Elders

	Ray & Patsy Frizzell have 2 sons. Their oldest, Jeff, & his wife, Beth, live in Memphis & have 5 children. Their younger son, Tim, & his wife, Janie, have 2 children. Tim has served as Youth & Family Minister at Crieve Hall for 11 years. Ray and Patsy moved to Nashville from Memphis in July 1965. He served as deacon for 4 years and then they accepted a company transfer to Birmingham, AL in 1969. In Birmingham, they attended Hillview Church of Christ for 5 years and Ray served as an elder there for 3 years. The Frizzell’s returned to Nashville in Sept. 1974, and Ray was appointed an elder in August 1981. Ray is involved with the following areas: Missions, Hispanic Ministry (including the English classes on Sunday and Tuesday evenings), personal evangelism and campaigns, Crieve Hall office activities, and transportation. What made you want to become an elder? “Personal encouragement by the elders and members of the Crieve Hall congregation. My motivation is to serve the Lord’s church to the best of my ability”. Describe what being an elder means to you: “It means complete dedication; whatever it takes in order to serve the Crieve Hall flock. To be sure, as an elder, that I am a part of the cooperative effort of our eldership in feeding the flock spiritually and to protect the church from Satan’s influence. In trying my best to serve in this great work, I find it to be more than I can handle personally and that fact drives me to my knees, often. God and His son make it possible through answered prayers for me to function as a shepherd.” What do you love about Crieve Hall? “The caring general attitude of its members in helping others who need the gospel and those who are less fortunate”.
	Don and Lynn Henderson have 2 children, Austin and Heather, who attend Crieve Hall. Both are students at David Lipscomb University. The Henderson’s placed their membership at Crieve Hall in October 1981. Don began serving as an elder in 2000. Don’s current areas of oversight include: preaching, youth committee, education, song leader, and the YAC (Young Adult College) program. What made you want to become an elder? “I love God and Crieve Hall. I want to do everything I can for God and Crieve Hall. I help people get well at work – I wanted to help in anyway way I can with the people at church.” Describe what being an elder means to you: “Lots of responsibility. Very rewarding and yet challenging. Its an opportunity to serve God by helping others. It is a servant leadership opportunity” What do you love about Crieve Hall? “Everything! Great members who love each other. Members who will work when called upon. Most important is knowing that God’s word will always be taught at Crieve Hall. I love members who love God and listen to His word.”
	Mark and Gwyn Loftis have 3 children, Chris, Chad and Rebekah. Mark graduated from Lipscomb in 1979 and became a member at Crieve Hall in 1980. He was appointed an elder in 2003. He presently serves in the youth committee, Mothers Day out Pre-school, Senior ministry, Finance committee, teaching 20-40 young marrieds on Sunday morning Bible class, and the Middle Members (40's and 50's). What made you want to become an elder? “My grandfather and father served as elders and I saw first hand how to help people in their spiritual lives.” Describe what being an elder means to you: “It is a great privilege to serve a great congregation in this capacity. There is no higher calling and I pray everyday that God gives me the wisdom to do His will and serve Crieve Hall”. What do you love about Crieve Hall? “I love this church and the fine men who serve as its elders. This is a loving and caring congregation that is committed to the truth”.
	Tim and Kathy McNutt have 3 sons, Timothy, Jeremy, and David. The McNutt’s placed membership at Crieve Hall in 1988. They have worked with the youth program and teaching. Tim served as youth committee chairman for 5 years and was a deacon for 4 years. He was appointed as an elder in 2006. Tim works with our youth program, the education program and shut-ins. What made you want to become an elder? “I love to serve people and help anyway I can. I have had political aspirations but knew being an elder was the highest “office” I could ever hold. Having had several leadership roles all through school and in my profession, I felt I was being prepared for something more challenging and more important.” Describe what being an elder means to you: “It means being a leader in service to God. It means setting an example to inspire others to ask what makes a difference in your life and then getting to talk about Christ. It means helping others get to heaven.” What do you love about Crieve Hall? “First, the strong Biblical foundation. The eldership and the preaching here have always been about doing what God wants. The youth program is great! I love getting to see everyone and talk to people at every service or any social gathering. I love the singing. I love the way people here visit those in need, i.e. sick, shut-ins, those that have lost loved ones.”
	Phil and Vickie Morris have 2 children. Their son, Jimmy, and his wife Kara, and their daughter, Jenna, all attend Crieve Hall. Phil and Vickie placed membership in January of 1978. Phil became a deacon in September 1986. He was appointed an elder in December 2003. Phil presently works in the following areas: youth, education, mission, membership involvement, finance and audio visual. What made you want to become an elder? “I have always had the desire to serve the Lord’s church. I saw the need for leaders that love the church and God’s word. Describe what being an elder means to you: “Being an elder means being a servant to the Lord by using my talents to be a Shepherd to His church. What do you love about Crieve Hall? "The foundation that has been laid by dedicated men and women. The desire that I see by the Crieve Hall membership to serve God and the community.”
