MidTree Church is commissioned by God to the ministry of the Gospel to all peoples through discipleship and community.

We see this accomplished as we increasingly BEHOLD the immeasurable Glory of God, BELIEVE in Jesus by grace through faith, and BECOME all that God has created us to be.

SOLID THEOLOGY

MidTree visitors and members can always expect to hear solid theology in a warm community. We believe in one God, eternally existing in three equally divine Persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, who know, love, and glorify one another. We believe that the gospel is the good news of Jesus Christ — God’s very wisdom.

A FAMILY THAT PITCHES IN

At MidTree Church, everyone has a place and part to play. Members are encouraged to engage in multiple ministries based

on their interests, such as outreach, kids or music. Missional Community Groups are the heart of MidTree. These groups offer

a sense of belonging, support, and shared purpose within the larger MidTree community. Volunteering in various ministries and joining an MCG not only benefits others but also enriches

one's spiritual journey. Everyone is welcomed to contribute and make a difference at MidTree, promoting growth, service, and community celebration.

MEMBERS WHO SHEPHERD

Members of MidTree shepherd one another through the delights and difficulties of life. They gather in times of celebration, sharing laughter and joy, and they come together in moments of sorrow, offering comfort

and support. This close-knit community thrives on mutual respect and a deep sense of belonging, where every individual is valued and cherished. Through every

season, they find strength in unity and inspiration in their shared journey, continually weaving a rich tapestry of friendship and resilience.

Will Hawk is a native of Columbus, Ga. He has been married to his high-school sweetheart since 2005 and thoroughly enjoys rough-housing with his three boys and doting upon his daughter. By God’s providence, he was raised in a faithful church where the word of God was preached and the gospel was proclaimed. At a young age, he recognized his need for a Savior and responded in faith and was baptized.

From that point forward he has grown in love for his Savior and has sought to glorify God through serving his bride, the church. He has worked with underprivileged youths in camp ministry, served in para-church ministries in the local school-system, traveled as a retreat speaker, and serves on the Columbus Baptist Association leadership team. As a pastor, he has ministered in two churches since 2004 and looks forward to planting a gospel-centered church expressed through community in Midland, Ga.

Ryne grew up in north Georgia, just south of Chattanooga, Tenn. He moved to Columbus in August 2005 after developing friendships (one with his eventual wife) through a beach retreat for high school and middle school students. By God’s grace, he was raised in a believing home and responded to the Gospel at the age of 8. The Lord used several people in college to spark an interest in learning more about biblical theology which helped to advance his sanctification and love of ministry.

He has been serving in different capacities within the church, mainly leading worship, for almost two decades. Vocationally, Ryne works for a financial institution providing comprehensive wealth management services.

He has been married to his wife, Laura, for 10 years, and they have two children, Luke and Nora. Ryne’s hope is that we, as believers, would remember the gravity of what we have been saved from in Christ and that we would respond with lives that truly taste and see that the Lord is good.

Greg Dispain and his wife, Debbie, are relative newcomers to the Columbus area, having relocated here in 2017 with his employer, a regional, financial services firm. Greg and Debbie were childhood sweethearts from first grade, who were married in 1992. They have two married children and two grandchildren and live in the Midland area.

Greg was born and mostly raised in North Georgia, apart from the time his family served as missionaries in Alaska. Being raised as the son of a missionary and preacher, he was fortunate to grow up in a household where the Christian faith was the cornerstone of daily life. By God's grace, Greg was exposed to the gospel at an early age, to which he responded in faith.

Greg has served a variety of roles in the Church to include deacon, Sunday school teacher, leadership team, finance committee, missions committee, and capital campaign to name a few. He has a passion for Bible study and discipleship and finds immense joy in helping others read God's word well and seeing its truth come alive in their hearts.

Trent Wilbanks and his wife, Joy, have enjoyed serving as part of the core membership team that planted MidTree Church in 2018.  Since 2008, they have lived in Pine Mountain and have six children: Ashlynn, Anna Kathryn, Caleb, Daniel, Micah, and Lydia. As a family they long to live out values of fearing God, joy, gratitude, compassion, and hospitality.

Trent grew up in Mississippi where he attended Mississippi College and met his wife Joy.  He earned a masters degree in leadership at Fuller Theological Seminary's school for Intercultural Studies.  Together Trent and Joy began a small retreat facility for Christian leaders in northern Alabama. In 2008, after five years with this ministry, they were invited to join the team at Impact 360 Institute in Pine Mountain, GA.  Trent’s current work with Impact includes strategic assignments and a focus to safeguard the long-term culture, purpose, mission and values of the organization. 

Trent has served in a variety of roles in church throughout his life, including with staff for music and student ministries. You will often be able to find him working the sound booth on Sunday mornings, a role that brings him great joy and opportunity to serve with others to support the worship of our church through clear declaration of the Bible through music and preaching.

