Staff

Ridley Barron

Senior Pastor

Ridley is a husband, father, grandfather, pastor, author, and communicator who has served in the local church for over 40 years. Born and raised in Georgia, he is a graduate of Mercer University in Macon, Georgia, where he received dual degrees in History and Christianity. After taking a year to teach high school history and coach varsity sports at Tattnall Square Academy in Macon, he continued his education at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas. Before starting Grove Hill Church in 2018, Ridley served several different roles in ministry in churches in Texas, Georgia, and Tennessee. He has served in the roles of Children’s Pastor, Activities Minister, Student Pastor, and Church Planter/Senior Pastor. Grove Hill is the third church plant Ridley has led since 2000. He has also assisted with the start of a multitude of other churches.

Ridley and his wife, Lisa, have been married since 2007 and have four children (Morgan, Harrison, Abby, and Landon), five grandchildren, and one dog (Remington). Ridley enjoys good food, great friends, time with his family, and anything connected to the University of Georgia. On Saturdays in the fall, you will hear him cheering for his beloved Dawgs! When he is not leading Grove Hill, you will usually find him hanging out with friends and family and enjoying something covered in chocolate—easily his greatest weakness.

Jon Ballard

Associate Pastor

Jon Ballard Bio: Jon was born and raised in Northeast Oklahoma. He came to a relationship with Christ as his Lord and Savior in 1998 and has been blessed to watch the Lord paint a beautiful story in his life ever since. One of his great desires is to share the story of how God has redeemed and renewed in his journey over the past decade. This desire to share what God has done has given way to many opportunities in ministry over the years. Jon has been privileged to serve in various roles such as deacon, elder, and small group leader/overseer within Grove Hill Church the last 5 years.

Jon and his wife, Becca, have been married since 2015, and they have two amazing kids Rosemary (6) and Baker (5). They moved to Chapel Hill in 2018 and all along they knew that God was guiding their family’s footsteps. Upon arriving in June of that year, they fell in love with the community, and eventually their steps were led to Grove Hill Church. They are blessed as a family to be here and to be serving where God has planted them.

In Jon’s spare time you will find him and his family rooting for the Oklahoma Sooners. He enjoys fall afternoons with plenty of college football and being a connoisseur of tasty food. Jon also enjoys maps, history, plenty of random facts, and a good cup of coffee. He also loves to hear a good story, so if you have one, he is all ears.

Kyle Hess

Youth Pastor

Kyle accepted Jesus as his personal Savior on Christmas Eve in 1992. It was then that he realized he could not go through his life alone. Since then, he has been involved in many ministries including mission trips, “street witnessing”, Vacation Bible School, food pantries, homeless outreach, church deacon, and over a decade as a volunteer youth pastor.

Kyle and his beautiful wife, Kelly, met in high school in 2001 and have been married since 2009. Since then, they have dedicated their marriage to the will of the Lord, constantly seeking His direction. Kyle would be lost without his helpmate, Kelly. Kyle and Kelly homeschool their two kids, Noah Monte and Storie Marie.

Kyle’s ministry has always been wherever his feet are, being a witness to everyone he encounters in everyday life. Kyle comes to us from his most recent assignment as a Sheriff’s Deputy. Kyle’s years of service in the area of law enforcement provide him invaluable experience walking with people through traumatic situations and being a steady guide through life’s toughest times.

Kyle and Kelly served in roles as lay members of the congregation at Grove Hill Church for nearly a year before stepping into this role as Student Pastor. Kyle would like to encourage you: when God moves in your life, move with Him.

Lori Harber

Children’s Minister

Lori was born in Carrollton, Georgia but has spent most of her life in Middle Tennessee. She began her faith journey in high school where she began a strong, bold relationship with Christ. Lori graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education from Western Kentucky University. She served as a teacher in the classroom since the fall of 2005 and taught the last 17 years in a local elementary school in Chapel Hill.

Lori answered a call to Children’s Ministry and quickly chose to follow that call by becoming our Children’s Minister at Grove Hill Church in December of 2022. She has a heart for children and their families. She has a deep desire to see future generations follow Jesus and loves making everyone feel the true joy of the Lord.

Lori and her husband, Keith, are active members of the community and truly love to take their love for Jesus into the marketplace. They have two wonderful children, Sadie and Lucas. Whether it is the church, ball field or grocery store, you will usually see them serving, together. They truly believe where God has you is your mission field and He will use you. Ruth 1:16 says, “But Ruth replied, “Don’t urge me to leave you or to turn back from you. Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God.”

Barbara Powers

Ministry Assistant

Barbara was drawn into ministry after her missions experience in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil in 2000. Prior to her position here at Grove Hill, she worked with the Tennessee Baptist Mission Board and Midwestern Theological Seminary in Kansas City, accumulating over 20 years of experience in serving alongside churches and pastors. She, and her husband Jacky, have served as volunteers in youth, missions, and disaster relief.

Born and raised in Alabama, Barbara is a die-hard Roll Tide Fan! She’s been married to Jacky since 1983 and they are blessed with two children and three grandchildren. She loves her church, her family, and the company of good friends!

