Meet the pastors

Pastor Chad serves as Teaching Pastor of Raleigh First Assembly and has led the church since 2002. His ministry is modeled around the Acts 6:4 mandate to devote oneself to "prayer and the ministry of the word."

"God has given me a passion for His Word and His people. It is a privilege to serve you and to partner together in changing the world for Jesus Christ."

Pastor Chad earned his BA in Religion from Gardner-Webb University in 1994 and his Master of Divinity in Biblical Languages in 1998 from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary. He is ordained with the Assemblies of God.

After Jesus, Pastor Chad's greatest love is his wife, Darla, and their three children. About his family, he says "Darla's beautiful, smart, godly, resourceful, patient, tolerant, and talented. The kids, Nathanael, Anna, and Benjamin, inherited all of those traits, as well as their dad's love of history, hunting, and fishing."

Pastor Danny joined Raleigh First Assembly in 2004. Along with his leadership responsibilities, he leads the Benevolence and Pastoral Care ministries.

"God has given me a heart for hurting people and caring for them is my greatest passion."

Prior to serving at Raleigh First Assembly, Pastor Danny ministered for 16 years as an ordained minister with the Pentecostal Holiness Church. He has served as Senior Pastor, Associate Pastor, Christian Education Director, and Minister of Music. He earned a BS in Theology with a minor in Christian Education Ministries from Holmes College of the Bible in Greenville, SC. Pastor Danny is ordained with the Assemblies of God.

Pastor Danny and his wife, Karen, have a son, Jordan.

"I have no greater joy than spending time with my beautiful wife Karen and my son Jordan who is also my very best friend."

Pastor Charlie serves as Worship Pastor and came to Raleigh First Assembly in August 2010. He grew up in the Mobile, Alabama area and attended Evangel University in Springfield, MO from 1994-97. Pastor Charlie graduated from Brownsville Revival School of Ministry and also served in a summer internship under Music Pastor Lindell Cooley at Brownsville Assembly of God in Pensacola, Florida. His time there, and his participation in the Brownsville Revival, shaped him into the worship leader he is today.

Pastor Charlie has served as a music pastor in other churches from St. Louis to Orlando. He has also written more than 60 worship songs & recorded two worship albums. Pastor Charlie has ministerial credentials with the Assemblies of God.

While attending BRSM, Pastor Charlie met his wife Bekki. The Lord has blessed them with two wonderful boys, Juddson and Jarren, and a daughter Rayna. His hobbies include an addiction to golf, watching Alabama Crimson Tide football, and doing chores for his wife.

Pastor Chris came to us from Harrisburg, Pennsylvania in September of 2002 as Pastor of Evangelism and Connection. He now serves as Missions & Evangelism Pastor.

Prior to coming to Raleigh First Assembly, Pastor Chris traveled as an evangelist with Way of the Cross Ministries (1996-2002), and served as a youth pastor and associate pastor in Huntsville, Alabama at Weatherly Road Assembly of God (1994 to 1996). He is ordained as an Assemblies of God Evangelist and has a BA in Pastoral Ministry from Southeastern College in Lakeland, Florida (1992). Pastor Chris continues to serve with Way of the Cross Ministries in the area of missionary evangelism.

Pastor Chris and his wife, Amy, have three children; Olivia, Ethan, and Isaac.

Pastor Mark joined the pastoral staff in January 2008 as Missions Pastor. He now serves as Pastor of Administration. Pastor Mark is ordained with the Assemblies of God and has served as a senior pastor in two churches and on staff as a Minister of Christian Education.

Pastor Mark earned a BS degree in Management from Oral Roberts University in 1984 and a Master of Divinity degree from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary-Charlotte in 2000. He also serves as an instructor at two Bible colleges and the NC District of the Assemblies of God School of Ministry.

He and his wife, Janice, have three daughters; Lauren, Ashley, and Hannah.

Pastor Dick began serving on staff as Pastor of Small Group Ministries at Raleigh First Assembly in September 2006. He now serves in an expanded role as Adult Ministries Pastor. He retired from the U.S. Navy as a Chief Petty Officer in 1981. In 2001, he retired from Nortel Networks after sixteen years managing various aspects of customer training. Since then Pastor Dick has taught in colleges and conducted seminars for Wilson Learning and Development Dimensions International.

Pastor Dick holds ministerial credentials with the Assemblies of God. He has earned a BA in Psychology from Chapman University, a BS in Electronic Engineering from the University of Texas, a Master of Arts in Human Resource Development from Webster University, and a Master of Arts in Computer Data Management from Webster University.

Pastor Dick and his wife, Lonnie, have been married 49 years, with 5 children, 9 grandchildren, and 2 great-grandchildren.

Pastor Wes joined the staff as Youth Pastor of Elevate Student Ministries in February 2011. He grew up in Goldsboro, NC and graduated from Southeastern University in 2001. Pastor Wes has lived in Japan, Turkey, Germany, and Spain while serving in the US Air Force prior to coming to Raleigh First Assembly. He holds ministerial credentials with the Assemblies of God.

"God has called me to lead a generation that will rise up and claim their divine destiny in Christ; a generation that will be empowered and equipped by God to invade a culture with the transforming power of the Holy Spirit; a generation that will change this World"

"My beautiful wife Crystal,two awesome boys Wes Jr., and Caleb, and daughter Tirzah are the center of my life." When he is not with them he enjoys basketball, the UNC Tarheels, fishing, video games, rollercoasters, traveling, and anything else that involves fun!

After serving in the US Army for three years, Pastor Aaron joined the Raleigh First Assembly staff early 2008. He served as Associate Youth Pastor until 2010 when he took over as Director of Master's Commission Raleigh. Pastor Aaron led the transition of Master's Commission Raleigh to the new Truth Culture Raleigh program. He also leads The Chapel young adult ministry.

He is currently pursuing a double major in religion and business at Liberty University. Pastor Aaron and his wife, Liz, have been married for three years.

Pastor Jeff joined the staff of Raleigh First Assembly as Children's Pastor in January 2004, after having volunteered in the ministry of Children's Church since 2000.

Prior to coming on staff, he spent 11 years with Caterpillar, Inc., the last six with Gregory Poole Equipment Company. Pastor Jeff served six years in the U.S. Marine Corps and is a veteran of the Gulf War. He has been actively involved in ministry for the past sixteen years. Through those years, he has been blessed to minister to children in Nursery, Elementary and Youth Sunday School, VBS, Royal Rangers, Youth Pastor, Altar Team, and Teen & Junior Bible Quiz. Pastor Jeff has also ministered at the Raleigh Rescue Mission Outreach, in mentoring, as an HonorBound Men's Coach, and as Vice-President and Secretary of the Raleigh Full Gospel Businessmen's Fellowship International.

Pastor Jeff and his wife, Liz, have been married for 24 years. They have two grown children; Rachel and Patrick.