Staff Team
Dawn Brown - Administrative Services
dawn@rossbridge.church
Dawn joined our administrative team in January 2020!
EDUCATION:
B.S. in Nutrician & Dietetics - Samford University
M.A. in Health Education and Exercise Physiology - UAB
PROFILE:
Dawn and her husband Eric have been attending CARB for almost two years. They live in the neighborhood and are the proud parents of Justin (8) and Evie (10), who are students at Deer Valley Elementary. Dawn manages our internal church membership database and records systems.
Rev. Nathan Carden - Lead Pastor
nathan@rossbridge.church
RESPONSIBILITIES:
Biblical Preaching, Casting Vision, Caring for the Hurting and Leading our Staff Team.
Nathan Carden became the pastor of the Church at Ross Bridge in July 2017.
EDUCATION:
B.S. in Communication Studies, Trevecca Nazarene University
M.A. in Religion (Theological Studies), Trevecca Nazarene University
M.Div., Vanderbilt Divinity School
D.Min. in Preaching, Asbury Theological Seminary
PROFILE:
A native of Andalusia, AL, Nathan grew up in Alabama and Georgia as the son of a minister. He has worked in churches in FL and TN prior to moving to the Birmingham area in 2010. He is married way out of his league to Kameron, his girlfriend from high school, who works as the Program Director at The Bell Center. They have three spirited children, J. Henry (11), Amelia (7) and Hanna (6). When not at work he can be found herding children, fishing, trying to build things and reading.
Nathan is fulfilled when helping people find the peace and purpose that only comes through Jesus Christ. He says, "Church is never easy since it's made up of broken people. But Jesus changes and uses ordinary people to live a better story - God's story. And I can't imagine being a part of anything better than that."
Melanie Davenport - Bridge Kids Assistant
melanie@rossbridge.church
Melanie has been with the Church at Ross Bridge since the beginning!
EDUCATION:
Melanie was born and raised in Alexander City, Alabama, graduating from Benjamin Russell high school. She went on to attend the University of Alabama - Birmingham.
Jessica Lane - Ministry Engagement
jessica@rossbridge.church
Jessica has been with the Church at Ross Bridge since February 2018!
EDUCATION:
B.A. in Broadcast Communications - Milligan College
M.A. in Christian Ministries (in progress) - Asbury Theological Seminary
Jessica is a native of Savannah, GA where she enjoyed in-shore, saltwater fly fishing for many years. She worked in various capacities of the broadcast television industry for 13 years, which is how she met her husband, Brent. They have two textbook definition extravert children, daughter Scottie (11) and son Ivey (9).
Jessica has a background in ministry, particularly Adult Small Group Studies and working with seekers and new members. She has a passion for discipleship and hopes to draw the world to Christ in new and creative ways here at CARB.
When Jessica is not absorbed in her seminary studies, she and Bono (their 3 yr old lab mix) are hiking the trails and streams this beautiful area has to offer, living into her Italian roots by entertaining out of Gramma Rose Agnes Marie Forlano's handwritten recipes and making meaningful connections among would-be strangers with humor and intention. She writes, "For me, there is no lens through which I could ever view this life that could possibly filter out our Maker and our Mission."
Wanda MacNeil - Administrative Coordinator
wanda@rossbridge.church
Wanda joined the Church at Ross Bridge staff team in May 2019!
EDUCATION:
B.A. in Elementary Education - Troy University
M.A. in Elementary Education - University of West Florida
Certificate in Educational Leadership - University of West Florida
PROFILE:
Wanda MacNeil is a retired educator and children's ministry director who moved to the Ross Bridge community in the summer of 2017. Her role is to help our administrative processes remain organized and operating. Wanda enjoys reading, scrapbooking and working with her plants and spending time with her grandchildren.
Rev. John Mount - Pastor for Congregational Care
john@rossbridge.church
RESPONSIBILITIES:
Rev. John Mount helps take the church to those who are sick, homebound and in assisted living, in addition to assisting in general pastoral duties.
Rev. Mount became our Pastor for Congregational Care in June 2018!
EDUCATION:
B.A. in Religion, Samford University
M.Ed. in Administration, University of Montevallo
A.A. (Educational Specialist), UAB
D. Ed. Studies at University of Alabama
Seminary Studies, Southern Theological Seminary
Seminary Studies, Candler School of Theology, Emory University
PROFILE:
A native of Birmingham, AL, Pastor John Mount has pastored churches for over 50 years and led mission trips around the world. He retired from the Church at Ross Bridge in June 2017. He and his wife Wanda have been married for over 45 years, and they have three daughters and six grandchildren.
Jonathan Punt - Director of Bridge Kids & Bridge Students
jonathan@rossbridge.church
Mr. J joined our staff full-time in June of 2019!
EDUCATION:
B.A. in Religion, Samford University
PROFILE:
Jonathan is a graduate of Samford University and a native of Tavares, FL. He plans to pursue his M.Div. at Duke Divinity School beginning in fall of 2020. Jonathan gives leadership to our elementary Bridge Kid's ministries and 6-12th grade Bridge Students. He and his wife Amelia enjoy the outdoors and spending time with friends.
Derek Sellers - Director of Worship Arts
derek@rossbridge.church
Derek became our Director of Worship Arts in January of 2020!
EDUCATION:
B.A. in Music Technology & Guitar Performance - UAB
PROFILE:
Derek Sellers is a professional musician, instrumental and vocal, based in Birmingham, Alabama. He grew up in Cullman, Alabama, where he learned to play the guitar & piano. Derek played, sang and led worship at his church, of more than two-thousand members, throughout his teenage years.
In recent years Derek has worked mostly as a solo artist but plays with several bands for weddings, events, and venues across the southeast region.