Leadership & Staff

Fellowship’s leadership is comprised of our Lead Pastor and Executive Team, who lead our staff and organization in partnership with our elder board.

Teaching Team

Our teaching team is made up of Rob Sweet, our Lead Pastor, and Lloyd Shadrach, our Founding Pastor. They share the responsibility of teaching in our worship services on Sundays and rotate between our Brentwood and Franklin campuses.

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Rob Sweet

Lead Pastor & Teacher

Rob Sweet

Lead Pastor & Teacher
Rob has served in leadership and teaching roles in ministry and corporate settings for over 20 years. Previous pastoral roles include positions at Grace Fellowship Church in Johnson City, TN and McKinney Church in Fort Worth, TX. Before entering vocational ministry, Rob worked at Chick-fil-A, Inc. as a Business Consultant and Leadership Trainer. Rob holds a Bachelor’s Degree and MBA from the University of Georgia, and a Master of Theology from Dallas Theological Seminary. Rob is a passionate teacher with a relational style and has a heart for the intersection of theology and everyday life. In his free time, Rob loves to kayak, watch college football, and create board games with his brother as one half of the “Sweet Bros. Games” team. Rob met his wife, Jodie, while studying at UGA and they married in 2001. The Sweets live in Franklin with their three daughters – Ansley, Elysa, and Karis.
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Lloyd Shadrach

Teaching Pastor

Lloyd Shadrach

Teaching Pastor

Lloyd grew up in a military family that eventually settled down in Clarksville, TN. When he was a senior in high school, Lloyd trusted Christ as his Lord and Savior. His spiritual journey grew most significantly during his college years through the work and ministry of Campus Crusade for Christ (Cru) at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville.

After college graduation, Lloyd worked with FamilyLife in Little Rock, AR for 15 years. During that time he met Lisa and they were married in 1991. He attended Dallas Theological Seminary from 1991 to 1993 where he earned his Master of Arts in Biblical Studies (M.A.B.S.). Lloyd and his family moved to Franklin at the end of 1996 to co-plant Fellowship Bible Church, where he currently serves as one of the teaching pastors.

Lloyd and Lisa have been married for 30 years and reside in Franklin. They have three children: Darden (Jordyn), Susan, and Sally.

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Executive Team

The Executive Team consists of our Lead Pastor and three executive pastors. This team is responsible for setting and maintaining organizational direction and leadership for all ministry areas.

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Rob Sweet

Lead Pastor & Teacher

Rob Sweet

Lead Pastor & Teacher

Rob has served in leadership and teaching roles in ministry and corporate settings for over 20 years. Previous pastoral roles include positions at Grace Fellowship Church in Johnson City, TN and McKinney Church in Fort Worth, TX. Before entering vocational ministry, Rob worked at Chick-fil-A, Inc. as a Business Consultant and Leadership Trainer. Rob holds a Bachelor’s Degree and MBA from the University of Georgia, and a Master of Theology from Dallas Theological Seminary. Rob is a passionate teacher with a relational style and has a heart for the intersection of theology and everyday life. In his free time, Rob loves to kayak, watch college football, and create board games with his brother as one half of the “Sweet Bros. Games” team.

Rob met his wife, Jodie, while studying at UGA and they married in 2001. The Sweets live in Franklin with their three daughters – Ansley, Elysa, and Karis.

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Rob Howard

Executive Pastor, Weekend Ministries & Spiritual Formation

Rob Howard

Executive Pastor, Weekend Ministries & Spiritual Formation

Rob Howard grew up in Christian home and came to faith in Christ at the age of nine. In his teen years Rob felt a definitive call to serve God in ministry. Rob has since followed that call and ministry has become a part of his everyday life.

Rob and his wife Kirsten were married in 1994 and moved that year from Dallas to Nashville.

After graduating from Baylor University and Southern Methodist University with degrees in Music Composition and Theory, Rob worked in church music publishing with Word Music for 10 years developing worship products for the Church.

Rob and Kirsten became members at Fellowship in the summer of 2004. A year and a half later, Rob joined the staff at Fellowship full-time as Pastor of Worship & Arts. He currently serves as Executive Pastor, overseeing Weekend Ministry, Family Ministry, and Spiritual Formation. He has been involved in leading and shepherding in church ministry on a full-time and part-time basis for the past 30 years.

Rob continues to stay involved in church music publishing with Little Big Stuff, a company he co-founded in 2007 with his friend, David Guthrie. Rob helps write and produce kids’ musical products that serve the church and proclaim the gospel.

Rob and Kirsten live in Brentwood, and have three children, Caleb, Sarah, and Ben.

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Eric Hoffman

Executive Pastor, Outreach & Ministry Strategy

Eric Hoffman

Executive Pastor, Outreach & Ministry Strategy

Eric grew up in a small town in Michigan. At a young age, he was introduced to Jesus at church and home. While in on high school mission trip in Mexico, he committed to following Jesus, a decision that has altered his life since.

