Richard has pastored University Heights since 1998. He is a graduate of Baylor University and has both a Masters of Divinity and a Doctorate of Ministry from Southwestern Theological Seminary. Richard and his wife Sarah were married in 1989 and have two children, Libby and Luke.

In his position, Richard is responsible for preaching, leadership, and pastoral care of the people at University Heights. In these things, Richard desires to help people make Jesus known in Huntsville and around the world. He fervently believes in the importance of the local church as the way Jesus has chosen to build His kingdom and push back the darkness in His creation.
Birthday: July 18
Hobbies and Interests: Mountain biking (no crashing), reading, sporting clays, and Baylor athletics
Favorite Quote:  "I'm concerned about your salvation and stuff." (Nacho Libre)

Clay joined the staff as Minister of Administration in June of 2020. He holds a Bachelor's degree from Howard Payne University and a Master’s degree from Andover Newton Theological Seminary.  Clay served UHBC as the Minister of Worship Arts from 2001-2006 and previously taught public school in both Huntsville ISD and Conroe ISD.  Clay and his wife, Elisa, have two children: Kyler and Maryn.
Book Recommendation: Good to Great by Jim Collins
Birthday: March 6
Hobbies and Interests: Being with family, spending time outdoors, hunting
Favorite Quote: “Strive not to be a success, but rather to be of value." - Albert Einstein

Chris joined the staff as Minister of Worship Arts in 2013, and in 2020, he transitioned into the role of Relational Care.  A unique part of Chris’ ministry in worship arts has been his emphasis on relationships. His passion to integrate healthy relational and emotional practices into the systems of worship and solid biblical teaching in the body of Christ was forefront.  About 5 years ago, Chris felt a call to assist and love God’s church in a new way. His journey has included education from great ministries like Emotionally Healthy Spirituality, Gottman Level 1 training, and the Larry Crabb School of Spiritual Direction.  After 34 years in Worship Arts, Chris transitioned in the new role of Relational Care in June, 2020. He has a Bachelor of Arts in Music Ministry from Oklahoma Baptist University and a Masters of Music from Southwestern Seminary. Previously he has served as the Minister of Music for South Oaks Baptist Church in Arlington and First Baptist Church in Bryan, Texas. Chris and his wife Christine have three children; Madison, Landon, and Colton. Madison and her husband, Garrett, are the parents of their first grandchild, Nora Kate Graves!

Birthday: March 19
Book Recommendation: 66 Love Letters by Larry Crabb; The Great Divorce by C.S. Lewis
Hobbies and Interests: Being a husband and dad, anything CS Lewis, carpentry, gardening, and vintage campers.
Favorite Quote: “Unless the heart is full, even a rich man is poor” - anonymous.

BJ grew up in Huntsville and attended University Heights with his family. He joined the staff in 2004 and serves as our Minister of Students and Outreach. He's an avid fan of the Houston Astros, Sam Houston State University Bearkats, and the Dallas Cowboys. He is a graduate of Sam Houston State University and holds a Masters of Divinity from Southwestern Theological Seminary. He and his wife, Holly, have two children, Elijah and Trinity.

Birthday: May 21
Book Recommendations: Searching for God Knows What by Donald Miller; The Principle of the Path by Andy Stanley; Why My Wife Thinks I Am An Idiot by Mike Greenberg
Favorite Quotes: "In essentials, unity; in nonessentials, liberty; in all things, charity." (Augustine)
"Faith is taking the first step even when you don't see the whole staircase." (Martin Luther King Jr.)
"He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose." (Jim Elliot)
"Chancho, when you are a man, sometimes you wear stretchy pants. In your room. Just for fun." (Nacho Libre) 

Jenny joined the staff as Pastoral Assistant in 2014. In 2020 she stepped into the role of Minister to Children. She holds a Bachelor's degree from Dallas Baptist University and has previously served in other churches in both children's ministry and support positions. Jenny and her husband Richard have three children: Lily, Emmy, and Liam.

Birthday: March 25
Book Recommendation: Women of the Word by Jen Wilkin
Hobbies and Interests: Being with family outdoors, watching the Astros with her husband, home-centered education, reading as a family
Favorite Quote: "People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel. (Maya Angelou) 

Katy joined the staff of University Heights in August of 2021 as the Minister to Preschool and Director of Discovery Days Preschool. She earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance Education from Texas State University. After graduating, Katy began her career in education teaching special education and dance at Lynn Lucas Middle School where she quickly advanced to special education department chair and drill team director. Katy and her husband, Jacob, have two children: Carson and Sophia.
In her role, Katy organizes and facilitates a support system for young families as they lay firm foundations of faith in their preschoolers. Katy is gifted with the skills of communication, leadership, and administration. Using these gifts, she strives to help others find their place to serve within the body of Christ and provide Christ-like leadership to grow children in their relationships with Christ, the church and the world.

Birthday: May 4
Book Recommendation: "Habits of the Household: Practicing the Story of God in Everyday Family Rythms"
Hobbies and Interests: Dance, time with family, browsing Target, playing board games/card games

Luke spent the majority of his childhood in Huntsville and grew up attending University Heights. He began playing with the Sunday morning worship band in his early teen years where several members of this church helped cultivate in him a love for music and worship. Luke graduated with a degree in Entertainment Industry Studies and Theology in the Arts from Belmont University in Nashville, TN. He is currently attending Southwestern Theological Seminary in pursuit of his Masters of Divinity. Luke and his wife, and ministry partner, Amanda welcomed their first child, Titus, in December 2021.

