Leadership

jud jordan pastor embark church

Jud Jordan

Lead Pastor

Jud Jordan is Embark’s founding and lead pastor. He graduated from The Citadel with an undergraduate degree and from Columbia Theological Seminary with a Masters of Divinity degree. He has served as an associate and senior pastor of other churches before God called him to start Embark. He is an ordained Presbyterian minister with the Evangelical Presbyterian Church (EPC) denomination. To read more about his story, click the button below.
About Jud

Board of Elders

Leadership Structure

Believers who invest their hearts, time, families, and finances into the building of a local church deserve to have confidence in their church leadership. People are looking for leaders who conduct themselves with integrity and respect when making decisions.
 
That’s why we want to give you an overview of our structure:

1. Guided by Pastoral Staff

The pastoral staff team, led by the lead pastor, oversee the day-to-day ministry and operations of the church. They are responsible for the administration and development of the spiritual life of the church.

2. Protected by Elders

The elders are the governing body of our church. The elders, along with the lead pastor, oversee all aspects of the church by developing policies. They are nominated by the congregation and appointed by the current serving elders.

3. Strengthened by Oversight

The oversight team is tasked with helping, guiding and resourcing the elders as needed. However, the primary purpose of the oversight team is to serve as a leadership, spiritual and operational resource to the lead pastor.

Elders

Clem Ferris

Founder, Clem Ferris Ministries

Jimmy Currence

Lead Pastor, GraceLife Church

Bob Clanton

Professor, Manna University
Biblical Studies (Graduate Program Director), History, and Practical Ministry

Ley Pickens

Vice President, Patten Seed Company

Staff

administrator, rachel carter

Rachel Carter

Ministry Coordinator / Executive Assistant

Rachel leads First Steps, helping new guests discover if Embark is the right fit and take their next steps in faith. She’s passionate about helping people move from attending to belonging by finding their place to serve and use their God-given gifts.
beverly thomas, ministry coordinator

Erin Henderson

Ministry Coordinator

Erin helps people grow in their faith and find freedom in Jesus by leading our small group and student ministries. She’s passionate about creating spaces where every age can take meaningful steps in their spiritual journey.
lynnae wilson, children's ministry coordinator

Jeremy Woods

Ministry Coordinator

Jeremy leads our efforts to “reach your world” by building partnerships with local organizations that are making a real impact in our community. He’s passionate about connecting the church to the needs around us and being a light beyond our walls.
joyce wannamaker, financial secretary

Joyce Wannamaker

Financial Secretary

Joyce oversees Embark’s finances, ensuring wise stewardship of the resources God has entrusted to our church. Her attention to detail and commitment to integrity help support the mission and ministry of Embark every step of the way.
joyce wannamaker, financial secretary
joyce wannamaker, financial secretary

Crystal Craig

Brandy Parler

Children & Family / Ministry Coordinator

Administrative Specialist

Crystal leads our children and family ministries with a heart for helping kids and families grow in their faith. She is committed to creating a safe, nurturing space for children to learn while guiding and equipping families to strengthen their spiritual lives.
Brandy provides vital administrative support for our children’s, student, and small group ministries. With a heart for behind-the-scenes service, she helps keep things organized and running smoothly so each ministry can thrive.