Staff
Joseph Wheat (pictured at left with his wife, Gina) has been the Senior Pastor at Highlands since July, 2005. He was the Senior Pastor of Village Seven Presbyterian Church in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Prior to Village Seven he was the Founding Pastor of Trinity Presbyterian Church in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. Joseph began his ordained pastoral career at First Presbyterian Church of Augusta, Georgia as an assistant pastor. While at First Presbyterian he met Gina Smith, and they were married in June of 1990. The Wheats have two daughters, Sarah Caitlin and Emily Grace.
He is a 1984 graduate of Auburn University, where he received a BS in Economics. He graduated in 1987 from Reformed Theological Seminary in Jackson, Mississippi with a Master of Divinity degree. Joseph was also received a Doctor of Divinity degree (honorary) from New Geneva Theological seminary in 2006.
Joseph loves being a preacher and a leader! He is passionate about the Word of God, and has enjoyed opportunities to preach and teach widely. He was the featured speaker at the 2005 Mission to the World regional conference in the Greek Isles, 2006 in Panama and 2007 in Kuala Lampur, Malaysia. Joseph also has served as a speaker for the revitalization ministry Embers to a Flame, and serves on the board of Churches Vitalized. He served on the PCA Steering Committee. and as MNA Chairman/Network Leader for church planting in Rocky Mountain Presbytery for six years.
Joseph has articles published in various publications, including an article on worship in Table Talk Magazine. Joseph was also a featured contributor on H.B. London's "Pastor to Pastor" DVD/tape ministry with Focus on the Family. He also currently serves as Chairman of the Board of New Geneva Theological Seminary in Colorado Springs
Bob BrunsonAssociate Pastor Bob Brunson joined the Highlands staff as Assistant Pastor in November 2005, and became Associate Pastor in June 2007. He is originally from Gadsden, Alabama, and earned a degree in communications from the University of Alabama in 1979. Following several years on staff with InterVarsity Christian Fellowship, Bob attended RTS in Jackson, where he completed the Master of Divinity degree in 1986. Bob has served as a small town pastor in Mississippi and Alabama, and as an associate pastor in Florida and Colorado. He comes to Highlands from The Church of The Apostles in Atlanta, Georgia, where he served as Director of Pastoral Care. Bob and his wife Karen have 2 grown children. David and his wife Jackie live and work in Birmingham, and Lindsey teaches in Jackson.
Greg Mann, Administrator, is originally from Jackson and is a graduate of Mississippi State University, where he earned an undergraduate and Masters degree in Education. After eight years of work in Higher Education (MSU and University of North Dakota), he returned to Jackson to work in the real estate appraisal business with his father. Greg has been a member of Highlands since 1998. He is responsible for facilitating and overseeing all activities within the church, managing (in conjunction with the Diaconate) the physical building itself, working with and assisting all church staff, and assisting with the general administrative duties of the church.
Wilson Shirley Wilson Shirley, Director of Student Ministries, has been at Highlands since June 2004. A native of Mississippi, he graduated from Mississippi State University with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Microbiology. While at MSU, the Lord called him to youth ministry at Grace Presbyterian Church in Starkville, MS. In 2001 he went to serve in Pensacola, FL at Pinewoods Presbyterian Church. He and his wife Laura met while attending MSU. Wilson is currently pursuing a Master of Divinity degree from Reformed Theological Seminary in Jackson. Wilson loves all things outdoors. He and Laura have three children, Andrew, Forrest, and Ann Evelyn.
Devin Kahan, who serves as our Junior High Coordinator, joined the student ministry staff in August 2007. He grew up in Longwood, FL, a suburb of Orlando. He attended Furman University in Greenville, SC and received a BA in Economics. Since the summer of 2005, Devin worked as a youth intern at St. Paul's PCA in Orlando, FL. He plans on attending RTS part-time and working towards an MDiv. He loves all sports, especially tennis, golf, basketball, and ultimate Frisbee. Devin loves students and is excited about working with the junior high students of Highlands.
