn’t until he was nine years old that he personally surrendered his life to Christ. From that point on, he began to follow Jesus not just because his family did, but out of a genuine desire to know and serve Him. With the faithful example of his parents, he developed a love for God’s Word and a heart for guiding others in their faith, which continues to shape how he serves and leads today.

When Josh began college, he was pursuing a degree in math education. However, midway through his studies, while working at Kanakuk Kamps, God called him to vocational ministry. The following semester, he changed his major to Biblical and Theological Studies and fully committed himself to serving in ministry. Over the next two years, Josh served as a small group leader both at a local church and with K-Life. After graduation, he accepted a position as a youth pastor in Branson, where he has faithfully served for the past two years. Josh is passionate about teaching and preaching God’s Word, as well as discipling the next generation of believers to grow more fully in Christ.

Josh’s philosophy of ministry is to ground every effort in Scripture, center all teaching and service on the gospel, and equip the church to make disciples at every stage of life. He believes ministry should be holistic, serving people of all ages and fostering spiritual growth that reflects Christ in every area of life. Josh is committed to partnering with parents, equipping volunteers, and cultivating environments where biblical truth is taught clearly, authentic relationships are formed, and young believers are discipled toward spiritual maturity. His desire is to see the next generation integrated into the life of the church and raised up to know Christ, love His Church, and live on mission.

Josh and his wife, Alli, met while working together in the cafeteria at College of the Ozarks. They dated throughout much of college and were married shortly after graduation; they have now been married for nearly two years. They are excited to be moving to the area to be closer to Alli’s family. Outside of ministry, Josh enjoys spending time with Alli, going on hikes, playing basketball, and reading. In all that he does, he seeks to make Christ known and share His love with those around him.

Gary Barkley has been a member of Pisgah Baptist since 1979, was ordained as a Deacon in 1983, and began serving us pastorally in 2003. He has earned a B.S. degree from Liberty University. Pastor Barkley has served the MBC as a member of the Executive Board from 2001 to 2007, and has served the SBC as a Trustee of the International Mission Board from 2011 to 2019. His community involvement includes his participation in the Excelsior Springs Christian Ministerial Alliance and PBC’s disaster relief and benevolence efforts. Married in October of ’74, Pastor Barkley and Diane have three grown daughters and are blessed by seven grandchildren.

Gary Barkley has been a member of Pisgah Baptist since 1979, was ordained as a Deacon in 1983, and began serving us pastorally in 2003. He has earned a B.S. degree from Liberty University. Pastor Barkley has served the MBC as a member of the Executive Board from 2001 to 2007, and has served the SBC as a Trustee of the International Mission Board from 2011 to 2019. His community involvement includes his participation in the Excelsior Springs Christian Ministerial Alliance and PBC’s disaster relief and benevolence efforts. Married in October of ’74, Pastor Barkley and Diane have three grown daughters and are blessed by seven grandchildren.

Mark D. Spohn has been a member of Pisgah Baptist since 1984 and has served in many volunteer capacities since that time. Pastor Spohn began his vocational ministry with Pisgah in 1999 when he began to serve formally in music ministry. He transitioned out of music ministry in 2018 and continues to serve our congregation pastorally. Pastor Spohn’s community involvement includes his participation in the: Downtown Excelsior Partnership; Excelsior Springs Public Safety Sales Tax Oversight Committee; Excelsior Springs Chamber of Commerce; Excelsior Springs TIF Commission; and, as the proprietor of the Payne Jailhouse Bed & Breakfast, a business that he and his wife, Anna Sue, enjoy tremendously. Pastor Spohn has attended classes at Park College and Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. Married in April of ’88, he and Anna Sue have two grown sons and are blessed by three grandchildren.