Eric holds a Bachelors degree in Christian Ministry and a Masters in Christian Leadership from Southern Seminary. He moved to Nashville in 2010 to help the team at Fellowship launch the Franklin campus. He now serves as an executive pastor overseeing outreach and ministry strategy. Eric has a passion to steward life change through discipleship initiatives and help the church develop resources and training to further the mission.

Eric met his wife, Melissa, at Spring Arbor University in Michigan and they married in 2006. The Hoffman’s live in in Franklin with their three boys, Luke, Weston, and Miles.

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Richard Scott

Executive Pastor, Central Services & Pastoral Care

Richard Scott

Executive Pastor, Central Services & Pastoral Care

Richard has the privilege of serving on the staff at Fellowship as Executive Pastor. Prior to Fellowship, he worked in various leadership roles including 10 years in public accounting and 6 years as an owner of a business he co-founded. He has also had the privilege of serving on various advisory boards, both for-profit and not-for-profit. He holds a Bachelors degree in Accounting and is a Certified Public Accountant (inactive).

Richard and Kari have been married since 1992 and reside in Franklin. They have six children: Levi (Rachel), Jacob (Lily), Okland, Samuel, Aaron and Tosin.

Leadership Council

The Leadership Council includes the Executive Team (see above) and various pastors and staff from Fellowship. This group of leaders collaborates on large-scale, strategic initiatives and provides feedback on operational and ministry decisions.

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Aaron Blanton

Executive Leader, Communications

Aaron Blanton

Executive Leader, Communications

Aaron was raised in a wonderful Christian home and came to faith in Christ at church camp at the age of 7. After moving from Greenville, SC to Nashville in 1993, Aaron began to pursue his dream of playing drums in a band and going on the road. By the time he was a senior in high school, Aaron was touring full time with Sonicflood, of which he was a founding member. Following that, he joined the Christian band By The Tree and continued traveling and leading worship until 2007.

After relocating to Yorba Linda, CA to be the Worship Pastor at Friends Church, he rediscovered a deep love and passion for the local church. Moving back to Franklin in 2014, Aaron joined the staff of Fellowship as Worship Pastor. In 2018, he began leading the Communications Team, where he is currently serving as the Executive Leader of Communications.

Aaron and his wife, Mandi, were married in October of 2004 and have three wonderful kids: Arleigh (12), Ellis (10), and Nora (7). They live in Franklin and attend the Brentwood campus.

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Marilyn Hostetter-Kreider

Director of Human Resources

Marilyn Hostetter-Kreider

Director of Human Resources

Marilyn has the privilege of serving on staff at Fellowship as Director of Human Resources. Prior to Fellowship, she served as the Finance Director at a para-church organization for 9 years and before that managed a small business that she co-owned for 16 years. Marilyn holds a business degree in Management & Human Resources from Trevecca University.

Marilyn grew up in rural Pennsylvania in the Mennonite community. While she knew God and received Jesus at an early age, the suffering and brokenness of a difficult season later in her life brought a spiritual awakening where Jesus truly captured her heart. Nothing brings her greater joy than seeing the evidence of redemptive grace, the transformative work of Christ’s love, and the beautiful tapestry God weaves through story. Marilyn is the proud mom to four amazing children, Molly Kate (22), Adam (20), Jake (19), and Elizabeth (16). She lives in Franklin and attends the Brentwood Campus.

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William Koellein

Executive Leader, Finance & Operations

William Koellein

Executive Leader, Finance & Operations

William is native to Middle Tennessee and grew up with several different church denominational influences at home and at school. Influenced by his mother’s faith, he accepted Jesus’s salvation in the 6th grade and in recent years has experienced Jesus more personally as a kind and gentle friend.

Kathy and William met at a family camp in Michigan and were married in 1999. A few months later they began attending Fellowship and are very grateful for how God has used the church to grow their family spiritually. They live in south Franklin and have three sons in their teens and early 20’s. Charlie attends UT-Knoxville, Michael is heading to Mississippi State and Jesse is in high school.

William graduated with an accounting degree from Lipscomb University, and then worked as a business owner in the construction industry. He joined the Fellowship staff team in the fall of 2011 and now serves as Executive Director of Finance & Operations.

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Carl Cartee

Pastor of Worship & Arts

Carl Cartee

Pastor of Worship & Arts

Carl was raised in Kings Mountain, NC and placed faith in Christ at a church summer camp at the age of 12. Around that same time, worship music became a central part of life and Carl started leading worship and playing keys for his local church. Through high school and college at Gardner-Webb University, Carl developed as a musician and worship leader, traveling the country as a worship leader for the same kinds of camps where he was saved. In 2003 he moved to Nashville to continue working on the dream of becoming a professional songwriter. Publishing deals with Spring Hill Music, Brentwood-Benson and Redstreet Publishing led to over a 1000 songs written, hundreds of cuts and a Dove Award.

A love for the local church and making disciples led Carl and his family to Fellowship where they invest in the things that have always been their calling…leading worship, writing songs, helping people see Jesus. Carl and his wife Heather have 4 sons (Oak, Ezra, Abe and Ike) and they live in Franklin, TN.

