Our Team

I’ve been in full time ministry going on ten years now. I love walking with and serving people along life’s journey. I’m passionate about learning and growing in all facets of life: mind, body, and spirit. I received my undergraduate degree from Oral Roberts University in Tulsa, Oklahoma, which is more on the conservative, charismatic side of things. This is where I met my amazing wife. I later received my graduate degree from Vanderbilt University, which is more on the liberal and extremely diverse side of things. My curiosity and search for truth has taken me on a spiritual, emotional, and intellectual roller coaster over the years. Through it all, I believe people are transformed through experiences with God, which can look different for everyone. I’m also convinced that it’s important to love and learn from people both inside and outside our political, cultural, and religious boxes. My heart is to continually grow in the love of Christ and fulfill my calling to help others do so as well. I have been married for over ten years and we are raising two incredible boys who keep us on our toes! Glad to be serving here at Godwhy!

I’ve spent more than 45 years in full-time ministry. I graduated from Trevecca with a degree in Biblical Studies and later earned a master’s degree from Fuller Theological Seminary. But far more important than my education is this: I genuinely love people, and I want to give you a place to ask honest questions and discover who God is, how He’s working in the world, and how deeply He loves you.

I’m a communicator, not a preacher. I love to blend real-life experiences with biblical truth—sprinkled with humor, energy, and sincerity. Religion  made me cranky, prideful, and judgmental…but I’m recovering. What I’ve learned is that real faith shows up in openness, honesty, and love.

I definitely don’t have everything figured out, but after years of walking with Christ, I do have some good news to share—and I’d be honored to share it with you.
Until we meet in person.

I was raised in a large Catholic family with tradition and doctrine at the center of all my beliefs. Most questions had a clear, definitive answer. But as I became an adult and experienced more of what the world had to offer, I realized that religion and faith were not as black and white as I had been taught. My husband and I spent years away from the church, but we felt God calling us back after the birth of our daughter. We found GodWhy Church in 2014. It was completely different than the traditional experiences that our family had been exposed to, and we loved it.

Through the years, my relationship with God has flourished. I graduated from Union University in 2021 with a degree in Organizational Leadership with an emphasis in Church Leadership. I joined the staff of my home church (GodWhy), not knowing that my journey would continue.  I had the privilege of attending Vanderbilt Divinity School, where I graduated with a degree in Theological Studies in May of 2025. My hope is that I can impact the lives of the people who walk through our doors the same way that others have done for me. Faith is unique for every individual, and it is an honor to witness how others experience God.

Although I grew up going to church every Sunday, I never really felt like I knew God personally. When my husband, Tyler, and I stumbled upon GodWhy back in 2014, everything changed. For the first time, I was able to explore my faith in a way that felt real, personal, and free of judgment.

Now, my relationship with God is the foundation of who I am. As a mom of four, I know how important it is for kids to discover their own authentic connection with Him, too. My heart is to help create a space where children feel safe to ask questions, wonder about the amazing world God made, and know they are deeply and unconditionally loved.

Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me”…and I couldn’t agree more! It’s such a joy getting to walk alongside our kids at GodWhy as they grow in faith and curiosity.

GodWhy has been my home since 2018, but “church” has always been a part of my life since I was a kid.  I remember being young and struggling to understand God, the Bible, and life in general.  Our kids think deeply about many things.   I think it’s easy as adults to forget just how much our young people have to think about daily, especially with all of the technology at their fingertips.  As the Youth Director, my goal is to not only pour into our youth and teach them about Jesus, but to help them navigate real-world issues, serve in our Community, and to feel love and acceptance for who they are.  Our Youth are the future, and I want to see them all become the best versions of themselves.

I first attended GodWhy  as a person seeking wisdom and guidance both in my faith and for my family. Having received such incredible support and encouragement from this amazing group of people, I eventually started serving alongside the people who’d been so instrumental in my life. Now I have the unique privilege of leading ministries and teams to touch the lives of new people who are making GodWhy church their home.  Each day I look forward to the amazing people that God will allow me to connect with and encourage through the family of GodWhy

My husband Gary and I have been going to GodWhy Church from the first service.  When I saw the billboard that asked, “What’s Your Question”, I knew this was an open space and not afraid of challenges.  They gave me a safe place to rest and really contemplate renewing my relationship with God.  I am very happy to say that I did that and have grown closer in my understanding and daily walk with Jesus.  I have been an office manager/bookkeeper for over 40 years and have loved sharing that knowledge by working as the church bookkeeper for 19 years.  I have also served as a Trustee of the Church and have loved seeing people grow and our Church expand its knowledge and understanding of being a true space to love God’s People.

I first attended Godwhy in 2007, drawn in by its unique approach to engaging the world with honesty, depth, and compassion. Growing up as a Jehovah’s Witness, my faith journey shifted as I began exploring Scripture on my own, eventually embracing a non-denominational perspective that allowed me to seek God with fresh eyes.

When I arrived, I got plugged in through KidTown, but over time, I found my place serving in Creative Arts. With a background in theater and acting, I quickly discovered how those gifts could be used to give back to God and support the mission of the church. I also learned that I love building and creating.  Because of my time here, I have had several dreams realized.

What continues to inspire me most is the heart for reaching people whom society has labeled as unreachable. That message resonates deeply with my own story and fuels my desire to be part of a community that reflects God’s love in bold, creative, and inclusive ways.

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We have been blessed to walk this journey together for many years, grounded in faith and supported by our five grown children. As educators (both holding Master's Degrees in Education), we believe in creating environments where people can truly connect and grow. Through the years, Jay has been a youth pastor and has served on various prayer teams. Julie has been a youth leader, led women's groups, directed a house of prayer, and gone on overseas Intercessory missions trips. Together, we have served on prayer teams and led a weekly local missionary prayer group.  We were excited to discover that there was a church like GodWhy that has a culture that easily loves others and accepts differences. This philosophy aligns with our hearts. Our ministry is named "Ahava" , which is a beautiful Hebrew word for love.  This name perfectly captures the heart of what we do. For us, prayer is the most intimate expression of God's love for people, and we want to extend that love to everyone that we meet. Our deepest desire is simple: to love others and to create safe spaces through prayer, healing, and love.

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