STAFF ELDERS
Justin Ely
Lead Pastor
Justin is Lead Pastor. The author of Gospel Focused Discipleship, a three-year curriculum for discipleship, he hosts Monday Musings, a podcast about culture and theology, with Daniel. He has a business degree in Marketing from the University of Georgia and a Master of Divinity from Southeastern Seminary. Before planting CFC in 2017, he served in previous churches as College Pastor, Missions Pastor, Young Adult Pastor, and Discipleship Pastor.
Justin came to faith in Christ through the witness of his mom when he was a child and felt called to ministry in the eighth grade. Both the Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA) and BYX (a Christian fraternity) played an important role in growing his faith in high school and college. He enjoys UGA football games and playing golf in his free time.
He is married to Hillary, and they have three young children.
Justin came to faith in Christ through the witness of his mom when he was a child and felt called to ministry in the eighth grade. Both the Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA) and BYX (a Christian fraternity) played an important role in growing his faith in high school and college. He enjoys UGA football games and playing golf in his free time.
He is married to Hillary, and they have three young children.
Daniel Chen
Pastor for Discipleship
Daniel Chen is Pastor for Discipleship. He hosts Monday Musings, a podcast about culture and theology, with Justin. Before joining CFC, he worked as a software consultant and, later, was Campus Director for Campus Outreach at Kennesaw State. He has a degree in Industrial Engineering from Georgia Tech and a Master of Divinity from Metro Atlanta Seminary.
He loves watching sports, early morning workouts with friends, and playing tennis, basketball, and pickleball. He enjoys fantasy novels and is a foodie. He likes hugs—except side hugs, which he hates.
Among his more notable accomplishments are saving a tuba player from being run over by an ESPN TV crane on the sidelines of a college football game, backpacking through Europe (and being thoroughly unimpressed—USA! USA! USA!), and having a restaurant name a burger after him—The Cheneral—in Panama City Beach.
He is married to Meredith, and they have four young children, Charlotte, Thomas, Samuel, and Calvin.
He loves watching sports, early morning workouts with friends, and playing tennis, basketball, and pickleball. He enjoys fantasy novels and is a foodie. He likes hugs—except side hugs, which he hates.
Among his more notable accomplishments are saving a tuba player from being run over by an ESPN TV crane on the sidelines of a college football game, backpacking through Europe (and being thoroughly unimpressed—USA! USA! USA!), and having a restaurant name a burger after him—The Cheneral—in Panama City Beach.
He is married to Meredith, and they have four young children, Charlotte, Thomas, Samuel, and Calvin.
Willie Padgett
Pastor for Corporate Worship
Willie is Pastor for Corporate Worship. He currently works at Ameris Bank in the mortgage industry and previously served as an officer in the Army Reserves. He graduated from the University of North Georgia with a BA in Music Performance with an emphasis on Classical Guitar.
Willie started playing guitar in his youth group band when he was 15, played the bottom bass drum on the drumline in college, and sang in many choirs growing up. In his free time, he enjoys running, vacationing in the mountains, and reading (The Lord of the Rings and The Pilgrim’s Progress are his two favorites).
He is married to Katie, and they have three young children.
Willie started playing guitar in his youth group band when he was 15, played the bottom bass drum on the drumline in college, and sang in many choirs growing up. In his free time, he enjoys running, vacationing in the mountains, and reading (The Lord of the Rings and The Pilgrim’s Progress are his two favorites).
He is married to Katie, and they have three young children.
LAY ELDERS
Jonathan Gunter
Michael Harward
Tyler Linderman
Charley Malmquist
Todd Shearer
Danal Slay
Ron Wakefield
John Wood
DEACONS
Donna Kay Brown
Hospitality
Jason Cole
Audit
Hillary Ely
Congregational Care
Jim Brown
Security
Josh Coberly
Connect
Daniel Flaherty
Video Production
Meredith Chen
Women's Ministry
Austin Dudman
Men's Minsitry
Lessie Gunter
Scheduling
Amelia Mahfood
Partner Care
Austin Wen
Tech
Julie Malmquist
Kids
Tim and Katy Whitson
Foster Care & Adoption
Joey Nay
Students
We also have a Women's Shepherding Team to specifically assist the elders in caring for the women in our church. You can find more about the Women's Shepherding Team here.
You can learn more about how our church is led and governed by reading our bylaws here.