Becky Brown serves as Director of Worship Music. She is responsible for selecting the music used in the Sunday morning worship service and assists in planning the worship service as well as directing the members of the Worship Team. She is a graduate of Mississippi State University. She and her husband, Tom, are the parents of two daughters: Katie, who is married to Timothy Doremus, and Hayley, a graduate student at Mississippi State. They have two grandchildren, Olivia and Jack. Becky began playing for church worship at age 12, and feels that God has been preparing her all her life to serve the congregation at Highlands.
Laurie Nordan Laurie Nordan, Director of Children's Ministries, graduated from Ole Miss with a B.A. in Home Economics. As a pastor’s wife, she has held many positions in the church, most of them involving women and children. She has served for many years in the school system as a substitute and has also held the positions of assistant librarian and music teacher for K-12. Her desire is to see children grow into a real relationship with Jesus as their Lord and Savior. She and her husband, John, have four children—Trey, Natalie, Shelby and Oliver.
Geneva Cooper Geneva Cooper, Office Administrator, is a native of Mississippi. She and her husband, Garland, are members of First Baptist Church Clinton. They are the parents of two sons: Lance, married to Whitney Johnson; and Daniel, married to Mary Gaston. They have also been blessed with four wonderful grandchildren, Henry, Rose, Walt and Mae. Geneva has served on staff at Briarwood Drive Baptist Church, Woodland Hills Baptist Church, and Woodland Hills Academy in Jackson prior to coming to Highlands in June of 2000.
Cloteal SmithCloteal Smith, Nursery Coordinator, has been with Highlands since its beginning in 1994. She is originally from Louisiana, but has lived in Mississippi for most of her life. She has been working with children since 1980. She is the mother of six, the grandmother of 12 and the great-grandmother of two. Cloteal loves life and loves the Lord with all her heart and soul.
DeAnne HegiDeAnne Hegi serves as our Financial Assistant. She has worked at Highlands since 2002. A native of Arkansas, DeAnne has a BA in Accounting from Southern Arkansas University. She and her husband Joe have been members of Broadmoor Baptist Church since their move from Arkansas in 1988. They have two married sons; John and Drew (Morgan).
Curtis DavisCurtis Davis, Building Assistant, is originally from Yazoo County and has spent the last three years working as an orderly at St. Catherine's Village in Madison. Prior to that he served as a pharmacy assistant in the New Orleans area. He is responsible for cleaning and maintenance of the building and for assisting with all building arrangements.
Emily Craft serves as Women's Student Ministry Coordinator, and has served on the student ministry staff since May of 2006. She was on staff for three years with the PCA's college ministry, Reformed University Fellowship (RUF), at Middle Tennessee State University (MTSU) in Murfreesboro, TN. Emily graduated from the University of Georgia (UGA) with a degree in Middle School Education. Her parents still live in Tallahassee, FL where she grew up, although she was born in Mississippi and is glad to be back! While working with the youth of Highlands she is attending Reformed Theological Seminary (RTS) to pursue a Master's Degree in Biblical Studies.
Leigh Lucas, Administrative Assistant for Membership, is a member of Highlands and has served on staff since May 2006. She grew up in Louisiana and is a graduate of Mississippi State University. She has served on staff with Reformed University Fellowship, the college ministry of the PCA. Leigh has two children, Robert and Meri.
Cherita Swanson, Administrative Assistant, was born and raised in Mississippi. She and her husband, Michael, live in Madison with her two sons, Derek and Zach. Her oldest son, Bradley, and his wife, Kellie, live in Gluckstadt. Before coming to Highlands in January of 2008, Cherita worked for a dental office in Ridgeland. Prior to that, she worked for Vickers, Inc. for 14 years and then operated a child care business in her Madison home for several years.
Lee HutchingsLee Hutchings, a native of Akron, Ohio, serves as the Young Adult Ministry Intern here at Highlands. Lee holds a Bachelor’s degree in English Literature from The University of Akron and is currently pursuing a Masters of Divinity degree from Reformed Theological Seminary in Jackson. He is also a teaching assistant at RTS for the practical theology department. He and his wife Diane, who serves on the worship team, love living in the South and are excited to be apart of what God is doing through the life and ministry of Highlands. Lee is an avid golfer and former ski racer who is faintly hoping for more snow in Mississippi.