Our Staff
Jeff Simmons, Pastor
Jeff Simmons serves as the pastor of RHCC. "My passion is to see people come to know Christ and to see mature believers using their gifts to make a difference for the Kingdom of Christ." In October of 2002, Jeff and his wife, Lisa, along with a core team of 15 other people, felt called by God to begin Rolling Hills Community Church. "What an incredible journey this is! Each and every day God does something new, and He continues to bless His new church in an amazing way. God constantly brings new people to join in the work of loving and making a difference in this city and this world for the Kingdom of Christ."
Jeff's journey with Christ began at a young age while growing up in San Antonio, Texas, where he was blessed with two godly parents who love the Lord and taught him about God. In addition, he grew up in a wonderful church in San Antonio with a great pastor and an incredible youth ministry. Jeff felt called to the ministry in ninth grade at a youth summer camp.
He went on to Baylor University where he graduated with a B.B.A. in finance and marketing and then earned his masters degree from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. For 5 years, Jeff served as the Student Ministry Associate at Trinity Baptist Church in San Antonio, Texas-his home church. Then in 1995, Jeff came to First Baptist Church, Nashville, where he served as Minister to Students. While there, he met his wife, Lisa-they were married in 2001. Jeff and Lisa's ministry continued at First Baptist until they heard the call to plant a new church. That church became Rolling Hills, where they are happily working alongside numerous other excited church planters, following where God leads with excitement and anticipation!
Jeff and Lisa live in Franklin with their daughters, Grace and Mabry. To contact Jeff, email jeff@rollinghillscommunity.org.
Brent Hutchinson, Community Life Pastor
Brent Hutchinson is the Community Life Pastor at Rolling Hills Community Church. Brent was raised in rural Lawrence County, Kentucky. His journey with God started very early at a small, country Methodist church, and he recognized Christ as Lord and Savior when he was seven. However, his deepest discipleship really began when he went to college at Morehead State University and got involved in the Baptist Student Union. There, Brent learned what it meant to really follow God and to own his faith. He was exposed to ministry, missions, Christian leadership, and true fellowship, really for the first time.
Brent and his wife, Gwen have been a part of the Rolling Hills family since 2003. They live in Thompson's Station with their sons, Adam and Miles. To contact Brent, email brent@rollinghillscommunity.org.
Nic Allen, Student Pastor
Nicholas Allen will begin as the Student Pastor at Rolling Hills Community Church on August 26, 2007. Nic grew up in Montgomery, Alabama until age fourteen when his family moved to Charlotte, North Carolina. Church was always an important part of his life. Nic learned about Jesus at an early age and understood his need for forgiveness when he was seven. It was then that he experienced God's gift of salvation, was baptized, and began his own pursuit of God.
The arts were Nic's passion growing up. Anything related to visual arts, theatre, and music were important to Nic. He went to a performing arts school and it was there that he really began to understand the way that God had wired him.
His experience in ministry began in 1998 when some guys at the North Carolina Baptist State Convention took a chance and gave him the opportunity to serve as an Associate Campus Minister and to lead Youth Evangelism Camps during the summer of 1999. After spending two years taking students to cities in the northeast to serve alongside church planters in areas of evangelism and service, he began serving as a Student Pastor for Forest Pointe Church in Belmont, North Carolina in 2001. Since leaving the Charlotte area in 2005, God afforded Nic the chance to join the Fuge family as a Camp Pastor for M-Fuge and Centrifuge the past three summers, while continuing his work as Student Pastor at First Baptist Church in Daytona Beach, Florida. Nic's passion is to equip students with a biblical worldview and see them experience total life change as they learn to obediently follow Christ.
Nic met his wife, Susan, while completing their undergraduate degrees at Appalachian State University. Nic holds a degree in Applied Communication with a minor in Religion, while Susan studied Health Promotion. They fell hopelessly in love in 1998, graduated in 1999, and got married in June of 2000. They both entered into graduate studies in the Divinity School at Gardner Webb University and completed approximately 60 hours of course work before moving to Florida in 2005. They have two wonderful girls at home. Lillie Cate is their young daughter, and Molly is their precious six-year-old Cocker Spaniel.