Birthday: July 18
Book Recommendations: Silence by Shūsaku Endō, 7 Men by Eric Metaxas, 7 Women by Eric Metaxas, Making Sense of God by Tim Keller
Hobbies: Hiking, Reading, Camping
Favorite Quote: "Christian spiritual formation rests on this indispensable foundation of Death to Self and cannot proceed except insofar as that foundation is being firmly laid and sustained." -Dallas Willard

"If God were small enough to be understood, the He wouldn't be big enough to be worshipped." -Eveline Underhill

Stacey and has been a serving member of University Heights for several years but in 2019 she joined the staff to minister our mature adults. Mature adults are the fastest growing segment in the United States and have unique needs. Stacey serves this integral part of the church body, dedicated to their care and discipleship. Stacey and her husband, Clyde, serve together in both the church and the community. They have two adult children, Chris and Alexis, and two grandsons.
Birthday: November 14
Book Recommendation:
Hobbies and Interests:
Favorite Quote:

Jon joined the University Heights staff in June of 2023 as the Minister to College. He and his wife, Danielle, moved to Huntsville from Clinton, Mississippi, where they both earned their undergraduate and graduate degrees while serving the local church and engaging the college campus. Originally from the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex, the Harding’s share a passion for collegiate ministry and the local church, and are thrilled to call Huntsville home.

Birthday: March 15
Book Recommendation: The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien, The Valley of Vision by Arthur Bennett, and Don’t Waste Your Life by John Piper
Interests and Hobbies: University of Tennessee Sporting Events, Watching Movies, Cooking & Hospitality, Hiking
Favorite Quote: “But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us.” [2 Corinthians 4:7]

Amber grew up in ministry between small towns in south and west Texas but moved to Huntsville in 2003 from Fort Worth.  She joined our staff in 2003 as a Ministry Assistant but took a break in 2015 to teach in public school.  Because of her love for ministry and this church body, she returned to our staff in October 2019 as our Pastoral Assistant.  Amber holds a Bachelor of Arts in Music from Howard Payne University as well as a teaching certification in EC-6th grade. She and her husband, Nolan, have two sons, Gavin (2009) and Patton (2020).

Birthday: October 11
Book Recommendation: Bible
Interests and Hobbies: camping, exploring nature with my family, floral design, modern calligraphy
Favorite Quote[s]: “God never witholds from His child that which His love and wisdom call good. God's refusals are always merciful -- "severe mercies" at times but mercies all the same. God never denies us our heart’s desire except to give us something better.” -- Elisabeth Elliot
“Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only LIGHT can do that.  Hate cannot drive out hate; only LOVE can do that.” -- Martin Luther King, Jr. 

Libby joined the staff at University Heights in 2018 as the Pastoral Ministry Assistant. Since then she's filled several interim office positions and finally settled as the Creative Arts Ministry Assistant in 2020. Libby attended Baylor University where she studied leadership development, communications, and political science. In her time at Baylor, Libby also studied photography under Curtis Callaway, formerly of National Geographic. She assisted in the 2013 EA Sports NCAA Football cover shoot and established her small business Elizabeth Shae Photography. In her role at University Heights, Libby assists the Associate Minister of Creative Arts in planning and executing the traditional and contemporary worship services every week, coordinating the media team, and facilitating opportunities for leadership and team development.

Birthday: November 18
Book Recommendation: "God Has A Name" by John Mark Comer; "Hinds Feet on High Places" by Hannah Hurnard; "How to Build a Car" by Adrian Newey; "Voyage of the Dawn Treader" by C.S. Lewis; "Persuasion" by Jane Austen
Hobbies and Interests: Photography, Books, Travel, Formula 1, Bread, College basketball
Favorite Quotes: "That is the loveliest story I ever read or ever shall read in my whole life. Oh, I wish I could have gone on reading it for ten years. At least I'll read it over again." -C.S. Lewis, Voyage of the Dawn Treader
"The Shepherd laughed too. 'I love doing preposterous things,' he replied. 'Why, I don't know anything more exhilarating and delightful than turning weakness into strength, and fear into faith, and that which has been marred into perfection.'" -Hannah Hurnard, Hinds Feet on High Places

Jessica served as a Discovery Days Teacher for several years then as a marketing/media specialist part time before coming on board as the Preschool Ministry Assistant in June. She graduated from Sam Houston State University with a degree in Mass Communications and will be assisting Katy Giroux with the daily tasks of running the Preschool Ministry as well as assisting in Discovery Days Preschool. She is happily married to Seth Olinski. They have two children - their wild, rambunctious son Jack Emerson and their sweet newborn daughter Saylor Emerson.
 
Birthday: October 15th, 1994
Book Recommendation: Stardust, Save the Cat!
Hobbies and Interests: sewing, obstacle course races, powerlifting/working out, writing
Favorite Quote: “Not all those who wander are lost” JRR Tolkien, The Fellowship of the Ring 

Chaney joined the staff of University Heights in May of 2024 as the Ministry Assistant for College and Students. She grew up in Boerne, TX with a family that actively served in the church and helped start a church in their hometown. She graduated from Sam Houston State University with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Theatre with an emphasis in Acting and Directing. After graduating, Chaney joined our staff and is now excited to see how she grows and where the Lord leads her.
 
Birthday: April 13
Book Recommendation: "The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry" by John Mark Comer
Hobbies and Interests: Hiking, Pencil Sketching, Making and Drinking Coffee, Watching Movies, and discussing the importance of Active Listening
Favorite Quote: “The secret of joy is Christ in me–not me in a different set of circumstances.” - Elisabeth Elliot