Larry and Christy have been married since 2006 and have been blessed with 6 children (for now). They have been part of the Columbus, Ga. area since 2016. Since this time, Larry and Christy have been blessed to be intimately involved in the local community by serving as foster parents as well as partnering with various ministries throughout the area, including Mercy Med and Clement Arts. 

Larry came to faith in college shortly after meeting Christy. Since that time, he has developed a passion to continually grow in his faith and help other men enjoy the deep riches and goodness of loving and serving Christ as their Savior, Lord and King, all to God’s glory.

Josiah Johnston is a lifelong resident of Columbus, GA. He has been in various leadership roles since 2009 and has a degree in Business Administration and Computer Informational Systems. Josiah has developed a keen sense of business acumen, which he joyfully uses to serve the church and community.

In 2013, Josiah married his wife, Ashley, and together they have four wonderful children. Josiah has been a devout Christian from a young age and has continued to deepen his relationship with God as he matures. His faith is the foundation of his life and has helped him navigate all aspects of his personal and professional life. Josiah can be found serving in many areas of MidTree doing what his wife affectionately calls "the business-y things".

Keri Harrison is a dedicated wife, mother, and educator(homeschool mom 🙂; it counts!) who grew up in Columbus, Georgia. She found her faith at the age of 18 and has strived to be a devoted Christ follower ever since. Keri is married to Shane Harrison, and together they have three children: Madison, Tucker, and Georgia. One of the joys of her life has been homeschooling Tucker and Georgia since kindergarten, cherishing the opportunity to be deeply involved in their education by allowing her to instill both academic knowledge and Christian values in their upbringing. She is known for her love for people and her deep faith in Jesus.

As MidTree’s Church Administrator since November 2023, she has enjoyed serving the people here immensely. 

Nora Radford's journey of faith began in her childhood, growing up in the church in the Chicagoland area. The Lord changed her life during her college years at Benedictine University, and He has been working to grow her faith every day since. In 2012, she moved to Columbus, where she has since grown her family with three children: Reygan, Lina and Wyatt. Nora loves to be outside and has a strong passion for health and fitness, particularly running, lifting weights, skiing and snowboarding.

In October 2024, Nora began serving as the Connections Coordinator at MidTree Church. In this role, she works closely with visitors to help them feel welcomed and connected, guiding them through the process of becoming involved with the church community until they join the church as members. If you are new, or haven't met her, come say hello! 

Thomas is a professional in the highest sense of the word.

Elijah, a lifelong resident of Columbus, Georgia, is dedicated to ministry, mentorship, and his local community. He has been an active member of MidTree Church since 2023, where he serves in multiple roles, including as the youth and kids ministry intern. In this position, Elijah supports the church’s efforts to nurture the next generation through faith-centered teaching and hands-on involvement.

With a heart for young people, Elijah joined Teen Advisors, a para-church student ministry, in 2022. Starting as a middle school field staffer, he has since advanced to associate director, where he mentors students and empowers them to grow in their faith and leadership.

Elijah is passionate about equipping young people, offering practical guidance that fosters confidence, compassion, and purpose. His work, both at Midtree and within the community, reflects his deep commitment to helping young people realize their potential and grow in their faith. Elijah is also engaged to his fiancée, Maddy Maldonado, and they are excited to be married in the fall of 2024.

Sarah Turner was born and raised in Columbus, Georgia. In God's kindness, Sarah grew up in a God-fearing home (alongside her older brother, you might know him, Will Hawk) where the good news and hope of Christ was shared daily. By God's grace, she came to accept the Lord as her savior at a young age. Through the changing seasons of life, her faith has grown and evolved. She has had opportunities to completely rely on the Lord with the unknowns of life, finding that He is where the joy is! She has been married to her husband, Drew Turner since 2013. They are blessed with 2 children, Luna and Henry, and are excited to continue to grow their family through international adoption.

Sarah has her BA in early childhood education from Columbus State University. She worked for six years teaching in the public school system before she became a homeschool mom. She enjoys the opportunity to combine her talents for early childhood education with her love of Christ and making him known. Her goal is to make Sunday morning the best part of your kid's week!

Natalie has been a resident of Harris County along with her loving parents, and her two younger brothers since 2014. She loves spending time with her two brothers, Matthew and Daniel, and her sister-in-law, Hallie Kate. Natalie also loves spending time with her friends and family, discipling students, playing games, & reading. She has known Christ as her Savior since she was 8 years old, and has continued to grow in her relationship with Him ever since. Natalie has been pursuing a lifelong calling to kids & youth ministry since she was in youth herself! Over the past six years, she has gotten experience serving in kids & youth ministry through local and national level ministries. Some of her experiences include working with WinShape Camps for Communities, Operation Christmas Child, & most recently, Teen Advisors. Natalie currently serves as the Director of the Velocity program, the middle school program with Teen Advisors, where she gets to serve in 13 middle schools and counting throughout two counties! She is so excited to join the MidTree team to continue pouring out the love of Christ and sharing the Gospel with the kids at MidTree. 

Special thanks to Jessica Fowler for Elder & Staff photos