John McConnell came to Christ in 1972 as a high school freshman in Redwood City, California. Five years later he joined the staff of Youth for Christ in San Diego and continued with the same ministry in Ventura County where he met his wife, Susanne. After getting married, he became Youth Pastor at the American Baptist Church in Menlo Park, CA. He obtained a Bachelor of Arts in Christian Education through Simpson College in San Francisco and later received his ordination while ministering at an Alliance church in Rancho Cordova. He also served as associate pastor of C&MA churches in Glendale, Arizona and Coudersport, Pennsylvania. After twenty years of involvement as a youth and associate pastor, John followed God's leading to Elmira, New York where he became the senior pastor of Southside Alliance Church in 1998.

In the 13 years that Pastor John has been at Southside Alliance, the congregation has grown numerically as well as in Spirit-led worship and lay ministry. Pastor John is "energized by seeing Christians grow in faith and in their spiritual and motivational giftings. ‘The Church is barely tapping into her potential in Christ. I want to see God's Kingdom come, (His) will be done, on earth as it is in Heaven’."

Pastor John is known in his congregation as a down-to-earth, servant-leader whose strength is connecting with people through every day experiences. He has a passion for impacting the community for Christ through uniting local churches and pastors in prayer and outreach. He and Susanne have two grown sons, Joshua and Nathan.