Pastor Alan Mathna began his ministry at Carlisle First Church of God on September 1, 1987. Before this, he had served the Newport Red-Red Hill Churches of God (1970-1971), the Landisburg-Little Germany Churches of God (1971-1985) and the Landisburg Church of God (1985-1987).
He received a Bachelor of Arts Degree from Shippensburg University (1972) and a Master of Divinity Degree from Evangelical School of Divinity (1975). He was granted life ordination by the East Pennsylvania Conference, Churches of God in 1975.