Pastoral Staff
Dr. Joseph Wheat – Senior Pastor
Joseph Wheat has been the Senior Pastor at Highlands since July, 2005. He was the Senior Pastor of Village Seven Presbyterian Church in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Prior to Village Seven he was the Founding Pastor of Trinity Presbyterian Church in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. Joseph began his ordained pastoral career at First Presbyterian Church of Augusta, Georgia as an assistant pastor. While at First Presbyterian he met Gina Smith, and they were married in June of 1990. The Wheats have two daughters, Sarah Caitlin and Emily Grace.
He is a 1984 graduate of Auburn University, where he received a BS in Economics. He graduated in 1987 from Reformed Theological Seminary in Jackson, Mississippi with a Master of Divinity degree. Joseph also received a Doctor of Divinity degree (honorary) from New Geneva Theological seminary in 2006.
Joseph loves being a preacher and a leader! He is passionate about the Word of God, and has enjoyed opportunities to preach and teach widely. He was the featured speaker at the 2005 Mission to the World regional conference in the Greek Isles, 2006 in Panama and 2007 in Kuala Lampur, Malaysia. Joseph also has served as a speaker for the revitalization ministry Embers to a Flame, and serves on the board of Churches Vitalized. He served on the PCA Steering Committee. and as MNA Chairman/Network Leader for church planting in Rocky Mountain Presbytery for six years.
Joseph has articles published in various publications, including an article on worship in Table Talk Magazine. Joseph was also a featured contributor on H.B. London’s “Pastor to Pastor” DVD/tape ministry with Focus on the Family. He also currently serves as Chairman of the Board of New Geneva Theological Seminary in Colorado Springs.
Brad is a graduate of the University of Texas, Reformed Theological Seminary, and the University of Wales, UK, where he wrote his dissertation on C.S. Lewis. He is a contributor to the recently published book, Views from Wake Forest: Essays on C.S.Lewis.
Brad has served as a Director at Pine Cove Christian Conference Center in Tyler, Texas, where his ministry focus was strategic planning for facilities and program ministry; creating and overseeing budgets; and teaching, mentoring, and training staff and guests. He has also served as a pastor at Tyler Presbyterian Church and Fifth Street Presbyterian Church, both in Tyler. He was on the Executive Staff at First Presbyterian Church, Jackson, for eight years. His ministry emphasis there was teaching, discipling, and leading. Most recently, he was the Senior Pastor at Westminster Presbyterian Church in Greenwood, MS.
Rev. Wilson A. Shirley – Pastor to Students and Families
wilson@highlandspca.org
Wilson has been at Highlands since June 2004. A native of Mississippi, he graduated from Mississippi State University with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Microbiology. While at MSU, the Lord called him to youth ministry at Grace Presbyterian Church in Starkville, MS. In 2001 he went to serve in Pensacola, FL at Pinewoods Presbyterian Church. He and his wife Laura met while attending MSU. Wilson received a Master of Divinity degree from Reformed Theological Seminary in Jackson in 2010. Wilson loves all things outdoors and writes regularly about youth and family ministry at wilsonashirley.com. He and Laura have three children, Andrew, Forrest, and Ann Evelyn.
Ministry Staff
Mr. Lee Hutchings – Adult Discipleship Coordinator
lee@highlandspca.org
Lee is a native of Akron, Ohio, serves as Coordinator of Discipleship Ministries at Highlands. Lee holds a Bachelor’s degree in English Literature from The University of Akron and is currently pursuing a Masters of Divinity degree from Reformed Theological Seminary in Jackson. He is also a teaching assistant at RTS for the practical theology department. He and his wife Diane, who serves on the worship team and as a nursery coordinator, love living in the South and are excited to be apart of what God is doing through the life and ministry of Highlands. Lee is a former ski racer who is hoping for more snow in Mississippi.
Mr. Billy Meenan – Senior High Coordinator
billy@highlandspca.org
Billy became the Senior High Coordinator at Highlands in January of 2011. He was born and raised in the beautiful state of Colorado. After briefly attending Covenant College in Lookout Mountain, GA, Billy transferred to Colorado State University in Ft. Collins, CO where he graduated with a degree in Psychology and was involved with Reformed University Fellowship. He completed internships with churches in Colorado Springs, CO, Hattiesburg, MS, and Eugene, OR, before serving at Westminster Presbyterian Church in Brandon, FL as the Director of Youth and Family Ministries in 2008. Billy met his wife, Christina, during their time at CSU. He is currently pursuing his Master of Divinity degree at Reformed Theological Seminary. Billy enjoys participating in and watching athletics, especially soccer, hockey, and football.
Mr. Devin Kahan – Junior High Coordinator
devin@highlandspca.org
Devin, who serves as our Junior High Coordinator, joined the student ministry staff in August 2007. He grew up in Longwood, FL, a suburb of Orlando. He attended Furman University in Greenville, SC and received a BA in Economics. Since the summer of 2005, Devin worked as a youth intern at St. Paul’s PCA in Orlando, FL. He plans on attending RTS part-time and working towards an MDiv. He loves all sports, especially tennis, golf, basketball, and ultimate Frisbee. Devin loves students and is excited about working with the junior high students of Highlands.
