Pastors
The pastors of Immanuel are ordained ministers, called by the congregation to lead and serve on staff. They oversee the church's public and daily ministries, providing guidance, care, and counsel to the congregation.
TJ Tims
Lead Pastor
T. J. is Lead Pastor of Immanuel Nashville. He and his wife, Jessica, have been members of Immanuel since 2012. They have four young kids—Charlotte, Maggie, Cleo, and Goodwin. T.J. holds a PhD in systematic theology from the University of Aberdeen in Scotland and a theology degree from King’s College London. He was ordained into the Christian ministry in 2008. T.J. is also a council member of The Gospel Coalition, for whom he occasionally writes.
Sam Allberry
Associate Pastor
Sam grew up in England, where he became a Christian and eventually a church pastor. He is the author of several books. Outside of Immanuel Sam serves as a Canon Theologian for the Anglican Church in North America, and as a Fellow at the Keller Center for Cultural Apologetics. Sam joined the staff of Immanuel in 2023 and lives in south Nashville. He loves helping people discover the welcoming heart of Jesus Christ.
Barnabas Piper
Assistant Pastor
Barnabas grew up as a pastor’s kid, graduated from Wheaton College, and spent 14 years working in Christian publishing. He began attending Immanuel in 2017. In 2018 he began to sense God’s call on his life to pastoral ministry. He joined the staff of Immanuel in 2019 and was called as a pastor in 2020. He loves investing in and shepherding this community of believers who welcome hurting and weary people and walk with them to Jesus. Barnabas is the author of several books and lives in the north suburbs of Nashville with his wife and two daughters.
Vince Greenwald
Assistant Pastor
Vince lives in West Nashville with his wife Caroline and their three little ones, Bear, Lila, and Grace. Caroline and Vince "adulted" at Immanuel starting in 2016 after graduating from Baylor University. Vince especially loves watching youth and college students at Immanuel steep in the good news of Jesus Christ, experience a culture shaped by the gospel, and find a sense of belonging in the Church.
Tony Shepherd
Assistant Pastor
Tony lives in Antioch with his wife, Jolene, and their six children: David, Stephen, Lydia, Mark, Noelle, and Moriah. Tony and Jolene became members of Immanuel in 2010 and were sent out in 2013 to help plant a church in Virginia. After serving as a pastor in Virginia for nearly a decade, Tony and his family returned to Nashville in 2022, where he joined the Immanuel staff and now serves as an Assistant Pastor. You can find Tony around the city taking photos and meeting new people, in the studio listening to Christian hip-hop, or at Immanuel, giving a gospel welcome to everyone!
elders
The elders of Immanuel are unpaid leaders, called by the congregation to oversee the church's ministry and faithfully shepherd its members.
tom cox
Spencer essenpreis
michael handler
jonathan hinton
sean jackson
kyle kerrigan
bill kotas
alex lewis
patrick lockwood
Jeff maier
stephen maples
justin ostrander
omar perez
pierce riddick
caleb shrum
jeff ross
david thomas
stege wheeler
wes williams
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staff
The staff of Immanuel are dedicated employees who provide direction and support to specific ministry areas within the church.
Jessica Waterman
Music Director
Jason Cheek
Director of Services / Bandleader
Taylor Cheek
Director of Immanuel Kids
Hunter Braden
Executive Assistant to Lead Pastor
Brian Bobel
Director of Design
Wes Hunter
Worship Team Assistant
Deacons
The deacons of Immanuel are called by the congregation to care for the practical needs of the members and ministry.
ERIC AMOS
ANDREW BEASLEY
DAVE BURKE
ANDREW CHRISTENBERRY
ANDREW CORBETT
JOSHUA GARDNER
SARAH GARDNER
GRAHM HOFFART
MATT KNOWE
AYMONE KOUAME
VICTORIA PACKER
HANNAH PALOMEQUE
ALEXA RONCANCIO
MISHA SHADDIX
CANDACE SURFACE
JEREMY THOMPSON
CHARISSA TOSH
RYAN WOODSON
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leaders in residence
Leaders in residence at Immanuel are members in good standing, who have been ordained into gospel ministry and are serving the Lord primarily outside of Immanuel through their respective ministries.
Dr. ray ortlund
Pastor Emeritus & Pastor to Pastors
Dr. Russell Moore
Minister In Residence
Dr. Gavin Ortlund
Theologian in Residence