OUR STAFF AND VOLUNTEERS

We have background-checked, dedicated volunteer adult youth leaders who are passionate about seeing students know and grow in Christ. They are led by our pastor of students, Eric Gargus.

Eric Gargus is married to Penelope Gargus, who is also his ministry assistant. They have one young adult daughter, Aydenn, who is pursuing a career in the medical field. The Gargus family loves to travel, eat great food, and find new adventures together.

Eric is a twenty-six-year student ministry veteran whom God has used revitalize five student ministries in the southeast over the last few decades. His passion is to see students and their families grow deeply rooted in faith, and help others do the same. Creating and implementing life-changing trips, along with a consistent weekly faith-growth environment at church, is particularly important to Eric. The Bible is at the core of every aspect of the ministries God allows him to lead.

He is a regularly published freelance writer who has written one 30-day devotion book (NT Encounters, YM360), five weeks of another 52-week devotion book (Tracing the Thread, YM360), a youth retreat resource based on Duck Dynasty’s “Uncle Si” (Interlinc) twenty-two screen games for youth groups (Download Youth Ministry), 40+ Bible studies based on Christian songs/music videos (Interlinc), five weeks of a 52-week youth curriculum (The Thread, YM360), and multiple articles for faith-based magazines and newspapers.

Eric is a graduate of Jacksonville State University, where he earned a Bachelor Social Work with a minor in journalism. He is also a graduate of West Coast Bible College and Seminary where he earned a Master of Ministry in Biblical Counseling.