Pastors & Staff

Our pastors are passionate about following Jesus and faithfully proclaiming his Gospel as they serve and shepherd our church community.

At West Jackson, we believe that God calls pastors in order to equip its members for the work of ministry (Ephesians 4:10-14). These qualified men are called to local church ministry in order to faithfully proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ and lead as servants and shepherds (1 Peter 5:1-5, 1 Timothy 3:1-7). If you’d like to get to know our current pastors and learn more about their ministry roles, read more below!

MEET OUR PASTORS:

ANDY NEELY, LEAD PASTOR

[email protected]

Pastor Andy has served West Jackson since February of 2012 as lead pastor. He and his family moved to Jackson from Lakeland, FL, where he was the Lead Student Pastor at the Church at the Mall. A graduate of Union University and New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, Andy has invested 20+ years of his life in the local church speaking to thousands of teenagers and adults.

Pastor Andy’s ministry experience also includes five years at West Jackson as the Student Pastor. He and his wife, Ellen, have four children: Addison, Hadley, Maggie, and Knox. Their passion is to see families serving together to accomplish God’s will and purpose as they share the Gospel in Jackson and throughout the world.

LONNIE SANDERS, ASSIMILATION & MATURE ADULTS PASTOR

[email protected]

Pastor Lonnie has served West Jackson since October of 1993. He has served in various pastoral roles at West Jackson including outreach, adult discipleship and now church assimilation and mature adult ministry. He and his wife, Joy, relocated to Jackson from middle Tennessee but still claim northeast Alabama as home.

A graduate of Samford University and Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, Lonnie has invested 30+ years of his life in the local church leading and equipping leaders in the ministry of disciple-making. Pastor Lonnie and Joy have one daughter, Autumn and two dogs: Fluffy and London Rose. They are all big Auburn Fans: War Eagle!

ALAN TEEL, MISSIONS PASTOR

[email protected]

Pastor Alan has served West Jackson as the Missions Pastor since February of 2013. Before coming to West Jackson, Alan served at churches in Louisiana, Mississippi and Tennessee. Most recently, Alan was on staff with the local Baptist Association through a partnership with the Tennessee Baptist Convention and the North American Mission Board. He is a graduate of Union University and New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary.

Alan and his wife, Connie, have two children: Allison and Gregory. As a family, they enjoy going “On Mission” together, whether that is overseas, in North America, or right here in Jackson, TN. Alan is passionate about helping others to see that a life spent serving together through Christ is the best life of all.

JOSH WARD, STUDENT PASTOR

[email protected]

Pastor Josh has served as the Student Pastor at West Jackson since February 2018. He is married to Kelsey and grew up at West Jackson. He and Kelsey have two boys, Graham and Mario, and a little girl, Hope. He graduated from Wheaton College in 2015 with a degree in Christian Education and from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary in 2022 with a Masters degree in Discipleship. Prior to serving at West Jackson, Josh was the Junior High Pastor at BattleCreek Church in Broken Arrow, OK for three years. Josh has a heart for students, and for helping teenagers take their next step in their relationship with Jesus Christ.

STEVE MOORE, WORSHIP PASTOR

[email protected]

Pastor Steve grew up in north Nashville, and began leading worship as a teenager. Following a call to ministry, the Lord provided weekly opportunities to lead midweek college services and Union chapels. Steve graduated from Union University in 2001 and continued to serve for several churches, camps and schools. Steve met his wife Cassie working together on a Fuge camp staff. They were married in 2005 following his graduation from Southern Seminary, earning a Master’s Degree in Worship.

Steve and Cassie have twin sons, Elijah and Isaiah, who were born in Ethiopia. Their youngest, Jesse Elizabeth, was born in 2013. The Moores joined our church family in June 2019, following 11+ years of ministry in Paducah, Kentucky.

ROB SIMPSON, PASTOR TO KIDS AND FAMILIES

[email protected]

Rob Simpson has been serving on staff at West Jackson since August of 2019, and became Pastor to Kids and Families in September of 2020. He and his wife Katy have three sons: Grady, Bo and Parker. Rob holds a Bachelor of Arts in Digital Media Studies from Union University and a Master of Divinity from Golden Gate Baptist Theological Seminary. He is currently pursuing a Doctorate of Ministry in Discipleship and Christian Education from the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. Prior to West Jackson, the Simpsons served on staff at Storyline Fellowship, an SBC church plant in Arvada, CO. During their time there, they led in various ministries to youth, children, and young adults, as well as communications.

JOEY CADDEN, YOUNG ADULTS PASTOR

[email protected]

Pastor Joey came to Jackson in 2004 to be a student at Union University. His first opportunity to serve in ministry began with an internship here at West Jackson. After graduation, he and his wife Corrie moved to Nashville, TN, where they began a partnership with an SBC church plant. In 2016 they moved to Central Asia, where they worked full-time in church planting until they returned to West Jackson in the summer of 2022. While living overseas, Joey earned a master’s degree from Southern Seminary.

Regardless of the context or culture, Joey and Corrie see the necessity of the local Church in advancing the Gospel. They have returned to Jackson with a desire to see Young Adults engaged, equipped, and sent out by the Gospel of Jesus Christ through the Church.

MEET OUR MINISTRY LEADERS:

LORI CAMP

MOTHER’S DAY OUT DIRECTOR

DAVID COOPER

COMMUNICATIONS & IT SPECIALIST

TRACY MICHEL

CREATIVE DIRECTOR/LEAD PASTOR ASSISTANT

TYLER ESTES

ASSOCIATE STUDENT MINISTER

RUSS COOPER

BUSINESS ADMINISTRATOR

RUTH MYERS

DIRECTOR OF PRESCHOOL MINISTRIES

BRIAN COLE

RECREATION DIRECTOR