To contact Nic, email nic@rollinghillscommunity.org
Tracy Lockwood, Business Administrator
Tracy Lockwood is the Financial and Administrative Assistant for Rolling Hills Community Church. Tracy grew up in Tulsa, Oklahoma, where she received her education and her status as C.P.A. In 1997, she moved to Nashville to work as Controller of a publicly held company.
After sensing a call to ministry, she left the corporate world, in 1999, to work for Jeff Simmons at First Baptist Church, Nashville, as Administrative Assistant for the student ministry. Her background in accounting and the desire to move more into that line of work made it an easy transition to join the staff at Rolling Hills, in 2005, as the Financial and Administrative Assistant. Tracy became a Christian at age 30, but has experienced the most spiritual growth since moving to Nashville. Tracy lives in Nashville with her favorite dog, Chloe. To contact Tracy, email tracy@rollinghillscommunity.org.
Lisa Rollins, Administrative Assistant
Lisa Rollins serves as administrative assistant at RHCC. She grew up in the Nashville area and accepted Christ as her Savior at an early age. She and her husband, Bill, have been active in church leadership throughout their marriage and felt called to join Rolling Hills in January 2003. They reside in Franklin and have a daughter, Audra, son-in-law, John, and a son, Joseph. To contact Lisa, email lisa@rollinghillscommunity.org.
Laura Chapman, Ministry Development Director
Having accepted Christ at an early age, Laura made her public profession of faith and was baptized on Easter Sunday when she was in the fifth grade. Her high school youth ministry experience laid a strong foundation for her walk with Christ. She attended Samford University in Birmingham, Alabama, and returned home to Tennessee where she taught elementary school for ten years. During that time, Laura was heavily involved as a lay-leader and Summer Coordinator in the Student Ministry of First Baptist Church Nashville, her home church. She also obtained her Master's degree in Educational Leadership from Trevecca Nazarene University. Laura joined Rolling Hills in 2003, where she continued to be passionate about her involvement at church. Participating in Women's Ministry, Youth, Missions and as a Community Group Leader. In the summer of 2006, Laura joined the Rolling Hills staff.
As Ministry Development Director, Laura loves connecting members of the Body of Christ to their Lord and to each other through service at church. She assists the Community Life Pastor, Brent Hutchinson, as well. Laura lives in Franklin and can be reached at laura@rollinghillscommunity.org.
Matt Robertson, College Ministry Coordinator/Community Life Assistant
Matt Robertson began as the College Ministry Coordinator at Rolling Hills Community Church in August of 2007 and, soon after, took on additional responsibilities as the Community Life Assistant. Matt grew up in Northern Kentucky and attended college at the University of Louisville where he graduated with his B.A. in Psychology in 1996. Matt came to know Christ in elementary school but it wasn’t until his college years that his desire to know God more developed into a call of ministry to college students. As a college student himself, Matt was involved with the Baptist Student Union from beginning to end and everywhere in between. Matt learned the importance of Christian discipleship, leadership, ministry, and missions through this organization that is on over 800 campuses nationwide.Matt met his wife, Shannon, when they both served as summer missionaries through Kentucky BSU in 1994. Their heart for ministry and missions drew them together and they married in 1997. Both Matt and Shannon attended Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas where they each earned their M.A. in Christian Education. Fort Worth was a great experience for both of them; Shannon taught elementary school while Matt volunteered at the Baptist Campus Ministry at the University of Texas in Arlington. God also gave them both the opportunity to minister to college students at Wedgwood Baptist Church where they experienced both tremendous joy and deep sorrow through a tragic shooting at Wedgwood in 1999. A few years later, God called Matt and Shannon to Frostburg, Maryland where Matt served as both the youth minister at Welsh Memorial Baptist Church and the Baptist Campus Minister at Frostburg State University. From 2002 to 2005, Matt had the task of rebuilding a ministry to the students at FSU through the Baptist Collegiate Ministry program. Matt’s desire to see students grow in their relationship with Christ and develop their Christian leadership skills helped to build a stable ministry program on that campus. At the end of 2005, Matt and Shannon moved to Anderson, South Carolina where he became the Director of BCM and Missions for the Campus Ministries Department. In his short time at Anderson, Matt led student mission groups to serve in places like New York City, Myrtle Beach, and Guatemala and had the opportunity to send out dozens of other students to serve in Southeast Asia, Canada, Detroit, New York, and Orlando.
