John Robert Biggs
John Robert graduated with a degree in English from the University of Central Oklahoma and recently finished an internship with Reformed University Fellowship at New Mexico State University. He is married to his wife Mary and together they have five children. John Robert moved to Charlotte in July 2017 and began attending Reformed Theological Seminary.
Matthew Kirk
Matthew is happily married to Caroline and the proud father of Archibald and Beatrix. He grew up in Northern Ireland until he went to Durham University in the North of England where he studied History and Politics as an undergraduate. Matthew went on to earn a Masters in Early Modern History at the same University, and then spent four years working for a church in the heart of Durham city. Initially, he served in student ministry and children's ministry, he later worked more specifically with international students. Following a few years working in Business Development and World Heritage Fundraising, Matthew moved to Leeds to explore the call to ministry and came under care of the International Presbyterian Church in the UK. Matthew and his family moved to Charlotte in July 2021 in order to study and pursue a Masters of Divinity at RTS.
Zac Leach
zleach@christcovenant.org
Zac is from England and is married to Kate, and they have one daughter, Lydia. Before coming to Charlotte, he worked in ministry for a small church plant in Leeds, Yorkshire for 4 years. He is currently 'under care' with the International Presbyterian Church. In 2018, he graduated from Durham University (in England!) with an undergraduate degree in Biological Sciences. On completing his RTS degree, his plan is to move back to the UK and enter into full-time pastoral ministry.
Nathan McNeely
Nathan was born and raised in Houston, TX. He stayed in town for college to attend the University of Houston. Nathan become involved with Reformed University Fellowship (RUF) during his freshman year and embraced the Reformed faith. It was there that the Lord began to stir up his heart for pastoral ministry. After graduating in May 2018, Nathan served RUF as an intern at the University of Nebraska in Lincoln before heading to Charlotte, NC in August 2020 to attend Reformed Theological Seminary. He hopes to become a teaching elder in the PCA upon graduating in May of 2024 with his MDiv and MACC (Christian Counseling). In his spare time (when he can find it!), Nathan loves cooking/baking, concerts, traveling, playing musical instruments, spending time with friends, and plays a mean game of Scrabble.
Alberto Paredes
Alberto is from Mérida, México and is married to Laura. Though he was born and raised in a Presbyterian family, he came to know Christ as Savior in his fifth year as a medical student. As soon as Alberto was rescued from darkness to light, he knew the Lord was calling him to be a pastor. Alberto completed medical school while receiving theological education with a local pastor, Rev. Wilbur Madera, and finally graduated as a Doctor of Medicine. While preparing for seminary, Alberto and his wife moved to Cabo San Lucas to serve as missionaries at reformed local church Comunidad de Gracia and begun Enviados Mexico Ministries, which intends to serve the church of Mexico creating reformed resources in Spanish. In 2019 he came to Charlotte to begin working on his Master of Divinity and Master of Arts in Theological Studies. Everything for the Glory of our God.
Ben Preiser
Ben and his family are from the state of Michigan. He met his wife Alyssa while both were studying biochemistry at Michigan State University and attending University Reformed Church (URC) in East Lansing. They were married in 2015 and their first son Calvin was born in 2020. Ben worked in campus ministry at Michigan State for five years from 2014-2019 before the Preisers moved to Charlotte to pursue education at Reformed Theological Seminary. They hope to return to Michigan after graduation to help with church planting.
Daniel Pollorena
Daniel grew up in Cabo, Mexico. He earned his Bachelor’s degree in Music at Escuela Superior de Artes de Yucatan. In 2015 he moved to Memphis, TN and served as a music intern at Second Presbyterian Church, Memphis. In 2018 he earned his Master’s in Music (Piano Performance) at the University of Memphis. He served as the Worship Director and Pastoral Assistant at Iglesia Presbiteriana Esperanza in Memphis, TN from 2018-2019. In 2019 he moved to Charlotte to pursue a Master of Divinity at RTS. Daniel is married to his beautiful wife, Katie Pollorena. Daniel loves God, family, people, music, and watching NFL (#GoPats!).
José Portillo
Church Planting Apprentice
José Portillo graduated from Reformed Theological Seminary Charlotte with an
MDiv. For the last two years he served as the Campus Administrator and Director
of Hispanic Engagement for RTS in Houston, Texas, where he spent nearly 18 years of his life. José was born in Costa Rica and lived all over Central America as his dad preached, encouraged pastors, and planted churches. Now José is excited to be coming to Charlotte to begin a church planting apprenticeship. His goal is to live and plant a church in the middle of the rapidly-growing Hispanic population in the North Eastern part of Charlotte, bringing the transforming power of the gospel to this diverse community. Please pray that the Lord will raise co-workers to join him in this work through both prayers and labor. José is married to Anna, and they have one daughter.
Walker Rose
Walker was born and raised in Hot Springs, Arkansas. He graduated from Oklahoma State University with a degree in Human Development and Family Science. He met his wife, Shelby, while working at a summer camp as counselors. Though Shelby attended the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, they dated long distance for two years before graduating and getting married. In 2022 they welcomed their daughter, Magnolia Mae, into the world. Prior to moving to Charlotte and enrolling at Reformed Theological Seminary, Walker completed a two year internship with Reformed University Fellowship at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. Walker and Shelby are excited to serve the Lord, and his people at Christ Covenant Church.
Ben Traynor
Ben grew up in Edinburgh, Scotland, before moving to Aberdeen to complete a bachelor’s degree in education. He then worked in primary school education for several years, after which he completed a ministry internship at his local church in Aberdeen. In August 2019, Ben moved with his family to Charlotte in the Fall of 2019 to study for a Masters of Divinity at RTS. Ben is married to Sarah and they have three children.