	Galyon and Phyllis Northcutt have a son, Scott who lives in Lebanon with his wife Sara and their 3 children. Their daughter, Wendy, lives in Johnson City, TN with her husband Lane and their 2 boys. Galyon and Phyllis arrived at Crieve Hall in December 1972. They quickly joined the visitation program in early 1973. Galyon loved the program so much that he began administering the program in August of 1984. He was appointed a deacon in October 1986 and an elder in 1999. He presently works in the following areas: missions, visitation, building and grounds, Nashville School of preaching and Biblical Studies, Membership involvement, operations, and worship. What made you want to become an elder? “While living in Montgomery, AL, our minister and Bible School teacher encouraged me to live my life in such a manner that I would be considered for the eldership where ever our membership in the Lord’s Church was.” Describe what being an elder means to you: “It means an awesome responsibility… to get my self to heaven and to get 1,200 more members of the Lord’s church to heaven also. It means satisfaction in knowing we have helped some brothers or sister to find the answer to some difficult problems in God’s word. It means I am grateful for a loving wife who supports me even after waiting long hours for us to get out of a meeting.” What do you love about Crieve Hall? “I love what Crieve Hall stands for in Christian love and principles. I love Crieve Hall’s ministers and staff. We have put together an awesome team. I love the unity in the eldership and in the congregation. I love the fact that we look to God’s word for guidance and strength.”
	Chris and Diane Paul have a son, Caleb. Chris’s family began worshipping at Crieve Hall in 1969. Chris became a Christian in 1980 and was baptized at this very church. In 1997 he became a deacon and in 2006 he became an elder. Chris works with the following areas: building and grounds, youth program, campaigns and outreach, and missions. What made you want to become an elder? “While working with missions, I was able to meet with the best kind of people and be a part of important decision affecting the church in many places. The eldership is like that, but to a higher degree. Plus, I have grown up at Crieve Hall and I love this congregation. Describe what being an elder means to you: “It is a completely humbling experience to know that so many people are looking toward me for leadership. I am grateful for the great group of elders who I can look to and who shepherd my soul as well. What do you love about Crieve Hall? “Many times, I have been sitting in the worship assembly, looked at the faces of my brethren and thought, “I love these People”! I love many dedicated servants of God here. I love the strong desire to do God’s will that we share. I love how we impact Christians all over the world.”
	Al and Pam Thweatt have three children. Allison who is married to Lee O’Dell. Albert who is married to Susan, and Abigail who is married to Seth Harden. They have four grandchildren. Al and Pam have been Crieve Hall members since the summer of 1968. Al was appointed as an elder in January of 1999. He works in the following areas: involvement committee, buildings and grounds, finance committee, teacher of adult Bible class, new member committee and education committee. What made you want to become an elder? “This is a difficult question for me to answer. I believe being asked to become an elder is a result of being qualified as well as demonstrating a willingness to serve. But, I did not serve to be asked to become an elder. I served because that is what God expects of each of us. I also served because that is the best way to teach your children to serve." Describie what being an elder means to you: "This is an awesome responsibility: overseeing souls. This part of the role I take very seriously. For the most part, it is an enjoyable work but truly challenging. Especially the need to continue to grow and strengthen our membership." What do you love about Crieve Hall? “We make our best effort to closely follow God’s word in worship, programs of work and all aspects of our service to God.”
	Anthony and Barbara Turner have three children. Their oldest son, Stephen, is married to Laura. Their second child, Stephanie, is married to Dr. Russell McKissick. Stephanie has two children, Will and Jackson. Their youngest, Suzanne, is married to Patrick Williams. Anthony and Barbara have attended Crieve Hall for 28 years and Anthony was made an elder in December 2006. He works in the following areas: financial, member needs, preaching & teaching, and campaigns and outreach. What made you want to be an elder? "For the love of the Lord and being a servant. I am reminded of Matthew 20: 26-27 of the occasion in which the Apostles were arguing among themselves as to who would be the greatest in the Lord’s Kingdom. Christ used this opportunity to teach what we should all be, that being a servant." Describe what being an elder means to you "In one simple word, “Joy.” I am reminded of Paul’s relationship to the Philippian Church. Paul probably enjoyed this relationship more than any other Church he established. One word that Paul constantly used in his letter to the Philippians was Joy. I think that Philippians 2: 1-4 describes why Paul loved this Church so much. Paul instructed the Church in verse 4 to: “…look not only to your own interest, but also the interest of others.” What do you love about Crieve Hall? "The people. The members at Crieve Hall are very much the same as the members of the Philippian Church, that being that they have a true love of the Lord. I truly feel the congregation at Crieve Hall would fulfill Paul’s joy."
	Pat and Elizabeth Waggoner have a daughter Paula Vergne (husband Matt, granddaughter Sophie), a son, Phil and daughter, Martha. Pat’s family arrived at Crieve Hall in 1987. Pat began serving as an elder in February 1998. The specific areas of oversight Pat works with include: New Membership, Youth, building and grounds, inner city, education, and the prison ministry. What made you want to become an elder? "My motivation for becoming an elder comes from the fact that I loves the people and families of Crieve Hall." Describe what being an elder means to you: "I believe this is an opportunity to be a servant of the Lord’s Church." What do you love about Crieve Hall? "I love the families and fellowship with members of Crieve Hall."
	Art and Jo Watson have two sons and two daughters. Their sons are Dan and Gabe. Daughters are Jodi Arsenault and Julie Gordon. Art and Jo came to Crieve hall in 2001. He has served as an elder since 2003. Art is involved in the following areas: missions, visitation, and finance committee. He also teaches an adult Bible class. What made you want to become an elder: “Christianity is a participant religion. Christians are urged to care for others and serve others. Being an elder is a very unselfish service to others. I love the Church and I love the Lord. I desire to serve”. Describe what being an elder means to you: “It means leading a spiritual life that is exemplary, leading the congregation in worship, evangelism, and caring for the spiritual and physical needs of others, especially those of the household of faith.” What do you love about Crieve Hall? I love its unpretentious love and service to others. The Crieve Hall congregation is without a doubt the most sacrificial congregation I know when it concerns spreading the pure Gospel and in times of need created by disasters. That behavior is being Christ-like”.