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Church Leadership

Council of Elders

The New Testament teaches us that the office of elder should exist within every local Church. Elders are those biblically qualified men who serve Christ and the members of a local covenant community by leading the church. Elders exert spiritual authority over a congregation through teaching, protecting, guiding, and shepherding God's people (1 Thessalonians 5:12).

According to 1 Timothy 5:17 the elders of the church are appointed by God to rule well over the congregation, therefore Green Run has entrusted it's leadership to the Council of Elders under the authority of Christ. The elders are men from within the membership of the church who have met biblical qualifications (1 Timothy 3:1-7, Titus 1:5-9), exhibited a God-given desire to perform the duties of an elder, and received affirmation by the members to do so. These men are responsible for governing the church, shepherding the flock, and having oversight of the spiritual affairs of the body (1 Timothy 5:17). The elders are co-equals in authority but may be specialized in function.

David Applegate has served as an elder for more than 20 years at GRBC. He currently serves as the treasurer on the council. 

Amos McCleese has been serving as a member of the council since 2020. He has been attending Green Run for 7 years with his wife Lakendra Mccleese and their three children. Amos was raised in Chesapeake and is currently living in the South Norfolk area.

Pastor Mark Hall is the Associate Pastor at Green Run Baptist Church and currently serves as a member of the Elder Council. Mark graduated with his Masters of Divinity in Pastoral Ministry and Expository Preaching at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary in May of 2022. He lives in Virginia Beach with his beautiful wife Marlyn and their dog Beethoven.

Pastor Steven Azzara serves as the Lead Pastor of GRBC and sits on the David W. Roth Chair of Preaching. He has been married to Meagan since 2016, and they are both from Palatka, Florida. Before coming to Green Run, Pastor Steven served as the teaching pastor of churches in Texas and Kansas. Pastor Steven came to saving faith in 2005 at Peniel Baptist Church, and he has graduated from Dallas Baptist University, Criswell College, and Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. If you would like to meet with Pastor Steven email him at steven@greenrunbaptist.com.

GRBC Deacons

The qualifications for deacons are found in 1 Timothy 3:8-13. Deacons are to be men of dignity, not double-tongued, not addicted to much wine or fond of sordid gain, but holding to the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience. These men must also first be tested, then let them serve as deacons if they are beyond reproach. Women must likewise be dignified, not malicious gossips, but temperate, faithful in all things. Paul goes on to add that men must be the husbands of only one wife, and good managers of their households.

Andrew Baskerville        Ken Bradby
Nathan Hunter   Warren Fletcher
Keith Lowe   Tyler Newlan
Brandon Roth    Zachary Wiland