Our Team
Meet some of the incredible people that lead the way at VLC.
Lead Pastor
With more than three decades of ministry experience, including 20 years in student ministry and 14 years as a church planter and lead pastor, Brad's passion is for people to come to Christ, no matter their background, and to follow Him completely through “taking their next step” in corporate worship and personal discipleship.
He holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration in Marketing from the University of Tulsa and a Master of Divinity from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. Brad is also a certified Life Coach / Pastoral Counselor, as well as a certified counselor and trainer with Prepare/Enrich, equipping couples and leaders for healthy relationships and longevity. He is a (self-)published author, having written a trilogy of devotional books (Along the Road, Through the Water, and In the Fire).
Brad has been married to his wife, Angie, for over 30 years. They have three amazing children, one awesome daughter-in-law, and a chocolate lab named Beaux. He enjoys watching and playing sports with his kids, relaxing with movies alongside Angie, and spending time with friends.
Brad Parkhurst
Staff
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Cameron Parkhurst
Worship & Creative Pastor
Cameron is passionate about leading people to love Jesus with their whole hearts and to know their identity as loved children of God. He leads our worship team, handles the design and creative elements at VLC, and is also greatly involved with VLC Students. He loves reading books, exploring new places, and spending lots of time with people.
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Seab Baker
Youth and Connections Pastor
Seab Baker serves as our Youth Pastor and is passionate about helping students develop a genuine, lifelong relationship with Jesus. He loves investing in the lives of students and partnering with parents as they disciple the next generation. His desire is to see young people grow in their faith, discover their God-given purpose, and follow Christ passionately!
Seab and Bonnie are blessed with five amazing children —Zeke (married to Kinsey), Silas, Cali, Ruby, and Judah. While some of their children are now adults and beginning new chapters of life, family remains one of their greatest joys. They are passionate about serving in ministry together and are grateful for the opportunity to follow God's calling. They love buildingnrelationships, spending time with friends, and connecting with new students and families. As a family they enjoy camping, traveling, making memories together, and spending time outdoors. When he's not serving students, Seab enjoys fishing, building things, hanging out, working with his hands, and tinkering with old cars.
In addition to leading the student ministry, Seab also serves as the church's Connections Pastor and Facilities Supervisor. He is grateful for the opportunity to serve families, invest in the next generation, and help people of all ages take their next step in following Jesus.
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Brent Wheeling
High School & Young Adults Minister
Brent serves as the High School and Young Adult Minister at Vertical Life Church and is a member of the church’s management team, helping facilitate the operational aspects of the ministry. He has a passion for investing in the next generation, helping students grow in their faith and develop a genuine relationship with Jesus.
Brent and his wife, Hannah, have been married for 10 years and are blessed with their daughter, Ella, who brings tremendous joy to their lives. Outside of ministry, Brent works in the real estate and insurance industries and enjoys staying active in the community. He serves as a board member for the local Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA), where he volunteers as a Character Coach for local students. He is also an active member of the local Rotary Club.
When he’s not working or serving, you’ll likely find Brent spending time with his family, playing softball, golfing, or cheering on a baseball game. He is passionate about seeing people connect with Christ, grow in their faith, and make a lasting impact in their homes, churches, and communities.
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Bonnie Baker
Middle School Minister
Bonnie is married to Seab and loves working alongside him in ministry. Together, they are passionate about investing in the next generation. She homeschools three of their children and loves planning fun adventures for her family.
Bonnie’s heart is to help students discover who they are in Christ and develop a faith that lasts beyond their teenage years.
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Collin Beasley
Worship Associate
Collin grew up traveling the world as part of a military family before finally settling in Georgia in 2017. He spent several years serving students through creative ministry before joining the staff in 2022. As our Worship Associate, Collin leads the student worship team on Wednesday nights, assists with Sunday morning worship services, and oversees our songwriting and creative collective, FOMO Worship (Faith of My Own). Collin’s heart for the church is to see God receive the worship He deserves as we pursue Jesus, depend on Him, obey Him, and worship Him with our whole lives.
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Ashley Fitzgerald
Student Administrative Assistant
Ashley grew up in Soddy Daisy, TN and moved to Georgia in 2002 before marrying her husband, Chris. She's a mom of three and cherishes time spent with family. Ashley’s desire is for students to encounter the living God and experience His transforming power. She lives to love others because she has grasped the depth of Jesus' love for her!
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Bill & Kerri Edger
VLC Kids Ministers
Bill and Kerri met and married in Florida, and have now lived in Paulding County for years. They have nine kids ranging in age from 11-33. They had always desired to be in a church that felt like family, where their kids could grow closer to Jesus through a strong community of believers. They found this at VLC, and because families are so important to them, they started serving in VLC Kids almost immediately. They are excited to partner with other parents to help their kids know + follow Jesus, and to have lots of fun along the way!
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Ashley Hitchcock
WeeWorship Coordinator
Ashley grew up in Paulding County. She graduated from the University of West Georgia in 2018, and she currently works as a barista at Good Stuff Coffeehouse in Dallas, GA. Ashley joined the VLC team in February 2026. She is passionate about working with children and sharing the love of Jesus with them every week while giving their parents an opportunity to attend church, knowing that their little ones are being cared for. Ashley enjoys spending time with friends, going to the movies, hiking, and working on her family's farm.
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Courtney Schmidt
Special Needs Minister
Courtney began working with students with special needs when she was in high school. When she and her husband, Chris, began attending VLC just a couple years after they were married, she naturally gravitated towards students who needed extra support as she served in VLC Kids. As the need for a special needs ministry became apparent, she was glad for the opportunity to be a part of it. It is her privilege to love and serve the special needs families at VLC through Refuge.
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Brooke Crumley
Administrative Assistant
Brooke grew up in Paulding County. She married her husband, Corey, in 2014. They have two boys, Bennett and Davis, and a little girl named Violet. Brooke and her husband became partners at VLC in 2018. After working as a dental assistant for nine years, Brooke joined the VLC team at the end of Summer 2022. Brooke loves spending time with her family and friends, going to sporting events, and hiking.
Interns
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Kaylee Maxwell
Student Ministry Intern
Kaylee grew up in Paulding County and has been attending VLC since the fall of 2024. Through serving as a small group leader in Uprise, she developed a passion for seeing students follow Jesus. The relationships she built at Overflow Summer Camp 2025 confirmed God’s call to vocational ministry. Since then, she has been serving as an intern under Seab and Bonnie Baker, where she is being equipped for ministry through hands-on experience in leading, discipling, and caring for students. She also helps manage and create content for VLC social media platforms.
Kaylee is currently a student at Southeastern University, pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Ministerial Leadership. She is passionate about equipping the next generation to live out the Great Commission by being discipled, making disciples, and following Jesus in their everyday lives.
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Hannah Phillips
Worship Associate Intern
Elders
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Nick Adair
Elder
Nick serves as our Technical Director. He and his team handle the technical aspects in our building, including sound, lighting, projection, video, and networking. Their goal is to create quality, distraction-free environments for worship gatherings and events. Nick has more than 25 years of experience with church A/V systems. -
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Shelley Howerton
Elder
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Michael Brown
Elder
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Gerad Simpson
Elder
Gerad and his wife Vicky have five amazing children. He has over 20 years of leadership and ministry experience. Gerad enjoys being in the outdoors: hiking, camping, hunting, and fishing. With a passion for men's ministry and a desire to use his talents and gifts to further God's Kingdom, he sees it as an honor and a privilege to serve Vertical Life Church and the Dallas community.
