Elders:

Our elders are spiritual leaders who provide instruction by teaching or preaching God’s truths from the Bible and shepherding the people's souls. They oversee the church's doctrine, government, discipline, and direction.  

Deacons:

Our deacons carry out the practical ministries of the church by ministering to the needy, maintaining facilities, collecting, and distributing the finances; and encouraging hospitality.

Staff:

Our staff includes pastors and paid ministry leaders who oversee the day-to-day work of the church.

Pastor Jay Krestar brings a wealth of experience and a heart deeply committed to the gospel of Jesus Christ. With over 16 years of service as a Ruling Elder in the PCA alongside serving as Chief Operations Officer at Carolina's HomeTown Respiratory, his leadership is marked by a fervent dedication to scripture, emphasizing evangelism and spiritual growth. Holding a Master of Divinity from LAMP Theological Seminary, Jay's vision for our church is to foster a community deeply rooted in Christ through the Word, Sacraments, and Prayer. He and his wife, Wendy, have two adult children, daughter Emily with husband Austin of Hickory, and son Ethan. Outside the church, Jay enjoys spending time with family and going on motorcycling adventures. His favorite scripture, Romans 8:1, encapsulates his message of grace and redemption, inspiring us to live in the freedom of Christ's love.

Lauren Henderson grew up here at First Presbyterian Church. She received her Bachelor’s Degree in Christian Education (with an emphasis on Children’s Ministry) from Montreat College, Montreat, NC. She as 3 children: two adults, daughter Olivia and son Jake, and a teenage daughter, Ashleigh.

Lisa Revels joined First Presbyterian Church at the age of two with her family. She has been raised here and continues to raise her own family as members of our congregation. Lisa, with husband Jamie, has three children: Emily, Harrison & Jack. She has worked as a professional volleyball coach for 17 years. 

Sandra Taylor joined our staff as a part-time secretary in August 2006. With the increase in responsibility, she became full-time Administrative Assistant in January 2013. Sandra enjoys working outside and camping with her family. She has one grown son.