Staff

Staff

Lead Pastor

Simon Stokes

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…

Richard Alford

Congregational Care Pastor

Chris Garrett

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…

Stephen Balevic

Daniel Carter

Spiritual Formation Pastor

Bob Burns

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…

Norman Acker

Doug Betts

Justin Davis

Community Formation Pastor

Mark Whipple

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…

Bob Burns

Andrew Carlson

Dean Freck

Stephen Eckel

Andrew Hassinger

Chris Garrett

Steve Jones

Aaron Mitchell

Brian Prentice

Director of Women’s Ministry

Julie Burson

Julie Burson joined our staff in January 2025 as CGS’s first Women’s Ministry Director — a significant milestone in the life of our church. Julie has a teaching degree and has served as the librarian at Trinity School for the past several years. She has been a member of CGS for 15 years, participating on the women’s ministry steering committee, teaching children’s Sunday School, and serving as VBS director, among other things. She and her husband, Kris, currently lead a…