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Mark Holeman

Pastor of Adult Ministries

Mark Holeman

Pastor of Adult Ministries

Mark is a middle Tennessee native. His parents introduced him to Jesus at a very young age and provided a strong foundation of Bible training and desire to follow Jesus. Mark followed in his father’s footsteps in his call to ministry after graduating high school. It was during his college years while studying at Lipscomb University, majoring in Bible for full-time ministry, that Mark realized he was trusting in a belief system to save him not Jesus. Mark responded to the gospel and trusted in Jesus alone for his salvation in college.

He met his wife, Janet, while they were both at Lipscomb, and they married in 1992. Mark earned his Master of Arts in Religion from Lipscomb in 1994, while Janet completed her graduate work with the University of Alabama. It is during this time in Tuscaloosa that Mark became a life-long fan of college football (Roll Tide Roll!). Mark and Janet were blessed with two wonderful daughters, Colleen and Casey.

In 2000, Mark became a church planter with the Baptist General Conference and moved his family from St. Mary’s, Georgia to Gilbert, Arizona to join a church plant. Mark spent almost a decade on staff with Mission Community Church where Mark served in several staff roles, including Associate Pastor and Executive Pastor. The family moved back to Nashville to be closer to family in 2008. Mark took a job with a local non-profit, and their family started attending Fellowship Bible Church in the fall of 2009.

Mark joined the staff at Fellowship Bible Church in 2010. He currently serves as the Pastor of Groups & Adult Ministries. It is during this time at Fellowship that Mark would say he has experienced the most personal growth as a disciple of Jesus and as a leader. Mark is grateful for the opportunity to work with Fellowship and to lead with good leaders who love Jesus and His church.

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Marty Schwieterman

Pastor of Family Ministry

Marty Schwieterman

Pastor of Family Ministry

Marty was born in Dayton, Ohio to a blue collar, all-American, Catholic family. Raised by hard-working parents, he attended church all the time but had no personal faith of his own. In his senior year of college, two roommates relentlessly shared Christ with him and on October 17, 1981 Marty came to faith in Christ. He was truly born again and has never been the same.

While in college, Marty met his future wife, Lora, in a vocal performance group at the University of Dayton. They fell in love on their first date. Lora became a nurse and Marty became a systems engineer working on all kinds of Air Force weapon systems at Wright Patterson Air Force Base. They married in 1984 and babies began to arrive shortly thereafter.

Fast forward a few years and through their passion for evangelism at their local church, they became convinced that God was calling them to full-time ministry, willing to “go anywhere and do anything for Christ.” They quit jobs, pulled up roots, raised support and moved away from their hometown to focus on serving families through FamilyLife, a marriage and parenting ministry of Campus Crusade for Christ. While there, Marty served as the executive director touching hundreds of thousands of lives. They believed with all their hearts that the family is God’s incubator of faith for generations of children to be discipled and to know Christ personally.

Marty and Lora served at FamilyLife until 1998 when another call arrived. It was a call to serve the local church and the call’s target was to help a new church get off the ground in Franklin, Tennessee. It was Fellowship Bible Church.

Over 20 years later, Marty currently serves as the Pastor of Family Ministries, or as he likes to say “the Pastor of All Things Wonderful.” He directs and manages a wide range of ministries including Fellowship Kids, Fellowship Student Ministries, Marriage Ministry, Family Ministry, Promiseland/Childcare, and specialized ministries including Adoption, Foster and Orphan Care, Special Needs Ministries and the Fellowship School of Dance. He has led and helped launch several non-profits in the adoption and foster care realm and currently serves on the board of Faithfully Restored Women.

Every week you will see Marty and Lora serving with big grins in the Learning Center, expressing their love and care to all. And behind every interaction is their passion for proclaiming Christ and growing children, students and families in their faith. Come on over some time and say hi.

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Elders

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Larry Kayser

Pastor of Marriage Ministry

Larry Kayser

Pastor of Marriage Ministry

Larry Kayser was raised in a Catholic home and attended Catholic school for 12 years. He knew about Jesus—and believed that He died and rose again—but his faith was still heavily rooted in justice. The gospel of grace simply seemed unimaginable. In college, Larry met his wife Anne. After 18 months of dating, and countless conversations and fights about faith, Anne decided to end the relationship. After storming out of her apartment, the Lord pulled hard on Larry’s heart before he could get to his car. Returning to Anne’s apartment, Larry told her he knew that the gospel of grace and forgiveness was true, and received Christ that day.

Larry graduated from Bowling Green State University with a BS in Photojournalism. He worked as a photojournalist for 10 years before experiencing a strong calling into ministry. This led Larry and his young family on a four and half year journey of full-time work and part-time seminary training. Larry graduated in 1988 with a M.Div. from Grace Seminary in Indiana.

