Our staff bring a passion to Chatham Church for sharing the gospel of Jesus, caring for our congregation, and interacting with our community. Please pray for and encourage these men and women as they use their gifts and talents to serve our church family and those around us.
Alex Kirk
Lead Pastor
Alex came to Chatham Church in 2012 to serve as lead pastor after 16 years of campus ministry experience with InterVarsity Christian Fellowship. He loves great conversations around great coffee, cheering on all things Tar Heels, and building Christ-centered communities that leave life in their wake.
"Chatham Community Church has been a great place not only for me to serve but for my whole family to be a part of a warm community. Our kids love it here! And my wife and I have been incredibly blessed to do life with such a gifted, welcoming, and fun group of people. Come and see." alex@chathamchurch.org
Jaime Castañer Weiss
Campus Teaching Pastor - Pittsboro
Jaime was born and raised in Puerto Rico. After living in New York for 10 years, Jaime moved to Pittsboro in 2018. Previously, Jaime worked as a mechanical engineer, served in college ministry with InterVarsity Christian Fellowship, and was an Associate Pastor at Living Christ Church in Nyack, NY. Jaime is passionate about seeing people thrive through a life centered on Jesus. He loves good food, good conversation, good games, and good coffee. jaime@chathamchurch.org
Michelle Stith
Minister of Worship and Creative Arts
Michelle grew up in the mountains of NC, but came to the piedmont to attend UNC where she met her husband and co-worship leader, Mark. Michelle loves worship and music and is passionate about the communal artistic expression of our faith.
She and Mark have 5 much-beloved kids (and now a son-in-law, three daughters-in-law and grandchildren! ) who love to eat, laugh, read, and make music together on their farm in rural Chatham County. She also enjoys having the grandchildren over for sleepovers. michelle@chathamchurch.org
Cynthia Dekaney
Director of Children's Ministries
Cynthia is most comfortable when surrounded by small children and has consequently spent most of her life working and serving in schools and ministries involving kids and youth. She and Chris met while attending Texas A&M and married shortly after graduation. They relocated to Chatham County from Houston, Texas, in 2007 and have loved raising 5 kids here.
"I can't imagine anything more special than getting to share the story of God's love with children. I enjoy watching parents raise their children to love the Lord and walk beside them in the process. Chatham Church has been an incredible extended family for us here and I am thrilled to have the opportunity to work in this program and ensure that it continues to bless other families the way it did ours." cynthia@chathamchurch.org
MaryJo Williams
Financial Assistant
MaryJo was born and raised in Pittsburgh, PA where she married her high school sweetheart, Rick. Along with their 2 children they moved around the country, living in the Silicon Valley of CA for 12 years. In 2001 they moved back east to help take care of their elderly parents. Three years later they settled in North Carolina and are greatly blessed that their children decided to relocate here. They are both married and between them have 7 children, 3 of which are adopted from China. MaryJo loves studying the Bible and enjoys gardening, baking and spending time with the grandchildren. maryjo@chathamchurch.org
Jessica Waldstein
Administrative Assistant
Jessica grew up in the Ozarks of Missouri and has degrees in Secondary Education and Education Administration. She and her husband, Dan, are parents to three kids, and they came to North Carolina and Chatham Church in 2015 by way of Missouri, North Dakota, California, and South Dakota. Jessica loves living in the South, testing her fitness at CrossFit, and creating order out of chaos. She’s never met a spreadsheet she didn’t like, and Jessica is happy to be putting her best nerd skills to use as administrative assistant for Chatham Church! jessica.waldstein@chathamchurch.org
Kaitlin Newell
Music Director
Kaitlin grew up in Durham. She was homeschooled through high school and, after graduation, received her Associate of Arts from Durham Tech. From there, she transferred to Catawba College and recently received her Bachelor of Arts in Music with concentrations in Worship Arts and Vocal Pedagogy, Class of 2021. She has pursued music since high school and has solidified her passion through multiple church internships and teaching music at the School of Rock Chapel Hill. She and Peter met in high school and got married in May of 2021. They now live in the Southpoint area with their beautiful plants and ever-growing collection of instruments. kaitlin@chathamchurch.org