Barbara is passionate about sharing God’s love in tangible ways. She loves to meet new faces and get to know them. In her role as ministry assistant, she is the first call to many who need encouragement and prayer. One of her favorite verses is Philippians 4:14; “Yet it was good of you to share in my troubles.” Barbara’s desire is that everyone who finds their way to Grove Hill is welcomed and truly feels like part of the family.

Jadon Colletti

Worship Leader

I was born in Rochester, New York and blessed to be raised in a Christian home by parents who loved Jesus and loved people. They led me and my siblings by example as we studied the Bible, prayed, served, and went to church gatherings together. One night, after attending Sunday school that morning, 8-year old me sat wide awake in my bed thinking. I had this deep conviction in my soul that I needed to give my life to Jesus. I heard the Gospel numerous times throughout my childhood. I knew that Jesus loved me and I knew that He died for the sins of the world, but this time it really hit me personally. The weight of my sin was so heavy that it was keeping me awake and I just wanted to find freedom and peace. I knew I wasn’t going to sleep until I had gotten right with God so I jumped out of my bed, ran down the stairs, and told my parents who were sitting in our living room at the time, “I NEED TO GET SAVED!” We all went back up to my room, and got on our knees together, and I said a simple child-like prayer. I knew I was a sinner and that the payment for my sin was death, but I believed Jesus had paid the price for my sin, so I called on Him to save me, and change me, and live inside of me – AND HE DID! From that day forward, I’ve never been the same!

I’ve had a passion for Christian worship music since I was a little kid, but right around that time when I met Jesus, I convinced my parents to let me start taking guitar lessons from a worship leader at our church. My interest in worship ministry continued to grow from there as I starting serving in church youth band at age 12, formed a worship group with my friends at age 15, and began writing original worship songs at age 17. Over the years I have loved getting to serve wherever God opened a door for me to use my gifts.

Looking back, I believe He was preparing me for now, at age 21, as I begin leading a music ministry for the first time here at Grove Hill church! I pray that this ministry promotes Biblical worship to our Savior and provides a space for the Holy Spirit to encounter people in their daily lives. My favorite scripture is found in Isaiah 55:8-9 which says “My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, says the Lord. For as the Heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.”

Lisa Barron

Women’s Ministry Co-Leader

Lisa’s personal story is a compelling mixture of triumph and tragedy, of heartache and victory. She loves to share how an amazing God took her from her own personal ashes and created a tale of beauty.

Her heart is for women! Through laughter, tears and diving into the Word, she comes alongside women to cheer them on and to help them embrace their purpose.
Lisa is a mom, wife (yes, she’s married to the pastor), grandmother, daughter, sister and passionate follower of Jesus. Born in Charlottesville, VA, Lisa’s family eventually relocated to Middle Tennessee when she was in 5th grade. So, Tennessee is home and she loves living in Chapel Hill. For many years, she was in the real estate world before putting that aside to serve in her churches alongside Ridley. Lisa loves the outdoors, a good pun, cooking, cuddling her grandkids and laughing.

Kelley Crouder

Missions Coordinator

Kelley was born and raised in Pine Level, North Carolina. She became a follower of Christ when she was 11 and her relationship with Christ and understanding of the gospel didn’t truly grow and develop until she was in college. After going on her first mission trip to Central Asia during college, Kelley decided she wanted to become a teacher and serve God overseas as a missionary.

God had different plans for her and a few short years later she ended up moving to San Diego to be closer to her sister. Kelley worked as an elementary teacher for several years before meeting her wonderful husband Garrett. They got married in 2018 and after some discussion, they decided to move from San Diego to Cornersville in 2022. They now have two precious girls, Emmalyn and Hadley.

Kelley has a heart for missions and is excited to see the Lord continue to work at Grove Hill. In her free time, she is a stay-at-home mom to her lovely kids, loves tending to her flower garden, taking care of her farm animals, and cheering for the N.C. State Wolfpack.

Michelle Pashby

Ministry Assistant

Michelle was born and raised in West Tennessee and moved to Middle Tennessee in 2017 with her husband, Jeremy, and their two children, Mikayla and Jaxson.

She became a Christian at the age of 24 and completely fell in love with Jesus. She and Jeremy were baptized together and began their journey as believers and parents, determined to change the next generation of their family by raising followers of Christ.

Michelle worked as a dental assistant for many years until the Lord called her into full-time ministry. Before coming to GHC, she served as the Medical Dental Unit Coordinator, helping lead dental outreach efforts. She now serves as a Ministry Assistant at Grove Hill Church. She has participated in several mission journeys, including international trips to Africa, Brazil, and Guatemala, as well as numerous local mission opportunities.

In her downtime, Michelle enjoys spending time outdoors with her family, whether hiking to waterfalls, kayaking, going to the beach, or simply relaxing by the pool. She is passionate about helping people come to know Jesus and encouraging them in their daily walk with Him.

Jeff Tracy

AV Coordinator