Following seminary, Larry joined Willow Creek Community Church in Illinois, leading a ministry for engaged and young married couples, while also helping the church develop a quarterly magazine. In 1993, Larry left staff at Willow Creek to plant a church in Holland, MI. Larry served as lead pastor there before joining Fellowship in 2006.

Now the Marriage Pastor here at Fellowship, Larry’s role here has allowed he and Anne to return to their real first love—marriage and family ministry. During the past 15 years, the Kaysers have had the opportunity to speak to thousands of couples leading Weekend to Remember marriage conferences. At the same time, they have faithfully developed of a ministry here at Fellowship that is committed to building gospel-centered marriages.

Larry and Anne reside in Franklin and have been married for 42 years. They feel so fortunate to have three of their four daughters and eight of their eleven grandchildren living nearby

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Rob Sweet

Lead Pastor & Teacher

Rob Sweet

Lead Pastor & Teacher

Rob has served in leadership and teaching roles in ministry and corporate settings for over 20 years. Previous pastoral roles include positions at Grace Fellowship Church in Johnson City, TN and McKinney Church in Fort Worth, TX. Before entering vocational ministry, Rob worked at Chick-fil-A, Inc. as a Business Consultant and Leadership Trainer. Rob holds a Bachelor’s Degree and MBA from the University of Georgia, and a Master of Theology from Dallas Theological Seminary. Rob is a passionate teacher with a relational style and has a heart for the intersection of theology and everyday life. In his free time, Rob loves to kayak, watch college football, and create board games with his brother as one half of the “Sweet Bros. Games” team.

Rob met his wife, Jodie, while studying at UGA and they married in 2001. The Sweets live in Franklin with their three daughters – Ansley, Elysa, and Karis.

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Rob Howard

Executive Pastor, Weekend Ministries & Spiritual Formation

Rob Howard

Executive Pastor, Weekend Ministries & Spiritual Formation

Rob Howard grew up in Christian home and came to faith in Christ at the age of nine. In his teen years Rob felt a definitive call to serve God in ministry. Rob has since followed that call and ministry has become a part of his everyday life.

Rob and his wife Kirsten were married in 1994 and moved that year from Dallas to Nashville.

After graduating from Baylor University and Southern Methodist University with degrees in Music Composition and Theory, Rob worked in church music publishing with Word Music for 10 years developing worship products for the Church.

Rob and Kirsten became members at Fellowship in the summer of 2004. A year and a half later, Rob joined the staff at Fellowship full-time as Pastor of Worship & Arts. He currently serves as Executive Pastor, overseeing Weekend Ministry, Family Ministry, and Spiritual Formation. He has been involved in leading and shepherding in church ministry on a full-time and part-time basis for the past 30 years.

Rob continues to stay involved in church music publishing with Little Big Stuff, a company he co-founded in 2007 with his friend, David Guthrie. Rob helps write and produce kids’ musical products that serve the church and proclaim the gospel.

Rob and Kirsten live in Brentwood, and have three children, Caleb, Sarah, and Ben.

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Jon Lowe

Elder

Jon Lowe

Elder

Jon grew up in a blue-collar family in New Jersey. At age seventeen, he came to faith in Christ and experienced a radical life transformation. He met his wife Becky, a missionary kid from India, in college in Virginia. They married in June of 1979.

Jon is a graduate of Eastern Mennonite University and Western New England University, with degrees in Biblical Studies and Theology and an MBA in Healthcare Management. Jon has worked in both church ministry and the insurance industry. He and his wife moved to Franklin in 2004 and have been at Fellowship since 2011. He currently works as a system’s analyst for a large insurance company which administers government contracts for Medicare.

Throughout their marriage, Jon and Becky have served in a variety of roles across all age groups in several churches. At Fellowship they serve in the marriage ministry, can be seen holding babies in the nursery, are part of a Fellowship group and a prayer team for missionaries, and have a passion to see Christ proclaimed to the nations.

They have three daughters and six grandchildren spread across the Southeast. They enjoy taking long walks, reading and discussing books, hiking in state parks, working on small projects around the home, and traveling to spend time with their children and grandchildren.

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Jeremy Smith

Elder

Jeremy Smith

Elder

Jeremy was raised in a Christian home in Mt. Zion, Illinois. Through his early church experience, God began planting in him the seeds of dependence upon the Holy Spirit. Jeremy put his trust in Christ in high school after hearing the gospel story from his mom and through the Fellowship of Christian Athletes.

Jeremy and Julie were married in 1995 and have five children. As a young dad, Jeremy was discipled by the father of a member of his small group. He learned to study the Bible and his eyes were opened to seeing the fingerprints of God throughout Scripture. Jeremy and Julie joined Fellowship in 2004. Convinced God uses the church to grow us, Jeremy invested in Fellowship Groups and Fellowship Men’s groups. This became particularly tangible in 2009 when Julie walked through three years of physical health struggles. During that difficult time, it became obvious that the church was and is the hands and feet of Jesus.

