Shepherd Elders
Travis Briles
Travis grew up in central North Carolina. He attended Belmont University in Nashville, TN, studying Audio Engineering and Christian Ministries. There he met his wife, Charity, a violin performance major. Together they have two boys, Clark and Luke. Travis is currently enrolled in seminary at Grace School of Theology. In his spare time, he enjoys spending time with his family outside, taking classes at GSOT, blade smithing, and fly fishing.
travisbriles@christfellowship.com
Johnny Byrd
Johnny came to Christ at age 6 where he grew up in Fayetteville, NC. He was educated at Columbia Bible College, and the University of North Carolina, where he obtained a Masters degree in Accounting. He has studied for over 40 years under the tutelage of expository Bible teachers. Johnny and his wife, Gina, met at UNC and have 7 children. In his spare time he enjoys golf, chess, studying the Bible, and spending time at home with family.
Bob Gates
Bob came to faith in Christ in the mid 70’s and church has been a major part of his and his family’s life since that time. He served in the deacon ministry at their previous church and has been an elder at Christ Fellowship for about 26 years. He enjoys family life, studying the Word, working, golf, working on their land and reading. He was born and raised in Texas and their family has lived in the Middle Tennessee area since December of 1971. They have been blessed to have 4 daughters, sons-in-law, and 10 grand-kids.
David Hungate
Originally from IL, David moved to TN in January of 2000 and came to faith in Christ in March that year. He enjoys singing/listening to music and spending time with his family. He is married to an amazing, Godly woman, Dashan, with whom He has four children. One of the biggest blessings that He’s found since coming to faith is a community of people that surrounds him; one where they share common faith, can bear each other’s burdens and celebrate triumphs, and can be encouraged as they walk with the Lord.
Kip Jaeger
Kip Jaeger trusted Jesus as a young child growing up in North Dakota and met his wife, Kathleen, while attending college in Minnesota. In 1991, both of them moved to Tennessee to begin a life here and have raised 4 Tennesseans. He enjoys family, friends, music and the outdoors.
Walter Thomas
Walter came to faith at six years old, in Sunday school class in his Pastor’s office. He has been a part of Christ Fellowship for most of his adult life. “It’s family to me”. He grew up in big city Jacksonville Florida, but went to Bryan College in small town Dayton Tennessee where he learned to love the outdoors. His favorite activities are photography, hiking, and tennis.
David Zinn
A Mountaineer from West Virginia, David practiced law for many years as his vocation. He has been involved in the teaching ministry of Christ Fellowship since it was formed and, for many years, he has been one of the teaching elders. His spiritual
journey began when he came to faith in Christ as a young boy. As he grew in his faith, he began to love the Word of God. In later years, his interest in the study of the Word led him to take a number of courses through Dallas Theological Seminary including a three-week class in Israel. He and his late wife, Patty (who died in 2022), moved to Franklin in 1976 where they raised their three children and were later blessed with eleven grandchildren. In 2026 he married Anna who had been part of Christ Fellowship for approximately ten years. He and Anna have enjoyed hiking, traveling, ministering to others, and sharing life together. David also continues to enjoy meeting, mentoring and
discipling other men, young and old, and sharing with them the joy of knowing Jesus and learning more of what it means to follow Him.
Our Ministry Coordinators
Jennifer Boyd
Children’s Ministry Coordinator
Jennifer has been the Children’s Ministry Coordinator since 2006. She was raised in Brentwood, and after college returned home to teach elementary school. Working with the children at Christ Fellowship has been an absolute joy and allowed her the blessing to impact the children from infant to youth group. Jennifer lives in Franklin with her husband, Shane.
Charity Briles
AWANA COmmander
Charity Briles received her Masters in Violin Performance with an emphasis in Suzuki Pedagogy from SIUE, and her Bachelors in Violin Performance from Belmont University. She was the Orchestra Director and Professor of Violin at Greenville College until moving back to Nashville in 2014. While gigging she maintained her own studio in Nashville until 2018 when she leveled up to her dream job- Motherhood. Charity is passionate about discipling children and raising up the next generation of the church. When she is not homeschooling her two boys or leading a gaggle of kids in a song about hippopotamuses, Charity can be found reading Tolkien or instructing her boys in the ways of the force.
Chris Errico
Men’s Ministry Coordinator
Chris is the Men’s Ministry Coordinator. Growing up in New Jersey, he trusted Jesus as his Savior when he was eight years old. He and his wife Sue moved to Middle Tennessee in 2000 where they raised three children. He’s been involved in Deacon Ministry, children’s ministry, men’s ministry, and camp ministry. Chris enjoys quality (and quantity) time with family and friends and is looking forward to the arrival of their first grandchild!
Kathleen Jaeger
Women’s Ministry Coordinator
Kathleen is the Women’s Ministry Coordinator. Originally from Minnesota, Kathleen has made Nashville her home since 1992 where she and her husband, Kip, have raised four children. They’ve made Christ Fellowship their home church for the majority of their years in Nashville. Even though Kathleen grew up going to church, it wasn’t until the fifth grade when she clearly understood that Jesus died for her sins personally and that it required faith on her part to have a relationship with Him. It was during that time that she began her lifelong love of studying the Bible and walking daily with Him. Kathleen loves people, stories, conversation, music, flowers, sunsets over water, and being with family and friends.
Justin Lanning
Music Ministry Coordinator
Justin is our Music Ministry Coordinator. Justin and Nikki Lanning have been active at Christ Fellowship for over 20 years. Together they have joyfully served in a variety of ministries. With a long and rich family background in music, Justin leads the music team with various music styles, and engages the congregation with energy and enthusiasm as we worship the LORD in song.
Kim Smith
Church Administrator
Kim Smith is the Church Administrator. She and her husband Neil have loved Christ Fellowship since its origin. Prior to that, she was raised in church and came to salvation at an early age. Kim enjoys “country “life, sharing produce and flowers from her gardens with treasured family and friends. Kim and Neil have eight grandchildren and are retired from teaching in public schools in Nashville. They stay very active in volunteer ministry with the Fellowship of Christian Athletes at their neighborhood high school.
Our Deacons
Jeff Hyde
Jeff was born and raised in Marshall, Texas and moved to Tennessee to pursue music. He and his wife, April, have one son. Jeff believed in Jesus for eternal life at a young age and considers himself simply a sinner saved by grace. He has a heart to help others come to believe in Jesus as well.
Lisa Johnson
Lisa has lived her whole life in the Nashville area. She grew up in a Christian home and accepted Christ at a very young age. She has been a part of Christ Fellowship since its beginning days. She and her husband, Eric, met while attending Taylor University. They have been married 26 years and have three children. Lisa enjoys working with children, spending time with family and friends, gardening, reading, and exercising.
Debbie Pitman
Debbie has lived in Tennessee all her life. In 1999 she moved from Memphis to Nashville to continue her career with Ford Motor Credit. In July of 1981 she made a decision to trust Christ. Debbie enjoys cooking, baking, and going to the beach.
Jeff Whaley
Jeff accepted Christ at summer camp many years ago. He married his high school sweetheart, Bridget, and they have two kids. He has been in the Scouting program for 14 years.
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