Mrs. Becky Brown – Director of Worship Music
bbrown@highlandspca.org
Becky serves as Director of Worship Music. She is responsible for selecting the music used in the Sunday morning worship service and assists in planning the worship service as well as directing the members of the Worship Team. She is a graduate of Mississippi State University. She and her husband, Tom, are the parents of two daughters: Katie, who is married to Timothy Doremus, and Hayley, a graduate student at Mississippi State. They have two grandchildren, Olivia and Jack. Becky began playing for church worship at age 12, and feels that God has been preparing her all her life to serve the congregation at Highlands.
Mrs. Laurie Nordan – Director of Children’s Ministry
laurie@highlandspca.org
Laurie, Director of Children’s Ministries, graduated from Ole Miss with a B.A. in Home Economics. As a pastor’s wife, she has held many positions in the church, most of them involving women and children. She has served for many years in the school system as a substitute and has also held the positions of assistant librarian and music teacher for K-12. Her desire is to see children grow into a real relationship with Jesus as their Lord and Savior. She and her husband, John, have four children—Trey, Natalie, Shelby and Oliver.
Mrs. Laura McMahon – Senior High Asst. Coordinator
laura@highlandspca.org
Laura, and her sweet husband Thomas have been married since 2005 and members of Highlands since August of 2008. Laura graduated from Mississippi State University where she received her Bachelor of Science in Human Development and Family Studies in 2002. After graduation she worked in senior high youth ministry full time at Forest Hill Church in Charlotte, NC for 2 years. She received her Masters of Arts in Marriage and Family Therapy from Reformed Theological Seminary in 2008. Laura loves reading, playing board games, and singing out loud in her car when she thinks no one is watching. She and Thomas have a son, Walt.
Miss Anna Morgan – Junior High Asst. Coordinator
anna@highlandspca.org
Anna has been a member of Highlands since August of 2006. Anna attended Mississippi College where she received a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education in 2009. Since graduating she has taught kindergarten, and is now teaching second grade at Park Place Christian Academy. She is from Laurel, MS and is excited about serving the Junior High students of Highlands.
Miss Cloteal Smith – Nursery Coordinator
Cloteal has been with Highlands since its beginning in 1994. She is originally from Louisiana, but has lived in Mississippi for most of her life. She has been working with children since 1980. She is the mother of six, the grandmother of 12 and the great-grandmother of two. Cloteal loves life and loves the Lord with all her heart and soul.
Administrative Staff
Mr. Greg Mann – Director of Administration
greg@highlandspca.org
Greg is originally from Jackson and is a graduate of Mississippi State University, where he earned an undergraduate and Masters degree in Education. After eight years of work in Higher Education (MSU and University of North Dakota), he returned to Jackson to work in the real estate appraisal business with his father. Greg has been a member of Highlands since 1998. He is responsible for facilitating and overseeing all activities within the church, managing (in conjunction with the Diaconate) the physical building itself, working with and assisting all church staff, and assisting with the general administrative duties of the church.
Mrs. Tina Oates – Assistant to the Senior Pastor and Senior Assistant Pastor
tina@highlandspca.org
Tina grew up as an army brat and lived many places as a child. She was born in Nüburg, Germany and lived in Berlin until the summer before 5th grade. Her father retired at fort lost in the woods, misery. (Ft. Leonard Wood, Missouri). Tina worked as a social worker for two year, after attending Southwest Baptist University, at Maranatha Village in Springfield, MO. She then worked for McAlister’s Deli for ten years as an area manager and in HR. McAlister’s relocated her to Jackson, MS. She is a member of First Presbyterian Church of Jackson and is married to Rob Oates. They have two children, Charlotte and Anna Clare.
Mrs. Tabitha Martin – Receptionist
info@highlandspca.org
Tabitha is a native of Mississippi. Tabitha and Luther along with their two children Austin and Lexi live in Pearl, MS. Tabitha graduated from Belhaven University. She worked for Belhaven 31/2 years before coming to Highlands.
Miss Leigh Lucas – Administrative Assistant for Membership
leigh@highlandspca.org
Leigh is a member of Highlands and has served on staff since May 2006. She grew up in Louisiana and is a graduate of Mississippi State University. She has served on staff with Reformed University Fellowship, the college ministry of the PCA. Leigh has two children, Robert and Meri.
Mrs. Cherita Swanson – Administrative Assistant
cswanson@highlandspca.org
Cherita was born and raised in Mississippi. She and her husband, Michael, live in Madison with her two sons, Derek and Zach. Her oldest son, Bradley, and his wife, Kellie, live in Gluckstadt. Before coming to Highlands in January of 2008, Cherita worked for a dental office in Ridgeland. Prior to that, she worked for Vickers, Inc. for 14 years and then operated a child care business in her Madison home for several years.
Mr. Curtis Davis – Building Assistant
Curtis is originally from Yazoo County and has spent the last three years working as an orderly at St. Catherine’s Village in Madison. Prior to that he served as a pharmacy assistant in the New Orleans area. He is responsible for cleaning and maintenance of the building and for assisting with all building arrangements.