“I have been learning the importance of remembering, looking back, and seeing that even times when I ‘felt’ like I was on my own, God was working in me, transforming my heart, and pursuing me, even in my earliest days. I CAN trust Him, fully.”

Jeremy currently works in music licensing. He and Julie reside in Nolensville, TN.

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Steve Watson

Elder

Steve Watson

Elder

Steve grew up in Ft. Worth, TX in a Christian home and came to faith in Christ at an early age. In college, at Louisiana State University, Steve’s walk with Christ began to deepen as he became involved with a disciple making ministry on campus.

At LSU, he received a degree in Electrical Engineering, but more importantly, met his future wife Jenny. Steve and Jenny have been married for 35 years and have four adult children and nine grandchildren.

After moving to Tennessee from Louisiana, Steve and Jenny began attending Fellowship in 2005 and are currently involved with the marriage ministry, Built2Last. It excites them to see how God is using this ministry to make disciples and strengthen the body of Christ.

Steve is currently employed at Schneider Electric where he has worked for the past 33 years. Steve and Jenny are empty nesters and reside in Brentwood.

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Mike Vogt

Elder

Mike Vogt

Elder

Mike grew up in western Canada in a non-Christian family. Prior to the age of 21 he had only been to church twice and that was to witness the weddings of two of his cousins. Although Mike had heard the name of Jesus before, he had no concept of who Jesus was or what Christianity was all about. That changed in February of 1995. Mike encountered a man who was a missionary with Campus Crusade for Christ while playing basketball at his university. They formed an on-the-court friendship that eventually led to a one-on-one meeting in a cafeteria where Mike’s friend sketched out the gospel for him on the back of a napkin. Mike almost fell out of his chair because he had never heard the gospel before and prayed right there in the cafeteria with tears rolling down his face to accept Christ as his Lord and Savior. That was 26 years ago.

The years that have passed since that day have included many blessings. Mike has followed a career path in franchising and have been able to pursue a “Christian education” while doing so. Mike attended an International Bible School in 1998 and then completed an M.A. in Christian Apologetics in 2001. In 2002, Mike married the love of his life and they moved from southern California to Nashville to take over a franchise known as California Closets where he ran this business from 2002-2015.

During the past 17 years, the Vogt household has grown to include two beautiful young girls, Elizabeth and Aimee, and the only other Vogt male (our Dog Toby). The Vogt’s are committed members at Fellowship.

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Tim Martin

Elder

Tim Martin

Elder

Tim grew up in a military family. Born in Valdosta, GA, he moved a lot through middle school until his family settled back in Valdosta. Tim moved to Nashville, sight unseen, in 1981 and attended Lipscomb University. He never imagined meeting Lisa his senior year. The two were married in 1986 and moved to Franklin, TN soon after.

Tim grew up in a church family, but never with a church heart. As a young parent in crisis, Jesus met Tim and broke down all the barriers he had created growing up. Tim is forever grateful that Jesus rescued him and created in him a new heart. The Martins now have 3 grown children and 2 young grandchildren.

Tim has spent his adult life in Franklin, TN, and his professional career in various leadership roles. He has served in volunteer leadership roles including the Fellowship of Christian Athletes Board, Tennessee Christian Medical Center Foundation Board and several church leadership roles. He and Lisa have been members at Fellowship for over 15 years and currently attend the Franklin campus.

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Corey Cleek

Elder

Corey Cleek

Elder

Corey grew up in Lebanon, TN, and his father was the pastor of their church. When he was 10 years old, his church had a week-long revival with a guest evangelist. The gospel penetrated his heart that week, and it prompted discussions with his father and with his Sunday School teacher. As a result, Corey came to understand the gospel for the first time and entered into a relationship with the Lord.

Corey met his wife Sally at the University of Tennessee. They have been married for 13 years, and have one son, Drew, who is 10 years old. Over the various seasons of life, Corey is grateful for the Lord walking closely with him and treasures the work of the Holy Spirit in his life. The Cleek family have been involved at Fellowship for 13 years and attend the Brentwood campus.

Corey is an entrepreneur and runs a digital marketing company serving college students. He believes we are all ministers at home, at work, and in our communities.

Elder Model

We believe the Scripture shows that the church is to be governed by a plurality (Acts 14:23) of Spirit appointed (Acts 20:28), qualified men (1 Timothy 3:1-13) who aspire to serve the church (1 Timothy 3:1) by prayerfully caring for the church body (James 5:14), guarding against false doctrine (Acts 20:28-31), teaching the whole counsel of God (Acts 20:27; 1 Timothy 4:13), and providing willing oversight and godly leadership (1 Peter 5:1-3; 1 Timothy 5:17) that enable the church to live out her mission and values. To contact the elders, email

By seeking input from the church body, the current elders are responsible for identifying those who are presently “eldering” i.e., living out the responsibilities of eldership above. The process can be summarized by 1) Aspiration: This person aspires to the office. 2) Qualification: This person is qualified. 3) Confirmation: The church body confirms this person’s character. 4) Affirmation: The church body affirms their submission to this elder’s leadership. The entire process takes from nine to twelve months.

