Mark Tankersley - Church Planter, Pastor

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A  Hope, A Dream, A Destiny

Though in most ways, our church is not dramatically different from other churches, we do notice that there is a freedom and authenticity about our worship time together that is special. 
We believe the Holy Spirit is giving us freedom as we delight in the majesty of the relationship between God, His Son Jesus, and the bride of Christ, the Church. We enjoy worshipping with our mind (through Biblical, reformed preaching) and our heart (Spirit-led worship and fellowship). We have also found small groups to be an important distinctive, making us more relational and demonstrating a genuine growth of Christ-centered love amongst our fellowship. We have intentionally tried to keep church simple. People ministering to people in the name of Jesus and in the power of God.  We hope you will consider coming.

Biographical Info on Pastor Mark
Ministry
Dec. 6, 2009 to present - Pastor, Gaston Community Church
2008, 2009 - Church Planter, Gaston Community Church
2004 to 2008 - Associate Pastor of First ARP Church
2000 - 2004 - Pastor of Trinity ARP Church in Tampa, FL
1990 - 2000 - Pastor of Pressly Memorial ARP Church in Statesville, NC
Family
1990 - Married to Jan Tankersley from Rock Hill, SC 
            She was a life-long member of Ebenezer ARP Church, Rock Hill, SC
1994 - Birth of our daughter, Carole-Anne Tankersley in Statesville, NC
1996 - Birth of our son, Hudson Tankersley in Statesville, NC
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> Jan grew up in Rock Hill, SC.

> Mark grew up in Travelers Rest, SC 

> Mark  came to faith in Jesus at Locust Hill Baptist Church in South Carolina when he was ten years old. "Thanks be to Jesus, who loved me and gave His Life for me."

Andy Holland - Music Team Leader

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Andy grew up in Gastonia and is a graduate of Appalachian State University (Bachelor of Music Performance) and Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary (Master of Divinity). He and his wife Cathy have 4 children: Jami, Matthew, Michael, and Kati. He has been involved in local church ministry since college. Andy’s goal is to glorify God and lead others to worship God “in Spirit and in Truth”. For Andy, music is not an end to itself, but a means to worship God. Andy has been leading our Praise Team since our beginning as a mission church. Andy’s hobbies include painting, song writing, reading, tennis, listening to old records, watching old movies and visiting the local goodwill store for bargains and collectibles (usually old records). Andy’s idea of the perfect day off is a day trip (with Cathy) to the Boone/Blowing Rock area and long rides on the Blue Ridge Parkway (with the top down!)

Trey McKeown - Youth Director, Student Ministry

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Trey is our Youth Director for Middle-School and High-School Students.
He has inaugurated our youth ministry by leading youth on summer retreats and mission trips. This past year he began Small groups for our youth that meet in different homes in our community. Each month there is a "Big Group" meeting that includes fellowship, fun, games, praise music and a closing devotional that puts an emphasis on our need to know Jesus Christ and to be transformed in our relationship with HIm. Our youth had a great experience participating in 180 Weekend, weekend retreats, ministry opportunities, and summer mission trips to Nicaragua.
Trey is also a soccer coach with Forestview High School.
He is finishing his studies at UNC-Charlotte as well. He is married to Courtney Butler McKeown.

Dana Friday - Children's Ministry Director

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Welcome to our New

 Children's Ministry Director:

Dana Friday

   We are excited that Dana has stepped forward to lead our KIDS WALK (Children’s Ministry)! They have been approved by the Children’s Ministry Team and the Session to be our new leaders. Here is some biographical information on the Friday Family:

    Dana was born in Rutherfordton, NC.  She and her family moved frequently due to her father's job but she graduated from Lincolnton High School.  She then went to UNC Chapel Hill and graduated from the School of Pharmacy in 1994.  She works part time at Medical Arts Pharmacy in Shelby, NC.

   Her husband,Todd, was born in Dallas, NC and graduated from North Gaston High School.  He then went to UNC Chapel Hill and received his BS in Biology in 1993.  He went on to Nursing School at UNC and received his BS in Nursing in 1995.  He has been at Gaston Memorial since 2002.  He started as an assistance nurse manager and is currently the Manager for the oncology services and dialysis.
   Todd and Dana lived in the Chapel Hill/Durham area until 2002 when they moved back to this area to be close to family.  Todd's family still lives in Dallas and Dana's lives in Lincolnton and Belmont.
   Todd grew up at Philadelphia Lutheran Church in Dallas and Dana grew up Southern Baptist.  They decided to join a denomination that meshed the two for them.
   Dana lives here in Gastonia actually very close to Gaston Day School.  She and Todd have four children, Jeff, Daniel, Evan, and Lilly.  They are very excited about leading the Kids Walk ministry for Gaston Community Church and for Gaston Community!

Tammy received her B.A. in Accounting thru VCU – Richmond, VA.  She handles the bookkeeping for Gaston Community Church and does some of the clerical work. She works in conjunction with the Treasurer and Finance Committee of GCC.   She considers it an honor and privilege to serve the Lord through her responsibilities to the monetary matters of Kingdom work. She is married with one son and daughter-in law. Both her husband (Robert) and son (David) serve as pastors in other churches.

Each Summer, Gaston Community Church sends a team of 20-25 people to minister alongside the missionary family we support ... Pratt and Ashley Butler.  They are doing great work ministering with Young Life Nicaraguan leaders in developing outreach ministries to teen-agers and college students in Managua, Nicaragua and beyond.