Matt and Shannon moved to the Nashville area in early 2007 when God provided Shannon the opportunity to become Team Leader for Centri-Kid and Crosspoint camps at Lifeway Christian Resources. Her experience with Fuge Camps started in 1996 and it opened up this door for Shannon to rejuvenate the kid’s camp programs at Lifeway. Their hearts to minister to college students not only reaches our collegeiates at Rolling Hills but the students that staff Shannon’s camp teams during the summer as well.
Matt and Shannon currently reside in Thompson’s Station with their little pup, Bauer. To contact Matt, email matt@rollinghillscommunity.org.
Steve Davis, Missions Pastor
Steve Davis came to Rolling Hills in August 2007 with 29 years of ministry experience, including 10 years as a Youth Director and 11 years of international work in Mexico, Russia, Romania and Moldova. “Just when you think God couldn’t possibly bless you with anything more exciting or fulfilling, He proves you wrong!” says Steve about his move to Nashville and Rolling Hills from Texas. “I had the privilege of closely associating with the church for five years through my previous work with Children’s Emergency Relief International and was always knocked out by their creativity, energy and enthusiasm for the Moldovan children I loved so much. To now be a member and fellow-servant allows me to be in the middle of all that excitement and extend our resources to other countries with compelling needs.”Steve has an undergraduate degree in business from Dallas Baptist College, a Master of Divinity degree from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary and a Master of Counseling degree from St. Mary’s University in San Antonio. He is married to Vicki Davis and they have grown children – Ryan and Shawn – who reside in Texas.
In addition to serving as Missions Pastor, Steve also serves as the Executive Director of Justice and Mercy International (JMI), a newly formed nonprofit organization that fulfills the missions priorities of Rolling Hills. “JMI will allow us and our church partners a vehicle to do humanitarian aid work in countries that discriminate against religious organizations.”
Liz Owen, Business and Communications Director
Liz began as the Business and Communications Director at Rolling Hills Community Church in September of 2007. Liz grew up in Montgomery, AL where she attended Trinity Presbyterian School. Liz accepted Christ as her savior in the sixth grade, but in her later years of high school really learned what it meant to walk with Christ in a daily relationship. She attended Auburn University and met her husband, Scott, while they were both serving as Young Life leaders at a local high school. Liz graduated from Auburn University with a degree in Industrial and Systems Engineering. Upon graduating from Auburn, Liz was employed by Lees Carpets, the commercial division of Mohawk Industries in Roanoke, VA where she was an Industrial Engineer and later, Manufacturing Manager. Liz and Scott were married in January of 2002 and also served as Young Life leaders in Virginia.In January of 2004, Liz accepted a position as Operations Manager for Dell, Inc. which brought Liz and Scott to Nashville. Liz's most recent role at Dell was Operations Manager for Portables Fulfillment at Dell’s East Coast Fulfillment Center in Nashville which meant responsibility for all laptop orders for the Eastern U.S., Canada, Latin America, and Mexico. Liz is also certified in Six Sigma and Lean Manufacturing and has been a project manager on several strategic engineering and construction projects for Dell. In the Summer of 2007 Liz felt the Lord leading her to be a part of what He is doing at Rolling Hills. In the Fall of 2007 Liz left Dell to be the Business and Communications Director for the Church and head up the Wildest Dreams campaign.
Scott is employed by Dell, Inc. as a Business Sales Manager. Liz and Scott have two children, Emma Grace, 4, and Griffin Scott, 2, and live in Franklin, TN. To contact Liz, email her at liz@rollinghillscommunity.org
Danette Cravens, Pre-school Ministry Coordinator
Danette Cravens began serving as the Preschool Ministry Coordinator for Rolling Hills Community Church in June of 2007. Danette grew up in Princeton, KY where she became a Christian at the age of 10 and felt God calling her into ministry at the age of 15. She graduated from Murray State University with a degree in Elementary Education. After graduating, she served as a semester missionary in Atlanta, GA with the North American Mission Board. After returning to Kentucky, she began her teaching career as a preschool special needs teacher. While teaching, she had the opportunity to work for M-Fuge and Centrifuge youth camps during the summer. During this time she met her husband, Kyle Cravens. They married in August 2000 and moved to Nashville when Kyle accepted a position working with Fuge camps full-time. After moving to Franklin, Danette worked as a preschool special education teacher for 3 years. In September 2003, Danette and Kyle welcomed Colin Gray Cravens into their family and Danette began staying at home full-time. During this time she began writing Preschool and Children’s Sunday school curriculum for LifeWay Christian Resources. She also worked for Tennessee Early Intervention System as a parent advisor for families with children with disabilities under the age of 3 until she began with Rolling Hills.Danette is so excited that her call to ministry and her love for preschoolers and their families have finally combined in the opportunity to serve as the preschool ministry coordinator for Rolling Hills Community Church. She is looking forward to starting a weekday Preschool for Rolling Hills in the near future. To contact Danette, email her at danette@rollinghillscommunity.org.