Qualified staff members can be elders, but the majority must be non-staff. Fellowship currently has nine elders, six of whom are non-staff, while three are staff members.

Decisions from the board must be unanimous with multiple hearts submitting to the will of one leader – Jesus – and to each other. By this we believe Jesus’ will and character is most fully revealed.

Elders commit to serve a three-year term, after which they may re-commit to a second three-year term. After two terms, they will move to “inactive” elder status. After a year as an “inactive” elder, they may be invited to return to an active elder status if needed and they meet all elder requirements.

Based on the teaching of the New Testament and the pattern of the New Testament church, we believe the primary responsibility for governing and authoritative teaching in the church is given to spiritually called and biblically qualified men. Therefore, while we affirm the role of women in a wide variety of leadership and teaching roles, the biblical office of elder is reserved for men. We also recognize that even among Bible believing churches there is disagreement on this topic. So, while holding this position with biblical conviction, we also hold it with biblical charity and respect for those who believe otherwise.

For a helpful resource on this topic, below is a link to an excerpt from Wayne Grudem's chapter in Systematic Theology on the role of women in the church.

Wayne Grudem on Women as Elders

Yes. The Fellowship teaching pastors taught a three-part series on eldership in 2018. Check out the message series here.

All Staff

Joe Blair

Director of Production, Worship & Arts
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Aaron Blanton

Executive Leader, Communications

Aaron Blanton

Executive Leader, Communications

Aaron was raised in a wonderful Christian home and came to faith in Christ at church camp at the age of 7. After moving from Greenville, SC to Nashville in 1993, Aaron began to pursue his dream of playing drums in a band and going on the road. By the time he was a senior in high school, Aaron was touring full time with Sonicflood, of which he was a founding member. Following that, he joined the Christian band By The Tree and continued traveling and leading worship until 2007.

After relocating to Yorba Linda, CA to be the Worship Pastor at Friends Church, he rediscovered a deep love and passion for the local church. Moving back to Franklin in 2014, Aaron joined the staff of Fellowship as Worship Pastor. In 2018, he began leading the Communications Team, where he is currently serving as the Executive Leader of Communications.

Aaron and his wife, Mandi, were married in October of 2004 and have three wonderful kids: Arleigh (12), Ellis (10), and Nora (7). They live in Franklin and attend the Brentwood campus.

Greg Boll

Events & Environments Specialist

Rachel Box

Administrator, Accounting & Outreach

Will Brown

Director of Student Ministry — Franklin Campus

Luke Brown

Worship Leader
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Carl Cartee

Pastor of Worship & Arts

Carl Cartee

Pastor of Worship & Arts

Carl was raised in Kings Mountain, NC and placed faith in Christ at a church summer camp at the age of 12. Around that same time, worship music became a central part of life and Carl started leading worship and playing keys for his local church. Through high school and college at Gardner-Webb University, Carl developed as a musician and worship leader, traveling the country as a worship leader for the same kinds of camps where he was saved. In 2003 he moved to Nashville to continue working on the dream of becoming a professional songwriter. Publishing deals with Spring Hill Music, Brentwood-Benson and Redstreet Publishing led to over a 1000 songs written, hundreds of cuts and a Dove Award.

A love for the local church and making disciples led Carl and his family to Fellowship where they invest in the things that have always been their calling…leading worship, writing songs, helping people see Jesus. Carl and his wife Heather have 4 sons (Oak, Ezra, Abe and Ike) and they live in Franklin, TN.

Shannon Chynoweth

Master Teacher, Elementary & Curriculum Coordinator, Fellowship Kids—Brentwood Campus

Emily Drake

Director of Fellowship Kids — Franklin Campus

Matt Eldredge

Media Manager

Becka Gaut

Nursery - 2 YO Coordinator, Fellowship Kids — Brentwood Campus

Jeff Gipe

Leader of Local and Global Outreach

Theo Griffin

Events & Environments Specialist

Nena Grosse

Assistant Director, Promiseland & Childcare — Brentwood Campus

Will Heydel

Pastor of Young Adults

Terrie Hill

Lay Ministry Director, Boomers
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Eric Hoffman

Executive Pastor, Outreach & Ministry Strategy

Eric Hoffman

Executive Pastor, Outreach & Ministry Strategy

Eric grew up in a small town in Michigan. At a young age, he was introduced to Jesus at church and home. While in on high school mission trip in Mexico, he committed to following Jesus, a decision that has altered his life since.

Eric holds a Bachelors degree in Christian Ministry and a Masters in Christian Leadership from Southern Seminary. He moved to Nashville in 2010 to help the team at Fellowship launch the Franklin campus. He now serves as an executive pastor overseeing outreach and ministry strategy. Eric has a passion to steward life change through discipleship initiatives and help the church develop resources and training to further the mission.

Eric met his wife, Melissa, at Spring Arbor University in Michigan and they married in 2006. The Hoffman’s live in in Franklin with their three boys, Luke, Weston, and Miles.

