Pastors & Staff

Keith Gilliam

Lead Pastor

Keith Gilliam has served as the Pastor of Living Hope Church since 1985. Born in Marion, NC, Keith attended Emmanuel College in Franklin Springs, GA and returned to the mountains of North Carolina to pastor his first and only church. He and his wife, Lana, have two children, Jennifer (and husband, Bradley) and John (and wife, Sidney), and a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel named Molly. 

David Crisp

Executive Pastor

David Crisp serves as the Executive Pastor and has been on staff at Living Hope Church since 2000. David oversees day-to-day operations at the church, including oversight of the Living Hope staff. David also leads our Senior Adult Ministries and is a tremendous asset in pastoral care. David is married to Dawn and has two children. Jessica (and husband Hayden), Ben (and wife Tiffany) and three grandchildren, Gabe, Natalie and David.

Gray Williams

Pastor, Outreach and Evangelism

Gray Williams serves as the Pastor of Outreach and Evangelism and has been on-staff at Living Hope since 2001. A graduate of Lee University, Gray’s ministry includes the development and oversight of global mission teams, outreach ministries and recruiting and training believers for ministry. Gray is married to Kim and has two children, Amanda and Bradley, and one grandson, Cameron. 

Stephen Jones

Pastor, Student Ministries

Stephen Jones serves as the Pastor of Student Ministries and has been on-staff at Living Hope since 2007. Stephen is a graduate of Emmanuel College in Franklin Springs, GA, and received a Master of Divinity degree from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary in Charlotte, NC. Stephen is married to Mandy and they have one son, Nate. 

Jonathan Bryan

Pastor, Children's Ministries

Jonathan Bryan, was welcomed to Living Hope in January 2017 and serves as the Pastor of Children’s Ministries. Born in the upstate of South Carolina, and then hailing later from Northeast Georgia, Jonathan gained experience at LHC as an intern in the spring of 2016. He returned to serve on staff after graduating with a Bachelor of Science degree in Christian Ministries from Emmanuel College. Jonathan married Jessica, his high-school sweetheart in July 2017. 

Matt Bartlett

Pastor, Worship Ministries

Matt Bartlett, a native of North Carolina, joined the staff of Living Hope as the Pastor of Worship in March of 2016. Matt has an Associate of Arts degree in music and is a licensed minister with the IPHC. With a wealth of experience in leading worship, writing music, and even preaching and teaching, his passion and heart is to lead people to Jesus. Matt is married to Leigh Ann and they have 3 sons, Landon,  Ashton  and  Cruz.

Kristen Sanders

Director, Hope Groups

Kristen Sanders serves as Director of our Hope Groups Ministries and has been a member of Living Hope Church since 2013. Kristen is an ordained minister in the International Pentecostal Holiness Church. She completed an undergraduate degree from Emmanuel College in Early Childhood Education, a Master of Ministry degree in Church Leadership from Southwestern Christian University Graduate School and a Master of Divinity degree in Church and Ministry from Regent University School of Divinity. She and her husband, Jeremy, have four children who are home educated and impacting their community. Her greatest joys are participating in the discipleship journey of others, preparing people for ministry, and supporting new leaders.

Angie Philyaw

Office Manager

-Angie Philyaw is the Office Manager at Living Hope Church. Born and raised in Caldwell County, Angie has attended Living Hope Church since birth.  Angie’s family has deep roots at Living Hope church that date as far back as the 1950’s when the church began as a small gathering in a tent. She and her husband, Greg, have one child, Autumn.

Clyde Sumner

Facilities Manager

Clyde Sumner has served Living Hope Church since 2006, but has attended our church since 1999. He has extensive experience in sales and service in the paint  industry and furniture division. Clyde manages and maintains the buildings and property here at LHC. He has been married for 27 years to Selina, and they have two children, CJ and Joe. 

Mandy Jones

Media

Mandy Jones, a native of Myrtle Beach, SC,  has served faithfully in ministry at LHC alongside her husband, Stephen,  for 13 years. Recently Mandy joined the LHC team to create graphics, manage our social media presence, and film and produce our weekly announcement videos. She and Stephen have one son, Nate.

Jim Blum

Webmaster

A retired pastor and a native of upstate New York, Jim and his wife Margy and son, David joined the LHC congregation in August, 2009 and have since poured themselves into ministry to our community. More than just an accomplished speaker, musician, and rocket scientist, Jim also updates and maintains the LHC website. Contact him with any questions or comments that you may have.