Sal Buonocore has served as pastor of the Turkey Valley congregation since 1990.
He is a native of the southeast corner of PA. Raised by his maternal grandmother
after his parents’ divorce, he was brought to faith in the United Methodist tradition.
He accepted Christ during his teen years while on a youth retreat in the Pocono
area. It was during this time that he felt called to pastoral ministry.
Asbury College in Wilmore, KY, was his home for five years as he double-majored in
Christian Education and Biblical Languages. It was also where he met his wife, Nancy,
who was training to fulfill a call to full-time ministry. They both attended Asbury
Theological Seminary after college. During their seminary years, Sal pastored a
small, African-American congregation south of Nicholasville, KY, and then served
his first United Methodist appointment at Mt. Zion (Shakertown) UM outside Harrodsburg,
KY. He was also the General Chairperson of Ichthus ‘90 Music Festival. Ichthus
is the oldest contemporary Christian music festival in the US – founded by Asbury
Seminary students in 1970 as an alternative to Woodstock.
While serving the Turkey Valley congregation, Sal has grown to serve the church and
community in many areas. He is well known for his worship leading/musical abilities:
serving as the worship leader for the Susquehanna Valley Men’s Rally (Selinsgrove,
PA) since its inception in the late 1990’s. Sal also enjoys the ever-popular hymn
sings monthly at the local nursing homes. In our community, Sal has served on the
Board of Directors for both the Juniata County Habitat for Humanity and Heartbeat
Community Services, Inc. (a pro-life pregnancy resource center).
Sal is passionate about the ministry of the Turkey Valley congregation. He has a
God-given vision of a congregation reaching our tri-county area (Juniata, Perry and
Snyder Counties) with the life-changing gospel of Jesus Christ. To help fulfill
this commitment, he is always stretching himself and the congregation to enhance
the ministry of Turkey Valley to accomplish the Great Commission.
The Buonocore's have a family-business approach to ministry. Sal and Nancy serve
as a team for the congregation, incorporating their three children where appropriate.
They bring to Turkey Valley a wide range of experiences in worship, Christian education
and leadership.
