Our leadership begins with Jesus, who is the head of the church (Colossians 1:18).
Then we are led by a group of elders (1 Timothy 3:1-7).
These elders are appointed and ordained by the current body of Elders.
The Elders have also appointed and hired a group of paid Staff.
The Staff work in conjunction with the Elders to accomplish our mission.
In addition to Elders and Staff, we have many volunteer leaders in various ministries who are all working together to connect people to Christ, the Church and the community.
Matthew Pannell serves as the Preaching Pastor of Christ’s Church, where he is passionate about teaching Scripture faithfully, forming disciples, and helping the church live out the story of God’s redemption in everyday life.
Matthew holds a Master of Arts in Bible and Theology from Lincoln Seminary at Ozark Christian College and is deeply committed to preaching that is Christ-centered, theologically rich, and accessible to all generations. Matthew’s preaching emphasizes the full biblical narrative of creation, fall, redemption, and restoration and invites the church to be formed by God’s Word rather than merely informed by it. He has a particular interest in biblical theology, the unity of Scripture, and the formation of Christlike maturity within the local church.
Matthew has been married to his wife, Christy, for over 15 years, and together they are the proud parents of triplet boys, Luke, Matt, and Noah. Their family life deeply shapes his pastoral heart and commitment to intergenerational faithfulness within the church. Prior to entering full-time pastoral ministry, Matthew studied biology and spent many years working in the pharmaceutical industry. That season of life helps him relate deeply to people balancing faith, family, and demanding work schedules, and it has strengthened his conviction that science and faith are not in conflict, but together reflect the order and goodness of God’s creation. As Preaching Pastor,
Matthew is committed to shepherding the congregation with humility, clarity, and hope, trusting the Holy Spirit to continue the good work God has begun at Christ’s Church.
Christ's Church employs both full time and part time staff members to assist in the ministry of the church, equip the congregation for service and evangelism, and oversee the various core ministries and programs. These men and women were selected and hired by the elders.
Our church is led by a group of elders. These men have been chosen by previous elders based on the qualifications listed in 1 Timothy 3. They are then approved by the congregation, ordained by the current elders, and set aside for the work of shepherding and overseeing the church.
Our deacons are chosen and set aside by our elders based on the qualifications listed in 1 Timothy 3. These men are set aside for the purposes of generally serving the congregation. They fill many roles within the church and do much of the behind the scenes work that is required to maintain our facility and meet the physical needs of the congregation.
