Meet the people who bring our church community to life. Each person on our team contributes their unique gifts and perspective to create a place where faith grows and everyone belongs. Get to know the faces behind our ministry.
Curtis co-founded Ekklesia with CJ in 2010, where he teaches and leads the music and tech teams. A proud Canadian, he and his wife Kim welcomed their son George in 2021, joining his daughters Kyra and Megan. Curtis is passionate about LGBTQ+ inclusion, and believes following Jesus helps us become the best versions of ourselves—healing wounds and making the world better.
CJ has been in ministry since 2005. He holds degrees in Journalism from UNC Chapel Hill (where he played football) and Biblical Languages from GTU in Berkeley. He’s passionate about how scripture, history, and social sciences inform faith. Married to Holly since 2003, they have two children, Abby and Noah. In his free time, he coaches sports and reads science fiction. Favorite non-Biblical quote: “Be curious, not judgmental.”
Tori teaches music at her local elementary school and brings her experience with children to our kids ministry. Married to Greg (our youth pastor), they have two children, Audrey and Maverick. She’s passionate about hands-on, fun approaches to teaching children about Jesus. You’ll often see her singing with the worship team on Sundays.
Greg and Tori have worked with students since 2013, fostering holistic growth in young people. Parents to Audrey and Maverick, Greg is a licensed educator focused on spiritual, social, and intellectual development. When not with his family or the youth, you’ll find him reading theology or playing pickleball.
Brian has experience as a social worker, worship leader, and pastor, and currently works in media production. He joined Ekklesia in 2022 and serves on the worship team. Brian is passionate about God’s presence, healthy theology, and LGBTQ+ inclusion. In his spare time, he enjoys family, theology books, Lord of the Rings, and conversations around a fire.
Josh works as a Project Manager with a background in Epidemiology and population health. He and his family moved to Raleigh in 2021 and found Ekklesia while the church was meeting at Raleigh Little Theater during COVID. Josh has served on the kids ministry and hospitality teams and is passionate about the grace, humility, and love with which this community follows Jesus. In his free time, he enjoys running, fitness, and time with his family.
Holly found healing at Ekklesia in 2019 after difficult previous church experiences. With 31 years in insurance, she previously served on the setup team and now joins the hospitality team. Holly enjoys outdoor activities with her husband, live music, and parenting her two young adult children.
Cheryl retired from Wake County Public Libraries after over two decades as the children’s materials selector. She and her husband David have been part of Ekklesia since 2020 and serve on the scripture reading and prayer teams. Cheryl is passionate about building community and hosts the South Raleigh/Garner small group in their home. In her spare time, she enjoys knitting, baking bread, reading, and her twin grandchildren.
Brent has been part of Ekklesia since 2014, now alongside his wife Shannon and their two kids, Everly and Blake. He has been active in small groups and has volunteered running CG for several years. In his professional life, Brent is a lawyer working in state government. Through good times and hard ones, Ekklesia has been home — and Brent is committed to helping others find what he has found here.
Our Board of Elders consists of 5 members, with a balanced representation of men and women (never more than a 3:2 majority either way). This team oversees all operational aspects of the Ministry. They ensure we remain aligned with our charitable purposes, set our annual budget, guide strategic decisions, and provide encouragement and care for our Pastors. The Board embodies our commitment to responsible ‘inward’ stewardship and intentional ‘outward’ generosity, reflecting our core values in all we do.
