Seth is a native of Etowah County, Alabama and brings an enormous amount of knowledge and passion to the Catalyst Staff. Seth was one of the first people to come on board with Catalyst, and we’re sure glad he did! Here’s a little more about our Recovery Pastor.

Seth’s Story

Seth grew up in Glencoe, AL. playing sports and doing all your small town stuff. He got into  trouble based on some bad choices he made and found himself in jail on drug related charges after high school. Though this process, Seth discovered that God still had great things for him and he was able to be transferred to an outpatient rehab facility that was Christian based. The turn around was remarkable. Seth completed the program, became a counselor, and began a life in ministry dealing with addictions.

After starting and helping run more Recovery ministries than we care to mention, Seth joined Catalyst to start something from the ground up. He’s also a small business owner and operator, Laser Graphics, and is married to his wife Emily, who's a school teacher. Together they’re raising a great big family together. Apparently all of that isn’t enough, because Seth is also a junior high basketball coach on the side.

God is going to do amazing things through Seth and Catalyst Recovery!

Spare Time:  Seth trains for triathlons.

Favorite Scripture: John 16:33 

Blake grew up in Glencoe with a passion for music and worship since his youth. He had many guys he looked up to who invested in him and inspired him and to pursue his involvement in worship ministry.  Here's a little more about our Associate Pastor!

A Passion for People

It all started with his sister teaching him a handful of guitar chords around the age of twelve on an old Washburn 6-string. From that point forward, he taught himself to play guitar, drums, and keys. He spent years being on worship teams, leading worship, and continues to be involved with the worship team at Catalyst.

Blake grew up in a household with an alcoholic father. Although those childhood days were painful, they helped shape the man he would become. He learned compassion for others and how God’s love can heal the deepest hurts through it all. Blake has always had a desire to help people and truly make a difference in the lives of others. He went to ministry school to learn more about the Word of God and to be able to teach others about what it means to follow Jesus. He wants others to encounter the love of God, experience the goodness of God, and be radically changed through the power of the Holy Spirit. Blake has been involved in ministry for nearly twenty years and is excited and honored to serve as the associate pastor at Catalyst.

Outside of Catalyst, Blake is an elementary teacher. He strives to be a positive father-like figure for his students and considers the classroom to be one of the biggest mission fields that exist. Blake is married to his beautiful wife and best friend, Taylor. They have been married for almost ten years. Blake and Taylor believe God will move and do some amazing things at Catalyst, and they look forward to being a part of it.

Spare time: music, traveling, song-writing, and cooking

Favorite Scripture: Isaiah 61:1-3

Brian is a lifelong resident of Glencoe with a passion for seeing people come to realize their potential in their relationship with Christ. He’s had a multitude of spiritual heroes in his life who have helped teach & guide him in serving in ministry. Here’s a little more about Brian.

The Swiss Army knife

It all started with his first night in J.D. McDuffie’s youth ministry and a corny song “I Believe I Can Fly.” J.D. spoke about Joseph and it was in that moment, Brian realized that his life was more than just existing. God truly has a purpose for us here on the earth, even in the most unlikely situations. He was a shy kid but it was that night that God put youth ministry in his heart and for the next 14 years, Brian served as a volunteer leader & eventually became a youth pastor. Throughout that time, God began to use Brian in different ways, and broke him out of his shell through drama ministry. For the next 6 years, God began to birth Brian’s gifting in worship, teaching & media/arts. He served as youth pastor, worship pastor and media director during his time at NGBC. 

From there, God began to open doors for Brian at Westbrook Christian School as an IT Tech. It was during that time that he took a break from serving in ministry, but was always trying to help various other ministries behind the scenes. He organized and helped lead worship nights for the Vibe & has never really stopped serving God with the opportunities that’s he’s been given. Brian is currently serving full time at Big Oak Ranch, a Christian home for children needing a chance. He helps support the children’s homes and staff with their IT needs along with audio & visual technology for worship events and fundraisers. 

Brian has always been supported by the best parents a kid could ask for, Harley and Mary. His only child is his dog named Sadie, who has been a great companion throughout some difficult years. He is also surrounded by an amazing group of friends.

Spare Time: Working around the house & the outdoors.

