Leadership

Brother Jerrel has been the Pastor of Waterstone Church since 1999. He loves the Lord, and loves people. Brother Jerrel is an excellent Pastor, Bible Teacher, Husband, Father, Grandfather and friend to many. He was born and raised in the Birmingham and Gardendale areas, and his favorite band is "huh, no band better than the Beatles." When asked what his favorite Bible verse is, he said, "I am very fond of Romans 8:1, There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit."

Born and raised in Birmingham, Alabama, Robert (or BJ as he’s known to us) has a passion for serving youth and creating a positive impact in their lives. His favorite Bible verse 2 Timothy 3:16 guides his approach to ministry and helps him connect with young people in a meaningful way. A lover of all types of food, BJ enjoys everything from Korean and BBQ to classic burgers, steak, and pizza.
As a child, BJ didn’t have one specific dream job, but he knew he wanted a career that was fun and full of adventure. He may not listen to music much, but he’s a Disney fan through and through, bringing that millennial love for classic Disney songs to life. His hobbies are as diverse as his interests—he hops from one to another, enjoying everything from woodworking and blacksmithing to video games, board games, and plenty of nerdy activities.

Carol was born and raised in Birmingham, AL, and has had a passion for music for as long as she can remember. Her favorite Bible passage is Psalm 34. A lover of both steak and Italian cuisine, Carol has a well-rounded taste when it comes to food.
As a child, she dreamed of becoming a parachutist or skydiver—an adventurous spirit from the start.

Carol’s love for music spans a wide range of genres, making it impossible to pick just one favorite artist. She enjoys the sounds of Chicago, the Gaither Vocal Band, the United States Marine Band, Luciano Pavarotti, and Carlos Santana. She is also a fan of Patsy Cline and, of course, Elvis Presley. When it comes to hobbies, Carol is always happiest outdoors, but she also loves working on her home decor. In her downtime, she enjoys reading, always eager to dive into a good book.

Luke was born in Birmingham and raised in Gardendale. Growing up, he always had big dreams of becoming a doctor. Although his career path has taken a different turn, his passion for learning and helping others has stayed strong. One thing that has always kept him grounded is his favorite Bible verse, 1 John 1:9, "which reminds me of the power of forgiveness and renewal." When it comes to food, there's nothing better than a perfectly cooked ribeye, medium rare, to satisfy the appetite. Music has always been a huge part of Luke's life, and right now, he is really into Audiophile, whose lyrics are thought provoking, and music is energizing. In his free time (if there is such a thing), Luke loves playing guitar—it's a way of unwinding after a busy day.

Katie was born and raised in the Birmingham, Alabama area. Her favorite Bible Verse is Philippians 4:6-7. And she loves a good cheeseburger. When she was a child she wanted to own a bookstore or be a teacher, and as director of children's ministries at Waterstone, she is able to partially live out that dream. Katie is much like her husband BJ, and loves Disney, but is kind of boring because she doesn't really have a favorite band; so, she is fond of Disney Theme Park Music. Katie's favorite hobby is reading a good book.

John was born and raised in Pinson, Alabama. He attended Welch College in Nashville Tennessee and began his ministry as a bi-vocational Youth Pastor. His favorite Bible verse is 1 John 4:19, because God's love toward us started this all. John is a fan of "anything that Angela (his wife) cooks." She is an amazing wife and knows how to throw down some good food.  When John was a child, he wanted to play football at the University of Alabama, and go on to coach, however, those dreams took a slight detour when he realized he wasn't a football player.

John is lovingly referred to as "the Crack Pastor" for the job role he fills. He is constantly looking for things and people that are in danger of falling through the cracks and getting forgotten. He has a passion for music and plays drums for the Waterstone Praise Team. His favorite all-time musical artist is Johnny Cash because it shows the redemptive love of God, but he also enjoys Weezer, the Foo Fighters, Twenty-One Pilots, Audiophile, 90's Grunge, and a host of other bands too numerous to mention.