Leadership

Regarding Changes in Church Leadership

Former lead pastor Alan has resigned from his role as elder and pastor and no longer serves in the leadership of CityChurch in any form.

The elders have called Taylor Whitson to the role of interim pastor.

The elders are prayerfully considering candidates for elders to fill vacancies in leadership and meet CityChurch’s need for leaders of diverse experience, backgrounds, and stages of live.

You can read more about these changes and our steps into the future here.

Elders


  • Elder

    I grew up in a pastor's home as the youngest of 5. I can remember from an early age following my older brothers and sister everywhere they went, for better or worse. Now, at 27 years old with a wife and 17 month old son, I see more and more clearly each day that I have always longed to matter, to belong. The gospel of Jesus Christ has given me a place to belong, and in its light I find great company. My desire for the city of Bristol is the exaltation of Jesus, and the restoration of the lost and forgotten. I believe community is one of the primary conduits for experiencing God's grace and mercy.

    My wife Melody, son Salem, golden doodle Laney and I live in Bluff City where I work as an electrician.

    Contact: lastoftheleuz@gmail.com.


  • Elder

    I am privileged to have grown up in a pastors home. It provided a nurturing and steady soil for my faith to grow. During high school I discovered authors such as Tullian Tchividjian, Steve Brown, CS Lewis, Paul Tripp and John Piper. These great writers and theologians greatly influenced my view of the Gospel. I live in Bristol, TN with my wife Wesley, who helps me own and operate a Tile installation business. We have a very fond heart for children and greatly desire to see the city of Bristol reached with the good news of the gospel, and liberated from the constraints of the typical Bible Belt expectations of performance.

    Contact: leuzingermicah@gmail.com.


  • Elder

    Hello! I'm glad to be on the Leadership Team here at City Church Bristol. I've lived in Bristol and the surrounding area most of my life and love this city. I got my Bachelors Degree from King University in Mathematics and Neuroscience. I decided late in my undergraduate education that I wanted to teach, so I went back to King to get my Masters of Education in Curriculum and Instruction. Currently, I work at Tennessee High School as a Math Teacher.

    I am married to Lauren, who is on staff here at the church. We have a wonderful baby girl, Summit Grace, and she was born in February of 2022. We live in Bluff City.

    I love how the Gospel levels the playing field for all people. None of us can boast in our own efforts to approach the throne of God, but only approach because of what Jesus has done for us. I try my best to embody this thought in my job, relationships, and child-rearing.

    Contact: sambarker1996@gmail.com.

  • Elder

    I'm 62 years old, and this is the best year of my life. My wife, Lynette, and I began attending City Church 6 or 7 years ago, where they wholeheartedly embraced us and our disabled daughter. Last winter, when I felt satisfied and thought life was good, playing, as CS Lewis

    would say, with mud pies in the dirt, something completely unexpected happened. God gave me just a glimpse of the seashore - a place I had heard about and thought I had seen, but it was nothing like I imagined. I don't know why God did this, and I don't know why he waited 62 years, but I do know it was because of Jesus, and that glimpse of the seashore - joy- made all the difference.

    In case you like facts, I was raised in Miami, Florida, attended college in Wheaton, Illinois, went to med school at the University of Florida, completed a residency in Memphis, Tennessee, fellowship in Rochester, Minnesota and lived in Spokane, Washington for a couple of years

    before moving to Bristol about 30 years ago, and I wouldn't want to live anywhere else. We have four married children: Lauren, Justin, Cory and Melody. Lisette, our youngest, lives with us, and if you're at City Church you can't miss her. I saved the best for last. My amazing wife, Lynette. We met in Memphis 36 years ago and got married a year later. I have a lot of

    wonderful things to say about her, but will just say here that she loves Jesus, and she stuck with me all those years and wouldn't leave me alone until I saw the seashore.

    My vision for City Church is to continue to see Jesus exalted and worshipped, and God glorified. I want to hear people talk about what Jesus has done for them. I want us to learn

    more about Him and experience his love more fully and grow to love Him more deeply. I want us to experience the joy of God changing our hearts and setting them free. Where these happen, there is hope for all of us.

    Contact: ndwallen@gmail.com.

Deacons

  • Deacon

    My name is Cillian and my wife Ariane and I own and operate a restaurant in Abingdon, Va. We moved back to the area from New York City almost three years ago and are happy to call City Church Bristol our home once again.

    Ironically/providentially my home church in Ireland is also called City Church and feels very similar to the community here. Because of this I was blessed to feel right at home in Virginia since the day I left Ireland five years ago.

    hegarty.cillian@gmail.com

  • Deacon

    Hi! My name is Wesley Leuzinger. I am originally from Bristol, TN, and am so thankful to continue to grow my roots here. I work in Abingdon, VA, as a Children’s Community-Based Mental Health Therapist. My job is challenging and life-giving all the same, like all fruitful things are.

    City Church is where I met my husband, Micah Leuzinger, who is one of our Elders. To say City Church is a blessing to me feels like an understatement. City Church has been a friend to me when I have felt too broken to speak or get up in the morning. As much as I love City Church, I love the God who breathes into it all the more.

    I am so excited to step into a role where I have the opportunity, with the Holy Spirit as my guide, to love on God’s people in a more tangible way! You can find me setting up for our church service on Sunday morning, singing with the worship team, or walking around downtown Bristol. I would love to meet ya and say welcome!

