Byron grew up in Owensboro, Kentucky as an average kid on an average street in an average town. Jesus Christ rescued him while in college at University of Kentucky. Byron and Ruby Bea married in 1987 where they served together for 12 years with Cru at UNC-Chapel Hill. They have four wonderful adult children. Byron earned an M.Div from Westminster Theological Seminary (Philadelphia), pastored at The Church of the Good Shepherd in Durham, NC, and then planted Christ Community Church in 2005 with his long-time friend Greg Norfleet.
Jacob is a North Carolina native who grew up in Montreat, NC, then spent high school in Nairobi, Kenya. He has worked in lots of fields, including relief and development, publishing, and higher education, but ministry is where his heart is, and where the Lord has led him. He and Erin married in 2010 and have four children together — Sevi, Caroline, Virginia, and John. They lived in Grand Rapids, MI for seven years, where they first joined the PCA and made many wonderful friends at Christ Church. Jacob worked in ministry to grad students and faculty with InterVarsity Christian Fellowship at UNC-Chapel Hill before joining the staff at CCC. Jacob went to Wheaton College, and he holds an MDiv from Princeton Theological Seminary and a PhD in philosophical theology from Calvin Theological Seminary.
On any given Sunday, you'll find Allison deep in conversation or chatting amicably with members and visitors alike. "God created us to be in community and I want to guide our people into that knit family feel," says Allison, wife of Matt, and mom to Sam, Charlie, and Ellie.
Having grown up in a post communist country as an MK, Allison learned early the art of building bridges to people and joining hearts. After graduating from an international school in Vienna, she sought and received a nursing degree from UVA. Her Matt wooed and wed her and led her to NC. Working as an L&D nurse at UNC, Allison spent countless hours walking through the highs and lows of moms-to-be. In those times, she learned a lot about conversation and focusing on the person right in front of you. So, next time you're at CCC or even if you meet her in a grocery store, Allison will be excited to meet you!
Alissa is married to Keith, and they have four children. She graduated from Marquette University with a Masters in Physical Therapy, and enjoyed that work until her second career of motherhood called.
On Sunday mornings, you can find Alissa downstairs in the childcare area ensuring that our church's littlest ones have a safe and loving environment in which to learn, grow and experience God's great goodness.
Erin is married to Jacob, and they have four children. Erin wants to see our children's Sunday School program continue to grow and thrive by researching curriculum and thinking through effective methods of education. Charlotte Mason, a turn of the century British educator, describes educating as laying a feast for children: "We spread an abundant and delicate feast... and each small guest assimilates what he can." What greater feast, what greater riches can be found than in Christ? Erin is thrilled to serve and partner with the families of CCC in sharing the abundant riches of Christ with our youngest covenant members.
Kat is married to Jonathan, and they share two wild and loving children. She remember the people who loved her as a child - from friends whose parents took me to church, to aunts and neighbors. Investing in children and making them feel loved, valued, and seen is one of Kat's chief desires as she seeks to show them the love of Jesus. No one is too small for the Lord to see, and the most exciting part about leading these sweet friends in worship is finding ways to bring them to the feet of Jesus and being a vessel for him to illuminate himself to them; it is exciting to Kat because it was important to Jesus!
In this day and age, there are about a thousand technological and computer-related questions a minute that crop up between sending emails, maintaining a website, and otherwise running a successful twenty-first century church. From distributing the Connection, managing bulletin announcements, and orchestrating the complicated dials, bells, and whistles of the sound equipment, Gary fields a huge array of tasks for CCC.
Before discovering an interest in church administration, some of Amanda's former work has included: teaching middle & high school, transcription, injection molded plastics, serving in orphanages throughout Ukraine, and refugee resettlement for World Relief Durham. She was born in Ohio and raised in Florida, though Campbell University and NCCU are her alma maters. Amanda enjoys just about any recreational activity and pursuing meaningful ways to serve others because of what Jesus has done for her. She lives in Durham with her dog, Shark.
