Mark Tankersley
Pastor
Pastor Mark has been with Gaston Community Church as Church Planting Pastor since 2008, along with the Music Leader, Andy Holland, and a good core group of people from various churches. Mark previously served as Pastor in Statesville, NC and in Tampa, FL; and as Associate Pastor at First ARP in Gastonia. He grew up in the town of Travelers Rest, SC where came to faith in Jesus Christ when he was ten years old through the preaching ministry of a local church near his home.
He attended Presbyterian College in Clinton, SC; and Berea College, KY, where he received his B.S. degree in Religion. He attended Erskine Theological Seminary where he received his Master of Divinity degree. Since then he has done some extended studies through Reformed Theological Seminary in Charlotte and in Orlando.
He is grateful for the local church and for the focus on foreign missions as well. He has gone on mission trips to Nicaragua, Pakistan, Turkey, Mexico, Jamaica and Haiti. He has also done extensive years of missions in Appalachia of the US and served in Christian Camps and was a camp director for several years before becoming a pastor.
He looks for opportunities to tell others about Jesus and to give them exposure to God's word, the Bible.
He is married to Jan Tankersley from Rock Hill, SC, and they have two children and two grandchildren.
He attended Presbyterian College in Clinton, SC; and Berea College, KY, where he received his B.S. degree in Religion. He attended Erskine Theological Seminary where he received his Master of Divinity degree. Since then he has done some extended studies through Reformed Theological Seminary in Charlotte and in Orlando.
He is grateful for the local church and for the focus on foreign missions as well. He has gone on mission trips to Nicaragua, Pakistan, Turkey, Mexico, Jamaica and Haiti. He has also done extensive years of missions in Appalachia of the US and served in Christian Camps and was a camp director for several years before becoming a pastor.
He looks for opportunities to tell others about Jesus and to give them exposure to God's word, the Bible.
He is married to Jan Tankersley from Rock Hill, SC, and they have two children and two grandchildren.
Heather Howell
Interim Worship Leader
Heather Howell is our current Interim Worship Leader. She has lived in Gastonia with her husband, Ben, for almost twenty years and has been attending Gaston Community Church since 2009.
Heather has extensive training as a classical violinist, dating all the way back to her earliest lessons at age four through college. She received dual bachelors degrees in Music and Art Education from Roberts Wesleyan University in Rochester, NY. Her varied musical background includes more than ten years of teaching violin in her private studio; four years of teaching K-12 Music, Choir, and Jazz Band at Bandung International School in Bandung, Indonesia; participating in baroque chamber ensembles in Orvieto, Italy for two summers; singing in choirs and madrigal groups throughout high school and college; and leading worship with praise teams for church services, youth groups, and summer camps. Most recently, Heather has been a regular violinist with Kings Mountain Baptist’s holiday cantatas, plays with other local musicians for nursing homes, charities, weddings, and other social events, and has been the keyboardist for GCC since the summer of 2021.
Heather is also full time homeschool teacher for their three children. A life of worship and creativity are driving passions for Heather. Whether this is manifested in a beautiful table and delicious meal set for family and friends, a painting quietly crafted in the solitude of time at her art table, cheerful flowers grown and bouquets given to neighbors, a hike with her children while admiring the “amazing creativity of God!”, Heather’s desire is to see and know and reveal Truth and Beauty and Goodness as a reflection of God to those around her.
Soli Deo gloria
Heather has extensive training as a classical violinist, dating all the way back to her earliest lessons at age four through college. She received dual bachelors degrees in Music and Art Education from Roberts Wesleyan University in Rochester, NY. Her varied musical background includes more than ten years of teaching violin in her private studio; four years of teaching K-12 Music, Choir, and Jazz Band at Bandung International School in Bandung, Indonesia; participating in baroque chamber ensembles in Orvieto, Italy for two summers; singing in choirs and madrigal groups throughout high school and college; and leading worship with praise teams for church services, youth groups, and summer camps. Most recently, Heather has been a regular violinist with Kings Mountain Baptist’s holiday cantatas, plays with other local musicians for nursing homes, charities, weddings, and other social events, and has been the keyboardist for GCC since the summer of 2021.
Heather is also full time homeschool teacher for their three children. A life of worship and creativity are driving passions for Heather. Whether this is manifested in a beautiful table and delicious meal set for family and friends, a painting quietly crafted in the solitude of time at her art table, cheerful flowers grown and bouquets given to neighbors, a hike with her children while admiring the “amazing creativity of God!”, Heather’s desire is to see and know and reveal Truth and Beauty and Goodness as a reflection of God to those around her.
Soli Deo gloria
Kim Patterson
Financial Secretary
Kim and her family live in Dallas. She and her husband, Matt have two children and a loving English Mastiff named Maple. They are members of Christ Worship Center in Gastonia.
Kim most enjoys spending time with family and friends, cheering at softball, baseball and football games, family adventures, relaxing by the pool, daily devotions and prayer time. She is a Buffalo Bills and Atlanta Braves fan and loves to travel when able – the beach is her favorite!
A bible verse Kim most relies on: Romans 8:28
“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”
Kim most enjoys spending time with family and friends, cheering at softball, baseball and football games, family adventures, relaxing by the pool, daily devotions and prayer time. She is a Buffalo Bills and Atlanta Braves fan and loves to travel when able – the beach is her favorite!
A bible verse Kim most relies on: Romans 8:28
“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”