Our Team

"Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend."

 

Karen Johnson

Executive Director

Karen Johnson is a graduate of Appalachian State.  She grew up in the Hickory area.  She has three married children and two grandchildren.  Karen is one of the founders of Hickory Christian Academy in Hickory.  She was a stay-at-home mom for many years until 2010 when she started working for the Fellowship of Christian Athletes at Lenoir-Rhyne University.  This is when she got the vision for a ministry house on LR’s campus.  She currently lives in the Gathering House.

Conner Lewis

Board Member

Conner Lewis is serves as an Associate Pastor in Greenwood, SC where he ministers to College Students at Lander University. His family live near campus and you can find them at sporting events, walking through campus, or stopping to get ice cream at the campus Chic-Fil-A. He is zealous for reaching young people with the Good News of Jesus by teaching the Word any time he gets the chance.

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 Jake Snyder

Board Member

Melanie Bell is a graduate of Appalachian State University.  She lives in Wake Forest, NC and has two sons and two daughters.  She lived in Hickory during her teen years and made life-long friends there.  She is an amazing prayer warrior and cares deeply about people, especially this generation of young people.  She has been a faithful friend to the ministry since its inception.  We are grateful she is part of the team!

Josh Holbrooks

Board Member

Hannah Nadeau

Board Member

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Galen Grant

Board Member

Galen Grant is a graduate of NC State.  He is married to Dawn Grant.  They live in Sherrills Ford, NC and have 4 grown children with spouses and 12 grandchildren.  Galen is retired but formerly worked for Purina for 32 years.  Galen has a passion for campus ministry as that was how he came to Christ while in college. 

Shanta Dawson

Board Member

Shanta lives in Hickory with her husband Dan. She has two grown daughters who are married and one grandson. Shanta moved to Hickory 21/2 yrs ago from NH where she worked as a pediatric nurse practitioner for 32 years. She now works as a mobilizer for Frontiers, a mission sending organization.  She has a heart to see students fall in love with Jesus and step into their role in Gods global vision for all nations to worship Him.