THE REFUGE CHURCH - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- YOUNG ADULTS & OUTREACH PASTOR
Job Titles:
- SERVE COORDINATOR & EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT
Bishop Paul Zink is the founder of both New Life Christian Fellowship in Jacksonville, Florida, and Providence School, one of the top Christian schools in Florida. He is our covering Pastor, with a heart to father and impart wisdom to other Pastors. Bishop Zink has served on the boards of various ministries, including Dr. Cho's board, in Sol Korea. He and his wife, Sharon, have three sons who are all in the ministry.
Job Titles:
- YOUNG ADULTS & OUTREACH ASSISTANT
Job Titles:
- HR DIRECTOR
- OFFICE MANAGER
Whether speaking nationally or internationally, Christa's passion for the Lord pours out of her. Her life was significantly marked after a powerful encounter with the Holy Spirit as a young girl. From that moment on, the Prophetic heart of the Father became the foundation of her walk with Jesus.
Christa delivers what she hears from the Holy Spirit with humor, accuracy, and powerful personal experiences. She is known for her passionate preaching and down to earth approachability, but what many people don't know is that Christa is a student of Krav Maga, a home design enthusiast, and lover of all things cozy!
Christa's background includes graduating from Seattle Pacific University with a degree in Communication. She then went on to Hillsong International Leadership College in Sydney, Australia where she completed the Pastoral Ministry Program. She has planted and has been Director of two Schools of Ministry; one in the San Francisco Bay area and the other in Las Vegas, Nevada. Christa has also served as Associate Pastor at Garden Valley Church in Roseburg, Oregon and Executive Pastor at Expression 58 in Glendale, California. Christa has added author to her resume by releasing her first book, ‘Singled Out in a Couples World'. She currently resides in the San Francisco Bay area and travels full time with her husband, Sean, ministering together throughout America & beyond.
Craig Malz has been a member of The Refuge since its earliest days. As an industrial engineer who "problem solves" in his occupation, he serves on our board to lend both practical and profound spiritual advice. Craig is thought of as "a minister disguised as an engineer." He lives in Concord with his wife, Angela, and two children.
Dean Thomas is a lifetime resident of Concord, and a highly respected businessman in the Charlotte area. He brings wisdom to our board as a marketplace representative of Christ. Dean and his wife, Kathy, along with their daughter Katy (and their late son Garrett) are founding members of The Refuge.
Together Derrick and Roshonda Hawkins are the Lead Pastors of Promise City Church in Salisbury, North Carolina; fearlessly leading the next generation into an unprecedented awareness of the presence of God. With over 15 years in ministry, they believe intercession is the womb that births revival. As a thought leader, Derrick mentors men and businesses on how to maximize their full potential to become a better "you" for the future "you" through his personal ministry (Derrick A. Hawkins Ministries). Derrick Hawkins has appeared in various publications, including News Week, ABC News, Washington Post, Charisma News, and New Yorker Review Daily. He has been featured on The 700 club and CBN News. Making a national impact, he is the co-author of Welded: Forming Racial Bonds That Last. Just on the outskirts of Charlotte, North Carolina, the loving parents of six and grandparents of three make it their mission to lead their family with God first, prayer, and compassion.
Job Titles:
- CLUB VERTICAL & YOUTH COORDINATOR
Job Titles:
- CFO of the Rock Family Worship Center
Greg Gillman is the CFO of The Rock Family Worship Center and The Huntsville Dream Center. From his youth, he has served the local church with a passion for worship. His professional background began in public accounting at a CPA firm in Tampa, FL, but has since served these past 25 years in executive and board leadership positions of various large churches and nonprofit organizations. He and his lovely wife, Adele, have three children and have served as CFO at The Rock in Huntsville AL for 16 years.
Johnny Jernigan is an international evangelist, heralding his community outreach strategies and holding revival services in churches and venues around the world. He and his wife, Karen, have three children. They reside in Mobile, AL.
Kelanie Webb is the Worship Director of MorningStar Ministries as well as the Director of MSU's School of Worship. For more than 25 years, she has been ministering as a prophetic worship leader, songwriter, recording artist and teacher. She is passionate about equipping and releasing musicians and singers in prophetic worship and creative songwriting. Kelanie has ministered in churches, worship schools and conferences in the United States and in many other nations. She and her husband, Gary, currently reside in Fort Mill, SC with their sweet dogs, Annabelle and Rapha.
Job Titles:
- CREATIVE & KIDS ASSISTANT
In 1975, immediately following the first most important walk Maria would ever take down a church aisle-Maria took her second most important walk down the aisle and married her life-long love, Michael Durso. Together she has pastored along side of her husband, Senior Pastor Michael Durso at Christ Tabernacle, the first church to be birthed from The Brooklyn Tabernacle, since 1985. They have witnessed, firsthand, the faithfulness and grace of God who supplies the needs of a continually growing urban church.
Maria Durso is living proof that if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation
Refuge Worship + Milana Caruth - Refuge Worship is the in-house worship band from The Refuge Church. Comprised of staff, volunteer musicians, and worship leaders, Refuge Worship seeks to encounter the Lord in every service and gathering. Milana Carruth, is the Greensboro Campus Worship Director and will be joining us for this event.
Pastor Jay is a published author, coach to other pastors, endeavoring always to further the presentation of the gospel.
Rusty Nelson is the Founding/Lead Pastor of The Rock Family Worship Center in Huntsville, Alabama. He and his wife Leisa pioneered The Rock in 1999. Since that time, their church has grown from thirteen people to over four thousand with three campuses. Before founding The Rock, Rusty served as a Senior Associate and Worship Leader at New Life Christian Fellowship in Jacksonville, Florida. Rusty was also a recording artist with Integrity Music. Rusty and Leisa have four children.
Scott Volk is a Messianic Jew who came to faith in 1975. After graduating from North Central University in Minneapolis in 1988, Scott has served in various pastoral capacities in Arizona, Florida, and North Carolina. After more than twenty years in pastoral ministry, Scott founded Together For Israel, a non-profit ministry that exists to partner with the Church for the salvation of Israel (Rom 11:26). Scott and his wife Beth have been married for over thirty years and have a heart to see Jew and Gentile united as ‘one new man' in the Messiah. They have five children and reside in Kannapolis, North Carolina.
Job Titles:
- Founder of Sean Smith Ministries / Pointblank International
Sean is the founder of Sean Smith Ministries/Pointblank International and has been in ministry for twenty-five years. He and his wife, Christa, have two children, Brandon and Brittany. Sean has been involved in university outreaches, mission trips, conferences, Bible schools, and body ministry for the entirety of his time in ministry. Sean has authored three books including "I Am Your Sign" and has partnered with Jesus Culture to raise up a generation of new breed revivalists. Currently his ministry offices are in San Ramon, CA. He travels as an evangelist, equipper & revivalist to stir God's people to fullness, while staying active in the harvest fields of the nations.
Teri Furr serves as an Executive Pastor at The Refuge, and founder of Serenade Ministries. She leads and encourages the women of The Refuge and women around the world through her anointed gift in speaking and preaching. She has journeyed with Pastors Jay and Melanie for many years, carrying and executing their heart in ministry. Pastor Teri lives in Concord, NC with her daughter, Amelia.