Meet Our Staff

Nick is our current “Pastor in Residence,” having come from the missions field in Syria and Libya with his wife, Rachel, and toddler son, Everett. His focus with NewLife Knoxville is Campus Outreach, which he has already hit the ground impacting and growing for the Kingdom. Nick and Rachel both felt the calling to serve unreached people groups in the Middle East early in their lives. Their ministry in that space grew through a digital media outreach and a rotating 10 – 15 member team. While they are anxious to return, their current placement allows some pretty excited local grandparents to help them prepare for the delivery of another family member in summer ‘25! Nick came to his chosen life path after graduating from the University of Texas in Austin, and serving in mission placements supported through both his local church, Austin Stone Community Church, and NewLife. Nick’s passions include reading, Jesus and UT sports – we’ll let you decide which one!

Chris is NewLife’s Praise and Worship Director. You’ll often see him on stage leading our incredibly gifted team of musicians and singers. Sometimes he disciples us in the preaching of the Word, while other times, he is using his talents of teaching, relatability and encouragement within the church’s growing youth group. His enthusiasm and zest for living a purposeful, Christian life are infectious, and have led him to serve in several other capacities to help spread the Gospel.

He is currently producing new music, traveling nationwide with Bill and Gloria Gaither in their Homecoming Celebration series, and assisting the Christian Cultural Center in New York City with worship several times a year. Chris and his wife, Stephanie, share one daughter, Alina. Oh – and you may recognize him as the Season 12 Winner of The Voice!

Jacque and her husband, Chef Tim, have also catered many special events for our NewLife family, and in 2018 launched their own church, Juniper Worldwide, serving the downtown community of Knoxville (see more information about this on our Missions page). Together, they have long served the homeless and forgotten population in our city, and this calling from the Lord brings other like-minded members of Juniper alongside them to be the hands and feet of Jesus.

Scott is the Lead Pastor at NewLife Gathering with a passion for Christ that is truly contagious! He was called into ministry during his middle school years, and ultimately given the nickname, “Rev,” which he bears to this day. After graduating from seminary at Covenant, Rev went on to pastor churches in Colorado, Georgia, and Tennessee. While serving at Cedar Springs Presbyterian Church, he was called to plant a new church within the greater Knoxville area. Obedient to that calling, he led a team of founders to launch NLG in 2016 – a growing community of believers passionate about biblical preaching, worship, fellowship, and missions. Scott serves on multiple ministry boards and is currently the Character Coach for the University of Tennessee Men’s Basketball program. In addition to his “family” of congregants, Scott is fueled by the love of his wife, Kim, their 2 children and spouses, and 5 grandchildren.

Teresa serves as the Administrative Director for NewLife, and is often the first, cheerful face you see upon entering the building’s doors. A Knoxville native, she and her husband Bobby devoted over three decades of their lives as missionaries in Russia, Kazakhstan, and Germany. Their unwavering vision has always been to develop a deep and passionate relationship with the Lord and to spread His message across the world.

Their efforts have led to the establishment of hundreds of churches throughout the former Soviet Union; and, later, to the publication of a book sharing her story, “Was it Worth It? A Missionary’s Journey with God in the Former Soviet Union.” Teresa believes in blooming where you’re planted, quite literally sharing her passion for Christ wherever she is placed by the Lord. She is a dedicated wife and mother of 3 children, 11 grandchildren, and a nurturer to all!

Don is the Operations and Facilities Manager at NewLife, and a life-long follower of Christ. As a young man growing up in the state of Ohio, he pursued his passion for art and design in an apprenticeship program at the Columbus School of Art and Design. That experience catapulted his long career in the commercial construction industry, and later, in the production management industry with a focus in trade shows and special events.

These specific field gifts led to his connection with NLG’s operations, as a devoted member laser-focused on the needs of his congregation – and as the group looked to establish a more permanent home. Don’s talents have certainly been utilized as the church launched the reconstruction of the property at Rocky Hill in preparation for a grand opening in late 2023. Married to PJ for over 31 years, Don enjoys spending his free time with her, their 4 children, and 10 grandchildren, as well as refurbishing street rods and designing and building model trains.

Judy is our interim Children’s Ministry program manager. With over 35 years experience in teaching, she brings an incredible amount of wisdom and resources to the children’s and family programs at NLG. She also contributes part-time to the preschool ministry at our home church, Cedar Springs Presbyterian. Judy most recently served as the Director of the Concord Christian School’s Preschool Program, the largest in our community. Prior to that nearly 30- year stint, she was the Director at WestLake Preschool (later merged with Concord) and taught in Nashville at Christ Presbyterian Academy. She received her undergraduate degree in Early Childhood Education at Auburn University, and her masters in the same at Belmont University. She and her husband, Bobby, have been married for over 35 years, and share three wonderful adult children and a daughter-in-law. Judy loves pickle ball and being outside, especially at the beach – but mostly she loves seeing the growth in children and experiencing their excitement as they learn about Jesus!