Our Team

Josh Yerton

Lead Pastor

Josh is the Founding Pastor at Restoration. He and his wife Jen moved to the Valley in 2010, and truly love it here! Josh is deeply passionate about his family, helping people find Jesus and grow in their faith, golf, Mexican food, home projects, and Kansas Basketball...not necessarily in that order! Josh and Jen have 4 great kids (Lucas, Tessa, Conner, and Sarah), a dog, and two cats. All of that might help explain why he is usually running 10 minutes late to everything.

Kayla Willis

Director of Discipleship and College Life

Kayla always says that her job is to help people follow Jesus and become friends. She gets to fulfill that role through both Restoration Church and through Roanoke College Young Life, a campus ministry where both she and her husband Jonathan serve as leaders. She is also one of the most secretly competitive people you will meet. 

Lilly O'Brien

Director of  Student and Family Discipleship

Restoration Church has always held a special place in Lilly’s heart. She attended in 2015 while she was a student at Roanoke College until the Lord assigned her to a youth ministry position at a different church. The Lord has recently called her, and her husband (Will) back, and they could not be more excited! Lilly loves to encourage others in their adventure with Jesus- especially teenagers! She also coaches lacrosse and will take up any chance to travel or play any sport!

Abby Lambert

Missions and Ministry Coordinator

Abby fell in love with Restoration Church in September of her freshman year of college, and has been a part of the community ever since! Abby attended Roanoke College, where she met and married her college sweetheart (Liam), and is ecstatic to get to stay in Salem. If you cannot find her, there is a good chance she is out walking around Salem or drinking coffee at Mill Mountain. Abby believes that Restoration Church is a really special group of Christ-followers and loves to meet new people - so feel free to say hi!

Patricia Ciaffone

Restoration Kids Coordinator

Patricia Ciaffone (rhymes with macaroni) is from Patrick County, Virginia, but now lives in Salem, Virginia. She and her husband Gabe are welcoming a  son into the family in August, 2022! Previously, Patricia worked in the public school setting as an elementary school teacher for 10 years. A passion of hers has been working with children, and she is so happy to be able to continue doing what she has loved for so long, but now at Restoration!

Leslie James

Office Administrator

Leslie James is a 2009 Salem High grad; Salem born and bred! She adores her husband of 11 years, Alex, and their two kids: Alexis and Emma. The Lord has given her a heart for scripture reading, foster and adoption, and friends with special needs. As a 2014 Virginia Tech grad in Finance, she thrives in her part-time job as the administrator and bookkeeper for Restoration and some of  our non-profit partners.

Meet Our Elders!

Jeff Lakin
Jeff Lakin is the Area Director for Young Life, an incredible para-church ministry to students. Jeff serves on the Teaching Team and is an elder at Restoration. He and his wife Ashlee (who is one of our worship leaders) live in Salem and have three crazy boys.
Tad Fisher
Tad Fisher is passionate about...everything! Tad helps to lead our Men's Ministry at Restoration. He is always encouraging us to live into a bigger story. Tad is a securities counsel at Third Security in Radford, VA and lives in Salem with his wife Shelly and their four kids.
Martha Chester
Martha Chester is involved in a number of our ministries at Restoration.  She recently retired from Hughes Associates Architects & Engineers where she served as president. She and her husband Tom have raised four kids together and when Tom isn’t out woodworking, they love playing cards or board games together.
Jason DeBord
Jason DeBord is a local business owner/operator, but his real gifts and passions are reserved for the outdoors, NASCAR, Restoration CaveRats softball, and helping men get connected...usually through the outdoors, NASCAR or CaveRats softball! Jason is married to Marty and they have two great kids.