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Mark Holeman

Pastor of Adult Ministries

Mark Holeman

Pastor of Adult Ministries

Mark is a middle Tennessee native. His parents introduced him to Jesus at a very young age and provided a strong foundation of Bible training and desire to follow Jesus. Mark followed in his father’s footsteps in his call to ministry after graduating high school. It was during his college years while studying at Lipscomb University, majoring in Bible for full-time ministry, that Mark realized he was trusting in a belief system to save him not Jesus. Mark responded to the gospel and trusted in Jesus alone for his salvation in college.

He met his wife, Janet, while they were both at Lipscomb, and they married in 1992. Mark earned his Master of Arts in Religion from Lipscomb in 1994, while Janet completed her graduate work with the University of Alabama. It is during this time in Tuscaloosa that Mark became a life-long fan of college football (Roll Tide Roll!). Mark and Janet were blessed with two wonderful daughters, Colleen and Casey.

In 2000, Mark became a church planter with the Baptist General Conference and moved his family from St. Mary’s, Georgia to Gilbert, Arizona to join a church plant. Mark spent almost a decade on staff with Mission Community Church where Mark served in several staff roles, including Associate Pastor and Executive Pastor. The family moved back to Nashville to be closer to family in 2008. Mark took a job with a local non-profit, and their family started attending Fellowship Bible Church in the fall of 2009.

Mark joined the staff at Fellowship Bible Church in 2010. He currently serves as the Pastor of Groups & Adult Ministries. It is during this time at Fellowship that Mark would say he has experienced the most personal growth as a disciple of Jesus and as a leader. Mark is grateful for the opportunity to work with Fellowship and to lead with good leaders who love Jesus and His church.

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Marilyn Hostetter-Kreider

Director of Human Resources

Marilyn Hostetter-Kreider

Director of Human Resources

Marilyn has the privilege of serving on staff at Fellowship as Director of Human Resources. Prior to Fellowship, she served as the Finance Director at a para-church organization for 9 years and before that managed a small business that she co-owned for 16 years. Marilyn holds a business degree in Management & Human Resources from Trevecca University.

Marilyn grew up in rural Pennsylvania in the Mennonite community. While she knew God and received Jesus at an early age, the suffering and brokenness of a difficult season later in her life brought a spiritual awakening where Jesus truly captured her heart. Nothing brings her greater joy than seeing the evidence of redemptive grace, the transformative work of Christ’s love, and the beautiful tapestry God weaves through story. Marilyn is the proud mom to four amazing children, Molly Kate (22), Adam (20), Jake (19), and Elizabeth (16). She lives in Franklin and attends the Brentwood Campus.

Michael Hutchens

Engineer, Production Technology — Franklin Campus

JJ Jones

Pastor of Groups

Mason Kelly

Director of Student Ministry, High School—Brentwood Campus

Tracy Kimberlin

Coordinator, Worship & Arts

Matt King

Events & Environments Specialist | Team Lead Brentwood Campus
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William Koellein

Executive Leader, Finance & Operations

William Koellein

Executive Leader, Finance & Operations

William is native to Middle Tennessee and grew up with several different church denominational influences at home and at school. Influenced by his mother’s faith, he accepted Jesus’s salvation in the 6th grade and in recent years has experienced Jesus more personally as a kind and gentle friend.

Kathy and William met at a family camp in Michigan and were married in 1999. A few months later they began attending Fellowship and are very grateful for how God has used the church to grow their family spiritually. They live in south Franklin and have three sons in their teens and early 20’s. Charlie attends UT-Knoxville, Michael is heading to Mississippi State and Jesse is in high school.

William graduated with an accounting degree from Lipscomb University, and then worked as a business owner in the construction industry. He joined the Fellowship staff team in the fall of 2011 and now serves as Executive Director of Finance & Operations.

Luke Littrell

Manager of Technology & Events

Andrew Littrell

Facilities Technician

Michael Mann

Manager of Security

Shannon Masterson

Toddler - PreK Curriculum Coordinator, Fellowship Kids

Lindsay Mattingly

Worship Leader

Matt McElravy

Project Manager, Executive Initiatives

Kevin McKenna

Director of Fellowship Kids

Chelsey McKenna

Operations Manager, Student Ministry

Jennifer McReynolds

Director of Childcare — Franklin Campus; Nursery/PreK Coordinator, Fellowship Kids

Leigh Anne Mefferd

Director of Promiseland & Childcare — Brentwood Campus

Alisha Menard

Master Teacher & Elementary Coordinator, Fellowship Kids — Franklin Campus

David Mills

Director of Production Technology

Piro Mittig

Manager of Facilities

Amy Moore

Director of Next Steps Ministry

Laney Morrissey

Children's Coordinator, Buddy Ministry — Brentwood Campus

Mandi Moseley

Worship Leader

Jennifer Palmer

Administrator, Adult Ministries & Groups

Kate Riddle

Project Manager, Communications

Andrea Riley

Church Database Manager

Shelly Roberts

Director of Middle School Student Ministry — Brentwood Campus

Madalyn Rogers

Administrator, Front Office & Next Steps Ministry

Lauren Rupley

Associate Director of Women's Ministry, Franklin Campus

Susan Russell

Project Coordinator, Human Resources
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Marty Schwieterman

Pastor of Family Ministry

Marty Schwieterman

Pastor of Family Ministry

Marty was born in Dayton, Ohio to a blue collar, all-American, Catholic family. Raised by hard-working parents, he attended church all the time but had no personal faith of his own. In his senior year of college, two roommates relentlessly shared Christ with him and on October 17, 1981 Marty came to faith in Christ. He was truly born again and has never been the same.