Favorite Scripture: Colossians 1:15-17

Garrett coming to Catalyst was a prayer answered!  We’ve prayed for the right person to lead our students and young adults for several years.  We are so excited for this chapter and already we see God doing an amazing work in and through him!  

Garrett was saved at a young age in a small church in Glencoe.  Though during his young adult years, he ran from God but the Lord had different plans and in 2009, He met Garrett in his jail cell and changed him from the inside out.

The Vibe

He put the Vibe ministry in his heart and a love for people. Since 2012, he has held The Vibe Ministry events and served in different youth pastor positions. Garrett and his wife Molli have four boys and are excited to serve at Catalyst. They know God has brought them here and are anticipating great things to come. Garrett is passionate about teaching the youth, the love of Christ, and showing them how real our Jesus is. 

Garrett has been blessed to work full time at Westbrook Christian School, teach Senior boys bible class and coach 8th grade basketball.  

Spare time: loves to hunt

Favorite Scripture: Revelation 12:11

Blake, better known as Champ, grew up in Southside, Alabama. The earliest memories all include some aspect of church. His family was always heavily involved in church with his mom leading music and his dad teaching Sunday School classes while serving as a deacon. As a young teenage boy there was a realization that he needed more than memories and called on Jesus for his own personal experience.

Champ felt God calling him to do more than just filling a pew. After praying and seeking Godly counsel from people who invested in his life he answered the call to ministry. While he was a shy young man, he felt God was calling him to lead students. This step of faith opened up doors that allowed him to work with Breakaway ministries as a summer counselor, allowed him to serve as youth pastor at several churches, and to also lead worship. Through the years God has done many great things and Champ is thankful he was able to be a part of them.

Kids should feel loved

Champ, and his family, has been a part of Catalyst since 2016. Champ’s prayer is that each child who walks into Catalyst will know they are loved. There must be a foundation laid so each child can have their own encounter with Jesus. Each time the kids meet the goal is to make Jesus real, to them, with worship and teaching.

Outside of Catalyst, Champ is a special education teacher at Glencoe Middle School. For anyone who is interested in hearing how he ended up teaching, Champ would love to share with you how God opened up the doors to make it happen. Champ is married to the love of his life, Kasie, who is a nurse. Somehow he convinced her to walk down the aisle on May 13, 2017 to marry him. To everyone's surprise she didn't run out the door. God has blessed them with two amazing kids, Cora Mae and Beau, who keep them busy. 

Favorites: Anything my kids do (currently soccer and dance), Traveling, Cooking, Alabama football, and Gardening 

Favorite Verse: Galatians 6:9

Michael has always had a heart for missions! So when the time came for us to ask him to join Catalyst and be our Missions guy, we had our fingers crossed that he’d accept. We’re grateful he did! Here’s a little more about Michael.

A passion for missions

Michael's faith began at an early age at Cumberland Presbyterian Church and later at Piedmont First Baptist where he became a Christian on June 1, 1997, ordained as a deacon, and actively attended and served for more than twenty-five years.  It is there that Michael was first introduced to missions and later felt God's call to be involved in missions.

Michael was involved in Carpenters for Christ for twenty-five plus years, where he served as CFC’s Spiritual Leader for a decade and as Project Coordinator for the next decade.  In addition to his work with CFC he has also participated in numerous stateside and international short-term mission trips, including ministering in the Philippines, Bahamas, Nicaragua, Dominican Republic, and Malawi. He has led mission trips to Israel and Greece under the guidance of Dr. John Delancey with Biblical Israel Ministries and tours. 

Michael grew up in Piedmont and lives there with his wife of twenty-seven years. Michael and Julie have four children.

Michael and Julie partnered with Catalyst at the end of 2015 and has been serving as Missions Pastor since January 2016.  Michael has taken the leading role in our missions opportunities and creating incredible atmospheres.

Spare Time:  Michael enjoys his hobby business, <msm>< details, where he does a little bit of everything.  Wedding planning and decorating, vinyl cutting, and all sorts of woodwork. 

Michael's motto for life: When you do something, do it to the best of your ability as if you are doing it for the Lord. (Colossians 3:23)  #goodistheenemyofgreat  

Favorite Scripture Passage: Romans 12