Church Leadership
Jamie George, Lead Pastor
Jamie has spent most of his life seeking out soul environments. Not content with surface relationships, his driving purpose is to serve as a navigator in community, and to live as an architect in culture. After years of caring and discovery with adolescents in America, and after traveling throughout the nation and across the globe, teaching, training, and offering the love of Jesus to different cultures, Jamie morphed into a church planter and serves as Lead Pastor of The Journey.
Jamie is married to Angie and they have twin boys, Jordan and Tyler, and two girls, Ashton and Addison. Jamie lives in Franklin, TN, and shares the story of redemption throughout the country. www.premierespeakers.com/christian/jamie_george
Gary Carter, Ministry Design Pastor
Over the last several years, God has shown Gary that this life has more color than just black and white. Do’s and don’ts, rules and regulations, formulas… those are the easy way out. The abundant life requires daily searching and exploration. For Gary, this journey is best lived out within the framework of community. In authentic community, struggle is not only accepted, but invited. It becomes a safe place where people learn to trust each other and trust God. Life begins to follow the model that Jesus offered as He lived out a life with people… their hardship, their fear, their joy, and their celebration. Gary’s has spent most of the last decade developing small communities, facilitating soul environments with both adolescents and adults.
It has been said, “Many things in life catch our eye, but only a few things catch our heart. Those are the things we are passionate about.” Gary’s passion is leading others into an authentic life of serving in the way of Jesus Christ.
Gary is married to Trina, (the only girl he ever dated), and they have a son, Ben, who is 20. They live out life in the community of Franklin, Tennessee.
Drew Cline, Creative Arts Pastor
Worship is more about a lifestyle than it is a style of music or church service. Drew has been communicating that message in churches around the country for over 16 years. Serving the local church both on staff in Worship and Student ministry, as well as serving as a special guest artist or worship leader, Drew has led thousands of congregations in worship. As a highly sought-after studio session singer, Drew has been a part of great record projects for such artists as Mercy Me, Third Day, Dolly Parton, Promise Keepers, Don Moen, Steve Green, and many more. His voice has also been heard on such commercial projects as Ford, Chevrolet, The Today Show, and others. Drew toured in 2006 and 2007 as the lead singer for veteran CCM group NEWSONG and has shared the stage with such great artists as Steven Curtis Chapman, Jeremy Camp, Toby Mac, Hawk Nelson, Sanctus Real, Lincoln Brewster, and countless others. He has also led worship at great churches like Saddleback Community Church, Willow Creek, Lakewood, and Dr. Stanley’s First Baptist Church in Atlanta, GA.
Drew released, “Way Of Life”, his first original worship project, the summer of 2007, internationally, to rave reviews of songs inspired by, and for, the church. His first radio single, “I Will (Lift My Eyes),” has been on Christian radio stations nationwide and is still a favorite here at Journey. Drew is passionate about community and art and loves to lead people to the throne room of God. Drew has been married to his beautiful wife, Lori, for over 13 years and they have a precious baby girl named Daisy.
For more information on Drew, check out his webpage at www.drewcline.com
Leslie Jordan, Worship Designer
Leslie has been designing worship experiences most of her life. She began leading worship in her youth group at the age of fourteen, and since has led worship in churches and conferences across the United States. Her passion for a God-focused life finds expression through music, and the creative arts, but also in everyday relationship with people. She has a desire to see others find healing and restoration, both locally and around the world.
Leslie graduated from Middle Tennessee State University with a degree in Organizational Communication in 2007 and after serving at Journey throughout the year, joined our staff in the spring of 2008. After a short hiatus serving a church plant in Hilo, Hawaii, she returned to join our staff in 2009. Leslie serves alongside Drew Cline, desigining worship environments and administrating the Creative Arts Ministry of our church. She is married to Thomas and together they live out life in the community of South Franklin.
Kortland Fuqua, Village Designer
Since College Kortland has been serving people in some type of ministry context. While serving in ministry, his vocational journey has always been around the church but never quite in it. In recent days God has led Kortland to exit the peripheral and fully enter this post-modern church adventure.
With a background in radio, promotions, events and management, Kortland oversees Villages here at Journey. Villages are smaller communities that exist without a template in our church and as a result are difficult to manage. It is precisely the messiness and unpredictability of these soul environments that has drawn Kortland and Christin to risk and explore what it means to live life out in community.
Kortland is married to Christin and they have 5 kids… think basketball team. Elisabeth, Sarah, Kaleb, Karis and Asher. They live out life in the community of Franklin, Tennessee.
Sandy Rodery, Children's Designer
Sandy started serving with kids 30+ years ago. Her passion for children began before she finished high school. The path continued through more education, volunteering in children's and youth ministry, public school employment and of course, raising her own children.
For the last 14 years, Sandy has been serving at a large church in Kansas City, MO area. God used her to rebuild and developed a "kid relevant, God centered" program for 100's of children, while developing and leading teams of adult volunteers. Sandy is always humbled to see God work in the hearts of kids and families.
As the path lengthens again with God calling her to Journey, the fire inside that keeps her excited about reaching children's hearts for Jesus is burning strong.
She is looking forward once again, to the privilege of serveing with those that want to unleash the untamed spirit of God in children.
Sandy and her husband Ken have been married 30 years and have lived in the Kansas City area for the past 23 years. They have two adult children. Megan, that has just graduated with her masters in education and teaches art at an elementary school in Kansas City. Jeremy is in his last semester at UMKC pursing degrees in business, he lives in their home town, Liberty MO.
David Gallagher, Children's Creative Designer
The vision of Expedition Kids is to create a community of children untamed in their faith, in awe of their Creator and inspired to continually serve others.
David Gallagher is one of the most creative and passionate children’s leaders you will ever meet. His expertise in music, drama, and video technology creates an extraordinary experiential environment for teaching children the truths of God.
David, his wife, Mattie, and their son, Benjamin, live in, and serve, the community of Franklin, TN.
Aaron Nebrija, Student Designer
Aaron began his relational encounter with Jesus at the age of sixteen. As a result, he has a passion to see other lives transformed at an early age. Since High School Aaron has been immersed in ministry to teenagers. He has traveled to many parts of the world, and served extensively in Eastern Europe. After teaching internationally to youth and youth leaders about the transforming love of Christ, he founded Project 784, an international non-profit organization that trains leaders of adolescents. Aaron has a wonderful ability to take the truths of scripture and contextualize them to his audience. Aaron has been a teacher in a Christian school and involved in leadership at an Acts29 church plant on the west coast. He oversees the High School and Middle School community at The Journey.
Aaron is married to Caroline, and they live in her hometown of Franklin, Tennessee.
Lori Zustiak, Pre-School Designer
Lori Zustiak has spent the past ten years in preschool education as an assistant and lead preschool teacher. She not only loves children, but has a passion to see young children learn Biblical truths. Lori was excited and honored when given the opportunity to serve the children and families of Journey Franklin. She has been a part of other children's ministries but feels Journey is a special Church and is excited to see all that God is going to do. Lori is looking forward to bring her love for children's ministry and education experience to Journey Franklin.
Lori lives with her husband Mike and newborn son Lucas near Nolensville.