While in college, Marty met his future wife, Lora, in a vocal performance group at the University of Dayton. They fell in love on their first date. Lora became a nurse and Marty became a systems engineer working on all kinds of Air Force weapon systems at Wright Patterson Air Force Base. They married in 1984 and babies began to arrive shortly thereafter.

Fast forward a few years and through their passion for evangelism at their local church, they became convinced that God was calling them to full-time ministry, willing to “go anywhere and do anything for Christ.” They quit jobs, pulled up roots, raised support and moved away from their hometown to focus on serving families through FamilyLife, a marriage and parenting ministry of Campus Crusade for Christ. While there, Marty served as the executive director touching hundreds of thousands of lives. They believed with all their hearts that the family is God’s incubator of faith for generations of children to be discipled and to know Christ personally.

Marty and Lora served at FamilyLife until 1998 when another call arrived. It was a call to serve the local church and the call’s target was to help a new church get off the ground in Franklin, Tennessee. It was Fellowship Bible Church.

Over 20 years later, Marty currently serves as the Pastor of Family Ministries, or as he likes to say “the Pastor of All Things Wonderful.” He directs and manages a wide range of ministries including Fellowship Kids, Fellowship Student Ministries, Marriage Ministry, Family Ministry, Promiseland/Childcare, and specialized ministries including Adoption, Foster and Orphan Care, Special Needs Ministries and the Fellowship School of Dance. He has led and helped launch several non-profits in the adoption and foster care realm and currently serves on the board of Faithfully Restored Women.

Every week you will see Marty and Lora serving with big grins in the Learning Center, expressing their love and care to all. And behind every interaction is their passion for proclaiming Christ and growing children, students and families in their faith. Come on over some time and say hi.

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Richard Scott

Executive Pastor, Central Services & Pastoral Care

Richard Scott

Executive Pastor, Central Services & Pastoral Care

Richard has the privilege of serving on the staff at Fellowship as Executive Pastor. Prior to Fellowship, he worked in various leadership roles including 10 years in public accounting and 6 years as an owner of a business he co-founded. He has also had the privilege of serving on various advisory boards, both for-profit and not-for-profit. He holds a Bachelors degree in Accounting and is a Certified Public Accountant (inactive).

Richard and Kari have been married since 1992 and reside in Franklin. They have six children: Levi (Rachel), Jacob (Lily), Okland, Samuel, Aaron and Tosin.

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Lloyd Shadrach

Teaching Pastor

Lloyd Shadrach

Teaching Pastor

Lloyd grew up in a military family that eventually settled down in Clarksville, TN. When he was a senior in high school, Lloyd trusted Christ as his Lord and Savior. His spiritual journey grew most significantly during his college years through the work and ministry of Campus Crusade for Christ (Cru) at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville.

After college graduation, Lloyd worked with FamilyLife in Little Rock, AR for 15 years. During that time he met Lisa and they were married in 1991. He attended Dallas Theological Seminary from 1991 to 1993 where he earned his Master of Arts in Biblical Studies (M.A.B.S.). Lloyd and his family moved to Franklin at the end of 1996 to co-plant Fellowship Bible Church, where he currently serves as one of the teaching pastors.

Lloyd and Lisa have been married for 30 years and reside in Franklin. They have three children: Darden (Jordyn), Susan, and Sally.

Andi Slifer

3 YO –1st Grade Coordinator, Fellowship Kids—Brentwood Campus

Monty Spurgeon

Associate Pastor of Family Ministry

Alex Stallings

Events & Environments Specialist

Laurinda Steinmeyer

Executive Administrative Assistant to Lead Pastor

Paige Stroup

Leader of Women's Ministry & Intensive

Stephanie Todd

Director of Student Ministry, Women — Brentwood Campus

Lauren Ummel

Director of Student Ministry, Women — Franklin Campus

Annelie Williams

Coordinator, Marriage Ministry

Andrew Wood

Pastor of Groups, Young Families & Student Families

Linda Wornell

Administrator, Children's Ministry — Brentwood Campus

Brian Yakaboski

Associate Pastor of Worship & Arts

Rachelle Yanovitch

K-1 Coordinator & Administrator, Fellowship Kids — Franklin Campus

Alex Yanovitch

Events & Environments Specialist | Team Lead Franklin Campus