Pastor Jared was confirmed as our senior pastor in July, 2018. Prior to his position at Valley View, he served as Associate Pastor for nine years at Teays Valley Baptist Church in Hurricane, WV. Before his arrival at Teays Valley, he served in the US Army Reserves for eight years and was deployed to both Iraq and Afghanistan. He graduated from Pensacola Christian College having received the schools top honor, the President’s Citation of Merit.

Pastor Jared also has a heart for missions and has overseen missions support to over 170 missionaries and has traveled to over 30 different countries leading teams, training nationals, and preaching revivals and conferences. He also serves as a traveling professor for Global Bible University in Nicaragua. He has a true passion for preaching and loves practical Bible exposition.

Pastor Jared has a true vision for Valley View Baptist Church. In his own words:

“There is nothing on this earth more equipped to change the world than the local church. The church is the body of Christ and is intended by God to be the instrument by which the gospel is sent to the farthest reaches of the earth and the closest corners of our neighborhood. I believe firmly that God’s work done God’s way cannot fail. My heart’s desire is to see God accomplish His plan concerning His church. My prayer is that I get to be a part of that plan.”

Pastor Jared serves faithfully with his wife, Alma Lee, and their three girls: Emma, Abbie, and Ava.

Education:
Bachelor of Arts degree from Pensacola Christian College in Pensacola, FL in 2009
· Awarded the President’s Citation of Merit (College’s Top Honor).
· Major: Pastoral Ministries
· Minor: Missions

Bro. Mike Meade serves as our Youth Pastor. He and his wife, Kaylee, joined our church in November 2014, and Mike was brought on our church staff in August 2015. Bro. Mike has a strong passion to reach the next generation with the Gospel of Jesus Christ and see young people come to know Christ in a real and personal way. He grew up in Michigan in a Christian home where his family attended church regularly. The summer before fourth grade he attended church camp where God showed him his need for a Savior, and he made the decision to put his faith and trust in Jesus Christ. As a teenager he answered God’s calling on his life to preach the Gospel, which led to his studies at Crown College of the Bible in Powell, TN. During his studies at Crown, he met his wife, Kaylee, and they were married in May of 2014.

His role as Youth Pastor involves weekly Bible studies on Wednesday nights with our youth, monthly organized youth activities, fundraisers for our annual summer youth trip, and personal discipleship with our teens. Throughout the years the Lord has laid a strong burden on his heart to have an influence on young people through the teaching and directing from God’s Word. One of his desires as Youth Pastor is to see teenagers grow in their relationship with Jesus Christ in such a way that, following high school graduation, they continue to be faithful in attending and serving at church even after facing independence as young adults.

Education:
Bachelor of Christian Education degree from Midwestern Baptist College of Lake Orion, Michigan in 2017

Chris Elgin grew up in a Christian home and developed a love for the music ministry at a young age. His grandpa was a faithful pastor for many years and his mother was the church pianist. He accepted Christ as his personal savior at the age of 14.

After Graduating from Temple Baptist Academy in Powell. He attended Crown College majoring in Music. He later married his high school sweetheart and moved to Michigan where he directed the Prairie Baptist Church choir for 4 years.

In 2004 he returned to Knoxville, TN where he worked as production manager of a large painting company and was faithfully involved in his church choir and music ministry. In 2012 he started his own painting company Legacy Painting which he still enjoys running today.

While only being on staff part-time at Valley View Baptist Church, his first passion is music. His role as director of music includes leading in corporate worship, directing the choir, coordinating special music, helping prepare small ensembles and soloists. He enjoys time-honored, traditional hymns as well as modern Christ honoring music. It is his goal to prepare hearts for the preaching of God’s word.

Bro. Chris and his wife Becki were married on July 18,1998 and have been blessed with four children Anna, Griffin, Brooklyn, and Ali Jo.

Education:
Ministry of Music Studies, The Crown College of the Bible