    Email: wbleuzinger@my.Milligan.edu

  • Deacons

    Hello! We are honored to serve as deacons at City Church. For our entire married life, we have longed for a church to call home - where we can share life with people who love Jesus, seek after him, and aim to lay their lives down for His glory. We are beyond grateful that we have found that at City Church Bristol!

    I (Lance) grew up living in various locations around the world as a military kid, and landed in Bristol after playing basketball at Emory and Henry College nearby in VA. I met Kayla shortly out of college and now we are married and building a life together in Bristol Tennessee along with our two kids, Derek and Mila. I work as a Day Treatment Specialist and a basketball coach in Abingdon, Virginia.

    I (Kayla) grew up right here in Bristol. I work as an occupational therapist in Bristol Virginia. When I’m not at work, my time is spent building a home and family with Lance and our kiddos. I didn’t intend to spend my adult life in my hometown, but it turns out The Lord had different plans. And really, I’m so glad he did. He brought me back here to marry Lance and raise our family. To be able to serve and love on the people of my hometown is such a privilege.

    We would love to meet you, hear your story, and walk beside you on your journey!

    Lance Email: Lreasbeck11@gmail.com

    Kayla Email: kaylarr15@gmail.com

  • Deacon

    I immigrated from China as a teenager and have lived in the Tri-Cities region since 1987. I came to this area to attend high school and ended up staying. My wife, Vinita and I met at church and have always desired that God is at the center of our family. We’ve been married for 22 years and have 2 sons, 1 daughter, 3 grandsons and 2 granddaughters.

    We came to CityChurch looking for a place to build relationships with other believers. Over the years, we have known and experienced God’s grace through His sovereign leading. We are still learning daily to trust Him through prayers and listening to Holy Spirit’s guidance. It’s wonderful for us to be a part of the body of Christ where we can share lives with others through what Jesus has done for us on the cross. We desire to be good stewards of all the blessings that God has given us.

  • Deacon

    Hello! I'm a long time resident of Bristol, TN having graduated from both TN High and King University where I was a member of the Cross-Country team and served as team captain and was also a member of the FCA leadership team during my time there. I graduated from King with a BA in Psychology and a coaching minor. After college I served my community as an Adult Mental Health Case Manager at Frontier Health before earning my Real Estate license.

    Currently, Melinda is the Lead Buyer Agent for HBX Realty, a Bristol based real estate company affiliated with Keller Williams.

    I have a passion for connecting with others and sharing the intricacies of how God has worked in my life through joys and trials.

    Three things that will allow you to know me better is that I am loyal and love my friends and family deeply, I'm a coffee connoisseur and can always tell you where to get the best cup in town, and my dogs are my best friends!

Staff

  • Interim Pastor

    I studied worship ministry and preaching/church leadership at Johnson University, where I met my wonderful wife, Amanda, and have completed a M.A. in theological studies at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary.

    I believe worship is the heart of all the church does. It steeps us in the story of the gospel, trains our hearts to love our God and neighbor, and compels us to live into the reality of his kingdom come. It’s my passion and privilege to aid the people of God to engage in such a work as faithfully and beautifully as we can, to the praise of his glory.

    taylor@citychurchbristol.org

  • Children’s Ministries

    My name is Lauren Barker and I am the Director of Children’s Ministries here at City Church Bristol. I have a Bachelor’s of Arts in Youth Ministry from King University and a Master’s of Education from ETSU in Special Education. I have been a volunteer Young Life Leader for 5 years and a Special Education teacher. I have a heart for serving the community of Bristol and connecting others in acts of service in our community. Children are the future to our mission. I am passionate about loving and teaching children about the unconditional love of Jesus while walking through life with them.

    lauren@citychurchbristol.org

  • Director of Ministries

    I am blessed to live in one of the most beautiful places in the US - Bristol TN.

    My beautiful Bride of 35 years, Kelly and I, moved to Bristol 2 1/2 ago after living in southern California for over 50 years. We raised 4 lovely kids and have been blessed to have been given 14 grandkids by Gods grace.

    Six years ago my beautiful bride and I began a new season in our lives after retiring from LAC/USC Medical Center after 30 years of service. That season gave us 4 wonderful years of traveling to many beautiful places around the globe and this beautiful nation of ours.

    Last year the Lord called us to yet another season in our lives with our parents and now we are called to be with them through this season in their lives.

    I am blessed to call City Church our family and I’m looking forward in assisting the Leadership of City church in this next season of growth for His glory and the furthering of His kingdom. 

  • Small Group Coordinators

    We are Lisle and Mallory Whitman, and we serve as the Small Group Coordinators at CityChurch. Lisle is currently studying at The University of Tennessee College of Law, and Mallory teaches elementary art at Cornerstone Christian Academy in Abindgon. Whether it was YoungLife (Mallory), Fight Club (Lisle-you can ask, but remember the first rule of Fight Club), our small group at CityChurch, or so many experiences in between, we can attest to the transformative power of the gospel when experienced in the fellowship of genuine Christian community. We believe that Christian community offers the antidote to the dangerous trend of commoditizing religion for convenient and comfortable consumption. We aim to steward small groups under the mission of CityChurch to see the freeing power of the gospel create communities of honesty and trust where living life together deepens personal faith.

    lislewhitman@gmail.com

    mallorymwhitman@gmail.com