SLS Staff

Spirit & Life Seminary trains members of the Church of God of Prophecy to fulfill the Great Commission. It offers higher education to expand God’s kingdom and develop effective Christian leaders. The following staff support this mission.

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Dr. Jeremiah Barker

Jeremiah Barker was saved on June 25, 2000, at the age of 17. He began ministry in March 2002, at Christ Tabernacle Church of God of Prophecy, in Sheridan, Indiana. He was licensed as a minister in May 2006 with the Church of God of Prophecy. In 2018, Jeremiah was ordained as a bishop at the 100th International Assembly in Chattanooga, TN.  
Dr. Barker began his biblical studies in Fort Worth, Texas at Calvary Cathedral Bible College in 2003. He graduated from there in 2005 with an associate degree in Bible and Theology. He later graduated from Lee University with a bachelor’s degree in biblical studies. Not feeling complete he enrolled at Pentecostal Theological Seminary and obtained his master’s degree in counseling. It was then that he felt like he had gone as far as he was going to go academically, but the Lord gave him a desire to continue, and he enrolled at Pentecostal Theological Seminary for his Doctor of Ministry and graduated in May 2024. 
He married his wife, Amanda, in December 2006. They have three children together Rebekah, Malachi, and Ariel. They served three years in Connersville, Indiana as Pastor before moving to Abingdon, Illinois where they have served as pastor for the past 16 years. Jeremiah has also visited and done ministry in Nicaragua, Trinidad, Tobago, Guyana, and Eswatini (formerly Swaziland). Jeremiah is excited to serve the Church of God of Prophecy as President of Spirit and Life Seminary and Director of Accredited Ministry Development. He is looking forward to establishing strong relationships within the nations and witnessing many of our members continue their education and biblical studies. He has a burden for the younger generation to say yes to the call and be equipped through Spirit and Life Seminary and our other partnerships through AMD. He is looking forward to the future with great expectations.

Albert Murza

Albert Murza is Spirit and Life Seminary’s Academic Dean. Albert grew up in Moscow, Russia, and is the oldest of five siblings. Albert’s father is the national overseer of Russia for the Church of God of Prophecy. At the age of 16, his mother passed away from cancer. He reports that it was a tough time for his family, but “it made us stronger, and we became even closer”. 

He attended European Theological Seminary in Kniebis, Germany where he majored in Church Ministry with an emphasis in Christian Education and a minor in Counseling. During his time in Germany, he met his wife Kristen and they were married in 2016. After getting married, they moved to Cleveland, TN where they became members of Peerless Road Church. Albert has been serving in local church youth ministries since the age of 17. In the Spring of 2019, he and Kristen became the youth pastors for Spring Place Church of God of Prophecy in Cleveland, TN. Since the beginning of 2022, Kristen and Albert serve as youth pastors at Hickory Valley COGOP.

Albert and Kristen believe that God will eventually call them back to Europe as missionaries, so they have decided that they should focus on education as an essential part of preparation. They both graduated from the Pentecostal Theological Seminary where Albert pursued a Master of Divinity degree. Currantly Albert is working on Ed.S. in Higher Education Administration degree at Liberty University. Albert likes to watch soccer, movies, build Legos and travel with his wife Kristen.

Carimet Pimentel

Carimet Pimentel was born in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, where she spent most of her childhood before moving to the United States. She is married to Adrian Pimentel and currently resides in Cleveland, Tennessee.

Carimet serves in her local church as the Youth Leader and as a drummer on the worship team. She is passionate about ministry and enjoys serving others, especially through working with young people and helping them grow in their faith.

Carimet is currently pursuing a Bachelor of Arts in Theological Studies at Spirit & Life Seminary. In September 2025, Carimet and her friends turned their passion for soccer into a full-time hobby and launched Cleveland United FC, a local semi-professional soccer club created to serve and engage the community. Through the club, she has the opportunity to coach, work with players, and be actively involved in the local soccer community.

Jacob Coleman

Jacob serves as Business Office Manager for Spirit and Life Seminary. Previously, Jacob worked in the Communications department of the Church of God of Prophecy International Offices as their project manager. Jacob earned a bachelor’s degree in music business from Lee University, and a master’s degree in business administration, also from Lee University. Jacob also serves the Peerless Road Church as their part-time Music Director. He and his wife Julie reside in Cleveland, Tennessee.

Debbie Freeman

Debbie served as an academic advisor and music instructor at Tomlinson College from 1987 to 1992. She then taught music in Bradley County Schools before marrying her husband Dennis and moving to Alabama, where she served as an academic advisor at Calhoun Community College.

Debbie later moved to metro-Atlanta and taught music and special education students in Gwinnett County Public Schools for nearly 20 years. She loves to play piano and has enjoyed working with several church choirs on her journey back to Cleveland, Tennessee, where she is excited to serve in a new role as registrar at Spirit and Life Seminary.

Gayla Cassidy Brewer

Mrs. Brewer is the Director of Library Services at Spirit and Life Seminary in Cleveland, Tennessee, and also at Chattanooga College: Medical, Dental, & Technical Careers. With over 30 years of experience, she has held roles such as faculty member, instructor, consultant, director of library divisions, and manager of various services at several institutions. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology and Library Science from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, a Master’s degree in Library Science from the University of Tennessee at Knoxville, and a Specialist degree in Information Studies from Florida State University.

Throughout her career, she has been a member of numerous local and national organizations and has successfully written grants to enhance library services and support educational programs. She also volunteered as a librarian at the Chickamauga & Chattanooga National Military Park. Mrs. Brewer is married to Ray N. Brewer and is the primary caregiver for her mother. She credits her success to her Christian faith, lifelong learning, mentors, motivation, and the support of family and friends.