Jeff Weber - Lead Pastor
In 1982, Jeff sensed a call to prepare for vocational ministry. He and his family moved to Columbia, South Carolina where Jeff completed a degree in biblical studies. After completing his degree program, he served on the staff of Columbia International University. Following his love for cross-cultural ministry Jeff entered law school with plans to use that degree to enter countries otherwise closed to the gospel. However, God had other plans and redirected his steps to Greensboro, North Carolina where he practiced with the firm of Smith Moore. While serving in the marketplace, Jeff became increasingly involved at Christ Community Church in Greensboro and in 1997, accepted the offer of the church to join their staff full time. He served in roles as Elder, Pastor of Small Groups, Executive Pastor as well as teaching and preaching regularly while he completed seminary in Charlotte, North Carolina. Jeff loved the people at CCC but in 2004, sensed God was drawing his season of ministry there to a close. Jeff felt called to plant a missional model church in the city that he and his family had grown to love.
In February 2009, Sojourn Community Church held its first public worship service, held Kernodle Middle School, where the church still meets today. Jeff has been married to his High School sweetheart since 1980 and has five children: Sara, Benjamin, Nathan, Daniel and Rebekah. His wife Leigh Ann has a degree in Communications from Michigan State University. Sara is married to John Acker in December and they now reside in Charlotte. After completing his degree at Columbia International University, Ben was married to Cherie in June, and they presently live in Greensboro. Nathan is completing his Degree in Psychology at Western Carolina; Daniel is completing his degree in Education at Appalachian University. Rebekah is a senior at Weaver Academy (downtown Greensboro) and hopes to spend part of her summer serving in Israel!
Marc Cockerham - Pastor of Worship & Arts
Marc and Leah Cockerham live in Greensboro with their three wonderful kiddos. Riley, 10, is the aspiring actress of the family. She exudes creativity and enjoys old movies. Lawson, 8, is the aspiring comic. He is a lover of the gridiron, and is intrigued by Science. Hudson, 2.5, is the aspiring rocker. He has an active social life, and enjoys helping out the fam. Marc and Leah have been married for 12 years and are high school sweethearts. Marc enjoys reading a good fiction, digging into a theological debate, and typically has one too many irons in the fire. Leah, thirty something, is passionate about interior design and enjoys listening to a variety of tunes. She is the one that holds us all together
Kathy Speight - Director of Ministries
Born in Chicago, Illinois, Kathy loved being part of a big family with seven brothers and sisters. She has been a resident of Greensboro, NC for over 25 years and graduated from UNCG with a Business Marketing degree. Kathy's first job out of college was with Burlington Industries, a textile company based in Greensboro.
Several years of management and human resources positions brought Kathy to a great endeavor. In 2007 she founded Friends in Action Publishing and on 06/07/08 Imagine If...I Could Calm a Storm was released as a children's book. Kathy's passion is watching others take the lead to help others; especially young children.
Kathy and her husband Jerry were married in 1996 and they have two bright and creative sons: Camden (10) and Cooper (7). The Speights love baseball and traveling together.
Ben Weber - Pastor of Student Ministries
Ben serves as Sojourn's Pastor of Student Ministries. He loves to hang out with and invest his life in the lives of junior and senior high students. Ben grew up in Greensboro and after graduating from Page High School, he attended and graduated from Columbia International University with a BA in Biblical Studies, and a minor in Elementary Education and Teaching English as a Foreign Language. Ben has a life long passion for working with and discipling young people. He is joined by his wife Cherie, who loves to work with students as well. Ben and Cherie are expecting their first child in May.
Kim Gentry - Director of Children's Ministry
Kim is a native to Greensboro, NC. She grew up in church and accepted Christ as her Lord and savior at the age of eleven during Vacation Bible School. She started working in the nursery at church as a teenager and has been involved in children's ministry since.
She lives with her husband of 13 years, Todd and 3 of her 4 children. Jessica their oldest moved to South Carolina after graduating from Erskine College. Austin is 15 and just completed his freshman year of high school. Kim homeschools Anna (10) and Luke (8). Kim's interests include watching movies with her family, helping out with the kids swim team and scrapbooking. Her heart is to touch every child she meets with the love of Christ.
Barbara Darst - Treasurer
Often teased by her husband and others, Barbara has often been called a 'northerner' (like it's a bad thing!), even though Barbara has lived in the Greensboro area for over half of her life. She was born and raised in Pittsburgh, PA and moved to Greensboro after graduating from Penn State University.
Barbara lives in Summerfield with her husband, Rob, their son, Chandler (age 12) and their two dogs, Goober and Lucy. They have two daughters in college: the oldest, Haley, is in her 4th year of a 5-year program in Architectural Engineering at Penn State University, and Meghan, is a sophomore in Graphic Arts and Imaging Technology at Appalachian State University. Rob also has an older son, Matt, who lives in Washington, DC with his wife Gabrielle.
Barbara enjoys cheering on her Pittsburgh sports teams, as well as following college football - especially the Penn State Nittany Lions and Appalachian Mountaineers. If she has spare time, Barbara enjoys reading, sewing, and gardening/landscaping.