Pastors

Simon Stokes is originally from Dothan, AL, and after going to college at Emory University, he served as an intern for two years with RUF at Auburn University, where he met his wife, Katie. Through his experience at Auburn, he discerned a call to ministry, deciding to move to St. Louis, where he pursued master’s degrees in divinity and counseling at Covenant Seminary. In the spring of 2013, Simon completed those degrees, and he and Katie moved to Chapel Hill so…

Chris Garrett is from St. Louis, but attended UNC before joining the college ministry staff of Campus Crusade for Christ (CRU) for five years after college. He attended Gordon-Conwell Seminary in Boston. He and his wife Jenny  both received their degrees there, and they returned to serve at CGS when Chris accepted the position of Youth Pastor.  Following a missions call, Chris and Jenny served with MTW in the Philippines for 4 years, and then returned to States where Chris…

Bob Burns came to faith in Jesus as a seventh grader, and from that time through college, his life was deeply impacted by mentors who shaped his understanding of faith, ministry, and the church. After graduate school Bob married Janet, who is his best friend and partner. Over the years he has been involved in a wide variety of ministries ranging from youth and singles, worship and arts, and various pastoral roles. He loves designing initiatives on how the gospel…

Mark Whipple was born and raised in Sudbury, MA and therefore is a lifelong Boston sports fanatic. He first arrived in Durham to attend Duke University, then served as Youth Ministry Director at CGS for two years, during which time he met and married his wife, Jen. After attending Westminster Theological Seminary in Philadelphia (and after consuming many cheesesteaks), the Whipples landed in Asheville, NC—first doing youth ministry at Trinity Presbyterian Church, and ultimately planting Westside Church. Mark and Jen…

Spencer was born and raised in the foothills of Morganton, North Carolina. He attended Western Carolina University where he met his lovely wife, Courtney, and was saved by the Lord Jesus through the ministry of Reformed University Fellowship (RUF). Upon graduation, they moved to Blacksburg, VA where Spencer served as the RUF intern at Virginia Tech, while Courtney worked as the Director of Client Services at the local Pregnancy Resource Center. After their time in RUF, they moved back to…