Select a staff member to see more about them.

Jason Robbins

Director of Youth and Family Ministry

Years at Sardis: Since August 2007

Native of: Charlotte, NC

Family:
Wife – Katie
Daughters – Julia & Abbey
Dogs – Snowflake & Max

Hobbies: Guitar, Cycling and anything related to Apple

Education:
Undergraduate – North Carolina State University
Seminary – Columbia Theological Seminary

What book are you reading now?
The Girl Who Kicked The Hornets' Nest

What was your most memorable vacation?
Taking our daughters to Disney World for the first time.

What is your favorite thing to do in Charlotte?
Eat at South 21.

What is your favorite movie?
Comedy – Monty Python & the Holy Grail
Drama – The Godfather

What is your favorite restaurant?
Firebirds

What holiday do you enjoy the most and why?
Thanksgiving. You don't have to worry about gifts, dressing up in a costume or buying the right card. You just gather with family and stuff yourself to the brim.

If you could have dinner with someone excluding Jesus who would that be and why?
Steve Jobs. I would just love to get a peek into his genius.

Rev. Catherine E. Craley

Associate Pastor

Years at Sardis: I arrived in August of 2007

Native of: New Wilmington, Pa (Stillers country)

Family: I'm married to the world's greatest husband, Rocky.

Hobbies: Gardening, Napping, Baking, J.Crew

Education: Grove City College and Pittsburgh Theological Seminary. I'm currently enrolled in the Doctor of Ministry program at Pittsburgh.

What book are you reading now?
The Bible

What was your most memorable vacation?
Any road trip with Rocky

What is your favorite thing to do in Charlotte?
Hang out at my house or at the Siskey YMCA

What is your favorite movie?
I love movies, so there are too many to name. Mr. and Mrs. Smith, You've Got Mail, Oceans 11, The Holiday, any Jane Austen movie or spy thriller

What is your favorite restaurant?
Roosters or Waffle House

What holiday do you enjoy the most and why?
Christmas. I love it all... Christmas carols, wrapping gifts, candlelight Christmas Eve services. It is the season of hope and joy!

If you could have dinner with someone excluding Jesus who would that be and why?
I would go back to the family reunions of my childhood and have dinner there. I loved growing up around my great aunts and uncles, cousins... everyone.

Rev. Dr. J. Thomas Kort

Senior Pastor/Head of Staff

Years at Sardis: since 1988

Native of: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Family: Married to Corrine, son, Andrew, daughter in law, Mihee and daughter, Sarah

Hobbies: enjoy sporting events, playing golf, spending quiet time at home and reading a good book. Also collect antique clocks

Education:
Slippery Rock State University, 1968 BS in education with certification in Special Education
Princeton Theological Seminary 1973 M.Div
Princeton Theological Seminary 1990 D.Min ( Prin.)

What book are you reading now?
At Home, by Bill Bryson

What was your most memorable vacation?
Family trip to Scotland

What is your favorite thing to do in Charlotte?
Enjoy a good movie

What is your favorite movie?
Dead Poets' Society

What is your favorite restaurant?
PF Chang's

What holiday do you enjoy the most and why?
The Fourth of July....it is not cluttered with expectations other than a good hot dog or hamburger.

If you could have dinner with someone excluding Jesus who would that be and why?
Bill Parcells, because he understands the role of leadership and responsibility as a coach and team.

Rev. Alice A. Johnson

Associate Pastor

Years at Sardis: Since July 1984

Native of: Nashville, TN

Family: Single (mother, sister and family all live in Alabama)

Hobbies: Reading, walking the dog, enjoying good movies, getting out with friends.

Education:
Jacksonville State University, Jacksonville, AL
Presbyterian School of Christian Education, Richmond, VA
Columbia Theological Seminary, Decatur, GA

What book are you reading now?
Longing for God, by Richard J. Foster and Gayle D. Beebe

What was your most memorable vacation?
Hawaiian Cruise with my family.

What is your favorite thing to do in Charlotte?
Enjoying a good meal with friends.

What is your favorite movie?
"The Sound of Music"

What is your favorite restaurant?
Mickey and Mooch

What holiday do you enjoy the most and why?
Christmas – God became visible to the human eye.

If you could have dinner with someone excluding Jesus who would that be and why?
His parents, Mary and Joseph, to hear more about his first 30 years.

Rev. Dr. Jane Brawley Fobel

Associate Pastor

Years at Sardis: since March, 1997

Native of: Mecklenburg County

Family:
Husband-Mark
Son-Peter/student at Rice University, Houston,TX
Daughter-Lydia/student at NC State, Raleigh, NC

Hobbies: reading, scrap-booking, gardening

Education:
Agnes Scott College, Decatur, GA - B.A.
Union Theological Seminary, Richmond, VA – D.Min
Harvard University, Cambridge, MA – Th.M.

What book are you reading now?
Winner Takes All: The Race to Own Las Vegas, by Christian Binkley

What was your most memorable vacation?
Family trip to San Francisco/Napa Valley

What is your favorite thing to do in Charlotte?
Marvel in all the restaurants that did not exist when I was a child!

What is your favorite movie?
"The Natural"

What is your favorite restaurant?
Carrabba's Italian Grill

What holiday do you enjoy the most and why?
I love Easter – the resurrection of Christ is what makes all the other holy days true and it has not been as spoiled by commercialism as the other holidays.

If you could have dinner with someone excluding Jesus who would that be and why?
My children, who are now away from home at school. It is a delight to see the adults they are becoming and I treasure the limited meals we share.

Renda Brinson

Director of Christian Education Ministry

Years at Sardis:
As a member - 33
As staff - 9

Native of: West Virginia

Family:
Husband, Earl
4 sons – Eric, Mark, Thomas, and David
4 Daughter-in-laws – Lisa Marie, Kristin, Alexandra and Kelli
1 Grandson – Tyler
1 Granddaughter on the way – Anna Clara

Hobbies: All Paper Crafts and all stitchery

Education: Certified Church Educator – Master Degree Level – Christian Education

What book are you reading now?
Isaiah by Carol Dempsey
Great Expectations - rereading some classics – just finished Scarlet Letter and A Christmas Carols

What was your most memorable vacation?
2009 –last of son's weddings in Florida

What is your favorite thing to do in Charlotte? ?

What is your favorite movie?
This month it is still Bind Side

What is your favorite restaurant?
Don't go out enough to have one

What holiday do you enjoy the most and why?
Any that gathers family together – Thanksgiving comes the closest

If you could have dinner with someone excluding Jesus who would that be and why?
Mark Twain – have read enough of his works lately to be more curious about the man.