Mix Staff
FSM Team Leader
University of Mobile is where my life was completely changed! At the University, I spent most of my time on the soccer field with the men's soccer team. For the first time in my life God had surrounded me with friends my age that loved Jesus Christ! I grew up right outside of Meridian, MS where a man by the name of Andy Murry invested greatly in my life as a high school student. My life even today is a testimony of his love and passion for students.
About the time that soccer began to consume my life, another man began to invest in me. His name is Andy Neely. I began working with junior high students in Mobile, Alabama in 2002 and there was no turning back! Another major stone in the foundation of my life are Fuge camps. I spent five summers across the states working for Centrifuge as a Bible study leader, Rec Director, as well as Camp Director. Nothing like given the opportunity to lead 27 staffers to dive into the lives of students all summer long! I love soccer, riding in my jeep, hiking, days on the lake, and spending time with my small group! I am 30-years-old and I believe that Jesus Christ is the way the truth and the life. I was happily married to Ellen Staggs on Dec. 12, 2009.
Women's Director, The Mix
A mere 120 miles from Nashville, in Jackson, Tennessee is where I was born and raised. I was born there in 1980 and both of my parents still live there today. I have one younger brother, Steve, who is two years younger than me and he now lives here in Nashville too! We both grew up in the church and knew of God. But it wasn’t until I attended a revival at the age of 10 that I began a personal relationship with Him. Despite the ups and downs of my middle school and high school years, the Lord remained faithful and continued to deepen my faith in who He is despite my circumstances.
After high school, I took a step of faith and attended Mississippi College, four hours away from home where I knew no one. It was there that the Lord blew me away with His blessings and brought into my life some great friends and priceless opportunities to serve Him and grow in my faith.
The first of these opportunities was to be a counselor at Kanakuk Kamps in the summers. My first summer was in 1999 and I just recently completed my 11th and final summer in 2009. It was there in the “land of the tee-pees” at K-7 in Lampe, Missouri that the Lord grew my faith in ways I had never experienced before. Another life-changing opportunity that I had in college was to study abroad in London, England for a semester. I will never forget what it was like to live among people who did not grow up in the “Bible-belt,” and the Lord used my experience there to forever change and deepen my faith in Him.
Once I graduated from college I had the opportunity to attend The Kanakuk Institute which is year long program in Branson, Missouri, which provides students with biblical knowledge for a lifetime of ministry. It was during this year that I developed some deep friendships and experienced the Lord calling me into full time ministry. Through the partnership between the Kanakuk Institute and John Brown University, I also received my master’s degree in Youth and Family Ministries.
Upon graduating from The Kanakuk Institute I accepted a job working on staff with K-Life. K-Life is a non-denominational, para-chruch ministry that is under the umbrella of the Kanakuk’s family of ministries. K-Life got its start in 1979 when families who sent their kids to Kanakuk in the summers wanted a similar program during the year for their kids. I was on staff for five years in the K-Life chapter located in Columbia, Missouri. When I started there in 2004, I never could have imagined that the Lord would expand my heart to love a community of people so deeply.
As of July 2009 I joined the FSM team as The Mix Women’s Director here at Fellowship. I feel so blessed to be a part of such an incredible and authentic church and team! I love middle school students, walking through life with them, and leading my 242 group of 7th grade girls!
Katlin Miller
Mix Director
I grew up in Huntsville, AL where my love for the Lord, film, students, and the Florida Gators originated. I grew up in the church as my father was a youth pastor for 10 years and is now a lead pastor. My personal relationship with the Lord began at the age of 12. Since then, I’ve been trying to best use my talents, abilities, and passions to honor and glorify my Father.
Throughout high school I was involved in sports, theater, church and church camps. In 2003, I moved to Birmingham to attend Samford University. A year later I moved to Los Angeles to get a closer look into the film industry as my passions for acting and directing increased. I worked as an extra, body double, stand-in for many actors, films, and TV shows. I also volunteered with the youth at Mosaic, a church lead by Erwin McManus in Pasadena. Although I love the art, I didn’t feel God was calling me to a career in filmmaking.
I transferred to Auburn University a year and a half later where I majored in Communications and minored in Religion. I was involved in Christian student ministries, lead small groups, and went on mission trips to Africa and Jamaica. While in college I was able to be a white water river guide, student mentor, and cowboy in Northern California at a Christian retreat called JH Ranch. My entire life, I have been a part of a Christian camp called Summit and now serve on their board. Even though I graduated from Auburn, my love for the Gators still reigns supreme!
In 2008, I moved to Nashville in pursuit of both film and ministry opportunities. I started volunteering as a 242 leader with middle school guys the summer of 2009. As I served, the Lord continued to well up a passion and desire for this direct calling. I joined the FSM team in the fall of 2010. I truly feel that all of my gifting and passions have come to life within this one position. I know that God has a huge purpose for me here and I am very honored and blessed to be serving Him in this capacity.
FSM Worship Pastor
I was born on February 4th in Dallas, Texas and I grew up just north of there in Richardson Texas. I'm 43 years old and ever since I can remember, I have had a passion for music. Everything turned into a guitar in my hands …tennis rackets, baseball bats and sticks, whatever. God planted that seed before He formed the earth. My translation of that passion was that I would become this rock star someday. God’s plan, however, was otherwise.
I graduated from The Art Institute Of Dallas in 1991. I was working at a studio in Dallas when I discovered I had a cyst the size of a golf ball in my middle ear that needed to come out yesterday. Although I accepted Christ in the seventh grade, I neglected the relationship I had with Christ up until I was faced with this possible life-threatening surgery. God used that surgery as a wake up call for me and caused me to take a look at the direction I was taking my life. I had to quit engineering due to the loss of hearing that occurred as a result of my surgery.
Through a series of events, I ended up at a Christian Camp in Tyler, TX, working as a pool-cleaning guy. I spent the next five years there learning and growing in my faith and restoring the relationship I had with my Savior. I committed my passion to music to Christ after that surgery.
I moved to Nashville after getting married to Amy in the spring of 1995. After being invited by J. Mac Brown, Amy and I first visited Fellowship Bible Church back in 1997 and never looked back. Although this is my “job,” this is my dream. I love working with the students in FSM and serving as their worship pastor is a joy and a privilege. I thank God every day for everything He is to me. He truly is worthy of our praise.
Stephen Rush
FSM Worship & Creative Director
It all started in a place called Tuscaloosa, Alabama where the people pride themselves on two things: tradition and sweet tea. I grew up the middle child of six with my father being an artist, so it’s safe to say we weren’t use to “normal”. Everyone in my family is artistic so you can imagine what our get-togethers are like…one giant party! I made the decision to become a Christian when I was five years old and continue to strengthen my faith every day. It’s been such an incredible journey to see how I ended up here at Fellowship.
I started leading worship around 7th grade after I got my first guitar and continued to play and lead throughout middle and high school. It wasn’t until college that I realized it was something I could do for a living. One of my mentors asked me to move out to Little Rock, Arkansas for a summer and lead worship for his students at the Church at Rock Creek. It was such a great experience! The next three summers I spent on staff with Pine Cove Christian Camps as everything from counselor, lifeguard, worship leader, senior counselor and even the villain in skits (apparently I was a good bad guy?). God really showed me my passion for loving students and leading worship there.
After I graduated from the University of Alabama (Roll Tide) in 2009 I moved to Nashville for the Worship Pastor Residency program here at Fellowship. During that year I got to spend time with the Worship & Arts staff and also got to know the people in FSM. After I completed the Residency, I joined the FSM staff and haven’t looked back. I’m so excited to see what God has in store for this ministry!
