Brad Brinson, Senior Pastor

Brad grew up in the sprawling metropolis of Kokomo, Indiana! It was at Taylor University in Upland, Indiana, where Brad's roommate shared the 'Good News' that would change his life forever. A year later, to the astonishment of his friends and family he adopted a new major: Biblical Languages and New Testament Studies.

After graduating from Taylor, a few years later Brad would return to school while working in a local church to continue his education at Wheaton Graduate School in Chicago. There he earned an M.A. in New Testament Studies. Brad also has studied at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School and completed a Masters of Divinity at Fuller Theological Seminary.

Brad has worked as a youth pastor in churches in Florida and Chicago, and served as senior pastor at two churches in Southern California before moving to Knoxville to plant Two Rivers Church.

Brad and his wife, Beth, now live in Farragut, TN with their daughters, Sarah, Hope, and Anna.

Today Brad's primary focus is pastoring the staff at Two Rivers, working with the Elders as they dream big for the future, and bringing teaching to the church each weekend. He also speaks in occasional conference venues including teaching 'Church Planter Boot Camps' around the country.

Dave Benner, Pastor of Outreach

Dave and his wife, Darlene, have been married for over 30 years. Their daughter, Julie, is married to a Student Pastor with a daughter of their own living in the Chicago area. Their oldest son, Daniel, is a UTC graduate and is currently serving at 2RC while operating his own painting company. Their son, Stephen, is a Civil Engineering major at the University of Tennessee, and is also serving at Two Rivers.

Dave and his family have been actively involved since the church was planted in 1998. Dave was a part of the original Elder board before joining the staff in 2003. Prior to coming on full time as part of the Pastoral staff, Dave was involved in starting and operating the family painting business which his son now owns. He was also on staff at Fellowship Church, which is the church that planted Two Rivers, as the Church Administrator. His earlier career included work at Christian Academy and several other Christian schools as Administrator, Dean of Students, and Athletic Director as well as teacher and high school basketball coach for over 20 years.

Dave is licensed by the EFCA and continues to learn and grow by attending various conferences including annual gatherings with other EFCA Executive Pastors from around the country. Dave has a Bachelors degree from The King's College in Briarcliff Manor, NY and a Master's degree from Grace Seminary in Winona Lake, IN.

Dave believes the local church was the organization God established and He desired to include us as the main players for reaching a lost world. There is nothing like the local church when it is working right. We want to take the love of Christ to all of the neighborhoods, local community and the ends of the earth as we go beyond our own walls at Two Rivers. 

Bart Pederson, Pastor of Discipleship

Bart grew up on the family cattle ranch on the plains of Western, South Dakota. While pursuing a pre-law degree at the University of South Dakota, a fraternity brother led him to the Lord during his sophomore year. Bart enjoyed the ministry, training and opportunities of being involved with Campus Crusade for Christ.

In the summer of 1989, Bart fell in love with his future wife Carol, while they ministered together on a summer project with Campus Crusade at Newport Beach, California. After completing an internship at his home church in South Dakota, Bart married his University of Tennessee bride in the fall of 1990. After the honeymoon, Bart and Carol moved to Deerfield, Illinois to pursue a Master's degree at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School.

Following graduation, Bart and Carol moved to Knoxville in 1997 to volunteer in joining with the growing church plant that would become Two Rivers Church. In January of 1999, Bart welcomed the opportunity to serve in providing leadership for the growth group and children's ministries. Bart now focuses on the various Community Life ministries. Bart and Carol enjoy the blessing of four lively children: Logan, Blake, Jessica and Kylie.

Danny Matthews, Pastor of Prayer and Community Life

Danny grew up in Morristown, TN where he came to know the Lord early in life one summer at Vacation Bible School. His first experience playing Christian music came at age 10 when, as a drummer, he became a member of a popular southern gospel band.  Over the next 4 years he traveled to what seemed like every church south of the Mason/Dixon.

Danny attended Walters State Community College where he majored in Business Management. In 1988 he accepted a position with Ecolab, made the move to Knoxville, and began to attend Fellowship Church. Over the next 18 years he continued a career in sales and sales management while becoming more & more involved in prayer & worship ministries in the local church and surrounding community.

Danny and his wife Lora have been married for 22 years and have been serving at Two Rivers since the church was planted in 1998. Lora has served on staff as Pastor Brad’s administrative assistant from the beginning. Danny and Lora have 3 beautiful children, Abby, Megan and Bradley; all are active members of Two Rivers Church.

From the beginning of Two Rivers, Danny has been active on the worship team as well as giving oversight to both the intercessors and prayer ministry teams. He has also been instrumental in creating our “Quiet Waters” and “Outpouring” events.  In 2002, Danny was asked to join the board of Elders and served there until coming on staff in June of 2006.

As you meet and get to know Danny, you will understand that his greatest pleasure in life comes from helping people find their place in the body of Christ and to affirm and help develop the gifts they have been given by our Heavenly Father. His passion is to create different events and venues where people find themselves drawn deeper into “His Presence” where they are touched and changed forever. His heart is to develop a thriving community of worshipers and prayer warriors for ministry both inside and outside the walls of Two Rivers Church.

Jon Teague, Pastor of Worship and Programs

Jon grew up in Chattanooga where he made the decision in the third grade that he was destined to attend the University of Tennessee. There were several factors: football, football and football! Actually, God changed Jon's life at UT through the ministry of Campus Crusade for Christ. He became very involved in campus ministry leading worship and teaching small groups. It was during these years that Jon felt God calling him to vocational ministry.

In 1998 Jon met his beautiful bride, Katie, and they were married in the summer of 2002. Katie graduated from Farragut High School and then Middle Tennessee State University. After college, she lived in Argentina for fourteen months working with Campus Crusade to set up a college ministry at one of the universities. Katie speaks Spanish and has a heart for the Hispanic culture.

Jon and Katie lived in Nashville before coming to Two Rivers in 2004. Jon loves building relationships and sharing life with students. There is so much life, love and laughter in student ministry. If you can't find Jon at the office, he's probably playing home-run derby, ultimate frisbee, angle ball, guitar, spoons, spades or just hanging out with Katie trying to impress her with his quick wit and subtle charm. And in case you were wondering, the key to Jon's heart is the great wall of chocolate at PF Changs!

Chris Jessen, Pastor of Student Ministries

Chris is a Knoxville native and graduate from the University of Tennessee. While at UT, Chris volunteered in the youth ministry department at a local church, then went on staff as a full-time intern following his graduation with a degree in Business and English.

After that year of full-time ministry, Chris felt the call to seminary, so he headed to Charlotte, North Carolina to Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary. It was in Charlotte that Chris met his beautiful wife, Katie.

Katie went to the University of South Carolina where she got a BA in Sociology, then went on to complete a Master's of Social Work.

Upon Chris' completion of his Master's of Divinity at Gordon-Conwell, Chris excitedly accepted the position of High School Pastor at Two Rivers and painted his whole body orange to celebrate. Shortly thereafter, Chris and Katie were wed in Charlotte, then immediately moved to Knoxville where they now serve together at Two Rivers.

Chris loves hanging out with students and volunteer leaders and spending time with his wife, Katie. He also enjoys reading, playing guitar and frisbee golf, working in the yard, making random videos, and most of all, watching UT football!