Aimee Scalf, Children's Pastor
Aimee Scalf is the Children’s Pastor at Rolling Hills Community Church. Aimee learned what a missionary was at nine years old and decided that was what she wanted to do with her life. She didn’t know when or where, but she knew God was calling her into a life of service. She grew up in a small Baptist church in New Albany, Ohio. It was evident as a young teen that Aimee loved children passionately. She was involved in downtown mission projects, youth choir, and leading children’s worship all at a young age.
Aimee went on to earn a B.A. in Interdisciplinary Childhood Development from Morehead State University in 1996. During college she found out how to be a disciple, in a growing every day relationship with the Lord. During this time she committed her life to full time service. After college she felt called to go on to seminary for further preparation. She earned a Master of Divinity from Golden Gate Baptist Theological Seminary in 2001. During her graduate education in the Seattle area, Aimee directed a Christian Day Care and Preschool. In 2004 she moved east to become the Preschool Minister in at First Baptist Church in Hendersonville, North Carolina. While there she also directed the church’s Weekday Early Education Program. Aimee quickly learned that one of her favorite things to do with children is church camp! She could live at camp.
Aimee loves music, art, theatre and espresso! She lives with her two German Shepherds, Sydney and Brutus. Her passion is to invest her life in the lives of children and earn the opportunity to share Christ with them.
To contact Aimee, e-mail aimee@rollinghillscommunity.org.
Kelly Minter, Worship Leader
Kelly is a worship leader, author, songwriter, speaker, and musician. Over the last several years, Kelly served as a worship leader in many churches from coast to coast in an interim capacity. Now, Kelly is releasing a worship project titled, “Finer Day,” due in the early spring of 2008 on the Kingsway label. Before her full album is available, Kelly will appear on a live worship DVD titled, Worship at the Abbey. The multi-artist project was recorded at England’s famed Abbey Road in January 2007 by Kingsway and features Stuart Townend, Tim Hughes and other noted international worship leaders. Kelly also recently finished a guest performance in Ireland on Stuart Townend’s live DVD recording, singing two songs she wrote with Townend, as well as led worship in England for Kingsway’s annual worship conference. Along with being a worship leader, Kelly is also an accomplished songwriter and artist. Kelly got her start as a recording artist. Her 2001 major-label debut, Good Day, garnered critical acclaim, and its follow-up, 2003’s Wrestling the Angels, built on that solid foundation with the song, “This Is My Offering,” soaring to No. 1 on the charts. In addition, Kelly is already an acclaimed author with the title, Water into Wine: Hope for the Miraculous in the Struggle of the Mundane, released in 2004 by WaterBrook Press. Kelly’s latest project, a Bible study that is part of her unique new Living Room Series, has been two years in the making. The first title, No Other Gods, was released in August of 2007.
During her tenure as the RHCC Worship Leader, Kelly will continue leading a number of conferences around the world, working on other musical releases, and writing books and Bible study curricula. Nonetheless, her commitment to Rolling Hills is earnest and heartfelt. She will be working with Rolling Hills to develop and train musicians and disciples as we transition into a new phase in the life of the church, as well as lead us in corporate worship on Sunday mornings. Kelly’s time as our Interim Worship Leader has allowed her to get to know Rolling Hills from the inside out, and her passion for what God is doing here is sincere and contagious. This is a great next step for Kelly as she stays obedient to God in her calling and as we continue to chart our course as His church.
You can find out more about Kelly at www.kellyminter.com or email her at kelly@rollinghillscommunity.org
