Team

Chip is married to Debbie, who is a high school theater teacher. They have been married for 30 years and have two children. Trent is a Senior in college at St. Cloud State and Miranda is a comedian/writer living in Chicago.

In 27 years of ministry, Chip has served as a student, associate, and Senior pastor. He came to Cookeville First from his most recent appointment as the District Superintendent of the Stones River District where he served for six years.

Chip enjoys comedy, playing golf, watching sports, and spending time with his family. He moved five times before he graduated high school and attended three different high schools. He graduated from The University of South Florida with a B.A. in Speech Communications and Asbury Theological Seminary with a Masters of Divinity.

Zach is an Ordained Elder, with an M.Div. from Vanderbilt Divinity School, and has served in many roles within United Methodist churches.

He has lived in many places, but considers San Antonio, TX his hometown, and Brentwood UMC, here in Tennessee, his home church. Zach’s parents are retired from the U.S. Army Nurse Corps, and live in Gig Harbor, WA. He is the youngest of four brothers.  

Zach has a Bachelor’s degree in history from UT-Knoxville, where he met his wife, Caroline Grugin. Zach and Caroline have been married for 8 years. Caroline is from Lenoir City, TN, and has been a Middle-School English teacher for 10 years.  Zach and Caroline enjoy cooking, exploring nature, and spending time with their cats (Desperado, Flapjack, and Applejack).