OUR TEAM
OUR TEAM
RYAN LOKKESMOE
SENIOR PASTOR
Ryan Lokkesmoe
[pronounced lox-moe] grew up in Dallas, Texas. He and his wife Ashley first met as high schoolers in their church's youth group band (She was a singer; he was the drummer). They were married in 2006 and have two kids: Luke (12) and Nora (10).
Ryan has been a pastor since 2011. He earned his PhD in New Testament at the University of Denver and his Master’s degree at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary. He has taught as an adjunct professor of New Testament and theology, and is the author of several books:
Paul and His Team: What the Early Church Can Teach Us About Leadership and Influence (Moody Publishers)
16 Bible Studies for Your Small Group (Bethany House Publishers)
Small Groups Made Easy (Bethany House Publishers)
Blurry: Bringing Clarity to the Bible (CLC Publications)
Finding Onesimus: Recovering the Story of a First-Century Fugitive Slave (PhD dissertation, University of Denver).
Ryan loves music, traveling, cold weather, and reading (especially history, theology and classic literature). Most of all, he enjoys spending time with his family.
BOB JACK
PASTOR OF CONGREGATIONAL CARE
Pastor Bob is a native of the Boston area, where he inherited and cultivated an affection for all local sports teams, especially The Sox!
His undergraduate degree is from Eastern Nazarene College, Wollaston, MA, where he majored in philosophy and religion. He earned a Master of Divinity degree from Princeton Theological Seminary in 1979, and a Doctor of Ministry (D.Min) degree from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary.
Bob is married to the love of his life, Carol Diamond, and together they have four children and five grandchildren. “Life can be tough, at times, but God is good!”
TOM KEARNEY
CONNECTIONS PASTOR
Tom is passionate about Jesus and helping others grow in their love for Him, the Church, and others.
Tom grew up in Concord, NH, and attended First Baptist Church of Concord. After graduating from Gordon College in Massachusetts with a bachelor's degree in communication, Tom returned to his hometown to pursue a career in video production while serving at his church. God gripped his heart while Tom served in various church ministries, and he grew in his desire to pursue a life dedicated to sharing the Gospel.
While serving at his home church in Concord, NH, Tom met his wife, Michelle, and they married in 2014. God placed a deep desire in both of their hearts to live missionally, share the Gospel, and serve underprivileged and orphaned children. Tom and Michelle served together in various ministry capacities around the country, including Arizona, Missouri, Virginia, and Indiana. In 2022, God called Tom to full-time pastoral ministry, and he served as a Family Pastor in Indiana until 2025.
Tom and Michelle currently reside in Lake Wylie with their 4 kids, Jude, Ray, Taliyah, and Jace. Tom loves spending time with his family. Some of his favorite hobbies include exploring the great outdoors, traveling, learning, playing, coaching sports, playing board games, and worshiping Jesus. Tom’s favorite food is any form of a chocolate and peanut butter combo.
MARQUIS LOCKHART
FAMILY PASTOR
Marquis is passionate about helping young people know Jesus and live life in response to Him.
Born and raised in Bronx, New York, Marquis sensed a desire to serve in ministry as a child attending church with his grandmother. Years later, he sensed that desire was a calling as he attended Gordon College in Massachusetts, during which time he found ministry service as a camp counselor at Grotonwood Camp and Conference Center. He then became Youth Director of Washington Street Baptist Church soon after.
Marquis earned a Bachelor’s in Christian Ministry with a concentration in Youth Ministry and went on to intern at CrossBridge Community Church in San Antonio, Texas. Marquis then took a position as a Youth Pastor at Washington Street Baptist church while leading multiple Awakening youth conferences and summer camp programs as a Ministry Program Developer and Assistant Director.
He and his wife, Analy, reside in Lake Wylie with their son, Landon, and daughters, Riley Grace and Hailey Rose. Marquis’ hobbies include spending time with his kids, listening to podcasts, learning graphic design and eating his favorite food: chocolate chip cookies.
HALEY PARDON
YOUNG ADULT PASTOR
Haley is passionate about helping believers grow in confidence as they share their faith and live out the Great Commission in their everyday lives. She loves creating spaces where young adults can build authentic community, study Scripture deeply, and pursue Jesus together. Haley is also committed to creating environments where people can ask faith questions without fear of judgment, whether they’ve been following Jesus for years, just recently became a believer, or are exploring faith for the first time.
Haley grew up in Midland, North Carolina, and since returning to her faith in college has always had a heart for ministry and discipleship. While studying at Appalachian State University, she served as a student leader with Cru leading as a small group leader, discipling other students one on one, leading servant teams, and later went on summer mission to Yellowstone National Park in 2022. During that time, she began visiting and eventually volunteering in the kids and music ministries at Concord Baptist Church in Granite Falls, NC. She also spent three summers at Camp Caraway, two as a camp counselor and one as the summer staff coordinator, which strengthened her love for investing in the next generation.
Haley previously served as the Director of Young Adults, Kids, and Family Ministries at Concord Baptist Church, where she poured into the lives of the kids she led, helped them learn to read the Bible for themselves, and launched a Young Adults group which met weekly and offered one on one discipleship opportunities for those who were involved. She and her husband, Kylar, were married in May 2024 and share a love for Jesus, ministry, and cooking.
In her free time, Haley enjoys reading, listening to podcasts, hiking and exploring the outdoors, discovering new coffee shops, and spending time with her family. Her favorite Bible chapter is 1 Kings 19.
JOHN LEON LEWIS
MINISTER OF WORSHIP & ARTS
It is easy to enumerate a person’s gifts and the work he has performed. The list here is long because John Leon Lewis’ gifts are numerous.
He is comfortable using many styles of music in ministry and introducing new things while retaining the old. John is a very skilled singer and pianist and is great at coaching choirs into producing a quality choir sound.
John has extensive experience in recording and studio work and is able to direct large and small choral groups, conduct orchestras and praise bands.
DALLAS DWIGHT
AUDIO/VISUAL DIRECTOR
Dallas brings nearly two decades of experience in audio/visual production. With a background in live sound, stage management and multimedia systems, Dallas is committed to creating seamless, distraction-free worship experiences. A lifelong musician who began playing guitar and singing at age 12, his passion for music naturally led him into the world of production—where he now uses that skillset to support and elevate every service.
BRITTANY WELLBORN
FINANCIAL ADMINISTRATOR
Brittany is a Charlotte native (East Meck class of '09)! After more than 10 years in a corporate setting, she felt called to apply her skills in a more meaningful, faith-driven context that allows her to spend more time with her family. She and her husband Michael, along with their two young children, live in Fort Mill, SC. Brittany's hobbies include reading, being outdoors, baking and serving in her home church. Her latest projects include: creating toddler literacy resources, designing the children's church weekly lessons, mastering the art of sourdough cinnamon rolls, and learning how to keep a garden alive in the scorching south!