OUR TEAM
PASTOR- JOHN GARGIS
John answered the call into Pastoral Ministry 13 years ago after a long career in Information Technology. While in ministry, John has served with Celebrate Recovery, Knox Area Rescue Ministries, Emerald Youth Foundation, and Knoxville Leadership Foundation.
John accepted Jesus at the age of 35. He has been sober from his struggle with alcohol and drugs for 22 years. He was a Religion major at Liberty University and completed his seminary studies at Asbury Theological Seminary.
John's passion is walking with others as they find wholeness in life through their one true identity in Christ. He has authored a book on this subject which will was released in 2022. (www.pathwaytowholeness.info)
John loves to laugh and have fun in any setting he is in; and always brings Jesus to any environment where he is present.
John, his wife Becky, have lived in the Hardin Valley area for many years. They have two sons that were HV Hawks. They have two grandsons. All currently live way to far away.
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ASSOCIATE PASTOR - GARRETT HAMMONDS
Garrett is originally from Seymour Tennessee, lived in Durham, North Carolina before returning to Knoxville He has been married for five years to my wonderful wife Kalie. They met each other in college at East Tennessee State University.
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After graduating college, he went on to teach ESL courses in Seoul, South Korea for one year, and then my wife and I taught ESL classes in Madrid Spain for nine months. After returning from Spain we were blessed to hike the Appalachian Trail as Circuit Hikers for the Holston Conference in 2019.
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Garrett first felt a call to go into vocational ministry in 2012 while on a mission trip. He shares, "I felt a passion connecting people to God’s love. It took several years for me to develop a clearer sense of what God was calling me to, but eventually I felt led to attend Seminary. During my time serving in local congregations for my field education, I felt a strong sense that God was leading me to serve as a Pastor. I loved preaching, helping serve communion, and working with the other ministries of the Church."
Garrett was appointed as the Associate Pastor of Valley Church July of 2023
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Email Garret at garrett@valleychurch.church
CHURCH ADMINISTRATOR- LEXIE VAN PELT
When you call the church, chances are you will hear Lexie's voice and sense her desire to help you.
Lexie Henry Van Pelt grew up in East Knoxville on her family farm which was settled in the late 1700s. She is proud to have deep roots in Knoxville’s history. She and her husband Bill both graduated from UT in 1984. After graduation, they moved to Augusta, GA where they lived for 31 years.
They are both lifelong Methodists and have served in many positions including Administrative, Committee Chair, Treasurer, Teacher, Children & Youth. Lexie was a stay-at-home mom for many years with their daughter Haley. She served in many volunteer positions in Haley’s school and community activities.
In 2009, Haley was injured in an automobile accident and is now disabled. In 2015, Lexie and her family moved back to Knoxville to be closer to family and they built a home in Hardin Valley. Through caring for Haley’s needs they have seen God work in so many ways to provide for their family. They have a strong faith and believe that the Lord sees us and knows our hearts.
Jeremiah 29:11- "For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you, and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."
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DIRECTOR OF FAMILY MINISTRIES- KIM PONDER
Kim holds a B.S. in Vocal Music Education with supplemental studies in Religion. After serving many years as a music teacher and Director of Music Ministries in Chattanooga and Knoxville, Kim accepted the call into full-time Children’s Ministry in 2013.
For the past 7 years, Kim has utilized the Orange Curriculum as a main teaching tool for ministry. The curriculum begins with infants and extends through elementary school. It engages the children with amazing Bible stories, creative videos, songs, memory verses, and exciting activities that help reinforce the lesson. Orange believes a partnership between parents and the church is the best way to create a greater impact on building a child’s faith foundation. Through our ministry program, each week parents receive materials informing them what was taught and provides fun follow-up activities for the family to engage in at home.
Kim serves alongside her husband, Bill, and loves spending time ministering to families. Both are passionate about leading kids to Christ and consider it a huge honor to be included in that. Kim and Bill have been married for 8 years and have five children between the two of them. All are married and live in Serbia, Los Angeles, Nashville, Florida, and Knoxville. They have been blessed with four beautiful grandchildren. In their free time, they love to work on home improvement projects, watch sports, spend time with family, and serve in the community.
It is Kim's prayer that you will make Valley Church your church home. She looks forward to walking with you.
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Worship leader / Producer
aaron_tracy@icloud.com
WORSHIP LEADERS- AARON TRACY & RANDI YEAROUT
When we launched Valley Church in 2020, we prayed for a Spirit-filled worship leaders that were "as excited about what we are doing as we are." I knew Matthew Sharon met this area of focus. I reached out to Matt and asked if he was interested in being a part of a new church plant. He said that he was was interested and then asked "how many do you have?" I answered one now. That week, while at a gig at Calhoun's on the River, we met Aaron. It was then we realized our prayer was being answered! Aaron then introduced us to Randi. Today, Aaron, Matt, Randi, Kevin and Kris have become family. We are blessed to have each one of them leading worship.
We hope you will join us this Sunday morning to experience this blessing first hand!