Dave Taylor
Technical Support
Dave grew up in the mountains of Southern California and moved to Mooresville NC, in 2008 when he began going to school at UNC Charlotte. After graduation, Dave became involved with Rocky Mount UMC in Mooresville and later became the Assistant Youth Pastor and Worship Technology Director. During his time at Rocky Mount, Dave attended Hood Theological Seminary, and met his wife Lorin and her three children, Jayde, Adalyn and Vincent. Since then the Taylor’s have followed God’s leading to and then back from Northwestern PA. Dave, Lorin and their 5 children landed in Chatham County in February of 2022 and already love their new church home! Dave loves spending time with his family, hanging with teenagers, playing guitar, listening to nerdy podcasts, taking pictures and drinking great coffee. dave.taylor@chathamchurch.org
Tommy Parker
Video Director
Tommy was born and raised in Virginia. He attended Iowa State University and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Political Science with an International Studies emphasis. Tommy pursued this specific degree to gain an understanding of different cultures and religions in order to have a better perspective on life as he traveled the world while serving in the United States Marine Corps. During his military service, Tommy was lucky enough to find his soulmate, Megan. They have been married since 2003 and have been blessed with three healthy children, Wyatt, Olivia, and Colby. video@chathamchurch.org
Keith Ritchea
Facilities Manager
Keith is an avid outdoorsman and loves to share that with friends and family. He was raised in Akron Ohio and played in the marching band in high school where he met his high school sweetheart Jan. They married right out of high school and started their family which has grown to include three children, nine grandchildren, and recently the addition of a great granddaughter. They moved to Chatham County from Northern Virginia in 1996 and searched for a new church until they found Chatham Community Church which was meeting at Perry Harrison School. “I love the community spirit of Chatham Community Church and our willingness to help all of our neighbors in need” keith.ritchea@chathamchurch.org
Nicole Segnere
Administrative Assistant
Nicole was born and raised in Pennsylvania. She attended Alvernia College and earned an Associate Degree in Nursing. While in nursing school, she met the love of her life, Chris. They moved to North Carolina in 2004. They are raising 2 daughters on their small farm in rural Chatham County. In her spare time, Nicole enjoys volunteering with a local animal rescue, baking from scratch, making quilts and designing handmade cards. ” nicole@chathamchurch.org
Ernie Lane
Director of Operations and Student Ministries
Ernie was born and raised in Wilmington, North Carolina. He went to East Carolina University for a degree in Athletic Training. Ernie has experienced jobs in athletics, financial institutions and teaching. Ernie and his wife Katie moved to Pittsboro in 2010 and have been a part of CCC since 2011. They have two wonderful daughters Riley and Kylee. Ernie has enjoyed his walk with the Lord and has seen it grow in recent years. He will work with both campuses in their day-to-day, and special event operations for CCC, nonprofits, and church partners. Ernie enjoys spending time with Katie and the girls, friends, listening to music, and pursuing a pastoral calling. ”
"There is something special about Chatham Community Church, the relationships that grow here. I started serving the church and it changed me, but that is just one way of connection here. There are small groups, Chatham Serves projects, Chatham Kids, Mosaic Youth Ministry, and so much more that connect us to each other and God!" ernie@chathamchurch.org
Elizabeth Lynberg
Director of Family Ministries
Elizabeth has served in various ministry roles over the years, such as leading small groups, training leaders, and generally doing her best to help people feel welcome. She is currently earning her Masters in Biblical and Theological Studies at Dallas Theological Seminary. Elizabeth was born in New Jersey, met and married her husband, Mike, in Boston and together they moved to the central coast of California where they raised their family. While she wasn’t born in North Carolina, she got here as soon as she could. Elizabeth and her husband, Mike, have two adult sons, Matthew and Andrew and a daughter-in-love, Rachel." elizabeth.lynberg@chathamchurch.org