leadership

  • Rich Good, pastor

    Rich was born in Ohio but did most of his growing up in Nashville. 

    Though his family regularly went to church, it wasn't until college, through his involvement in a campus ministry, that he understood what it really meant to have a relationship with Christ and his faith started to deepen.  Since then, he has been increasingly amazed by God's abundant grace, faithfulness, and patience as he slowly progresses as a recovering pharisee.


    Rich moved back to Nashville after college and worked in management consulting and then as a teacher and coach before getting involved in full-time ministry. He earned his Master of Divinity from Covenant Theological Seminary, and from there he has served in a variety of churches over his 24 years of ordained ministry.  He met his wife, Dawn, while serving in Illinois; they had their daughter, Adrie, while in Virginia, and their son, Evan, while in Maryland.

     

    Rich enjoys hearing people's stories, connecting with friends, staying up late to watch Stanford football and spending time with his family - with Friday pizza and movie nights, hikes in the North Georgia mountains and vacations to the beach as the highlights.

     

    To contact Rich, please click here.   


  • KENNY JONES, RULING ELDER

    Kenny was born in Georgia and grew up and lived in Covington and Conyers until moving to Dawsonville in 2015.  Having been raised attending church, he understood his need for a savior at an early age and professed his faith in Christ.  However, it wasn’t until adulthood that he began to understand, and is still grasping, the depth of God’s endless grace and mercy.

     

    Kenny is married to his childhood sweetheart, Maria; they have home educated their five children – Joshua, Katarina, Jacob, Matthew, and Micah – and have one grandson – Levi.  When not enjoying the lake with his family and friends, he can usually be found watching Georgia football or the Atlanta Braves.  Kenny works for Cox Automotive as Sr. Director of Environmental, Health and Safety.


    To contact Kenny, please click here.


  • Bill long, ruling elder

    Bill is a native of Lookout Mountain, Tennessee, where his father, George Long, was pastor of the Lookout Presbyterian Church (PCA). He is a graduate of The McCallie School in Chattanooga, Tennessee, Wheaton College in Wheaton, Illinois, and Tennessee School of Law in Knoxville, Tennessee. He is married to his wife of 50 years, Betsy, whom he met at Wheaton. They have two married children and seven grandchildren. Bill accepted Christ as his savior when he was 12 years old and seriously rededicated his life to Him while at Wheaton. Following college graduation, Bill felt led to become a lawyer, trusting that he would have unique opportunities to witness in that capacity. Bill retired from the practice of law in 2020 after spending 41 years as a Business Litigator in Atlanta with the firm of Womble Bond Dickinson (US) LLP and its predecessor iterations.

     

    Along the way, Bill and Betsy were on church planting teams from Perimeter Church (PCA) and were instrumental in the planting of Intown Community Church (PCA) and ChristChurch Presbyterian (PCA) in Atlanta, where Bill served as a Ruling Elder. Upon retirement, they moved to Dahlonega, Georgia, and became members of Creekstone Presbyterian (PCA).  Bill was honored to head up the Search Committee for a new pastor and is delighted that Rich Good and his family were called to our church.  Exciting things are happening at Creekstone!

     

    Bill enjoys golf, fishing, time with his family and grandchildren, and playing banjo, both with fellow bluegrass pickers and with the Creekstone Worship Team.


  • MATT "FISH" LUKE, RULING ELDER,

    WORSHIP TEAM COORDINATOR


    Fish grew up in Columbus, Georgia but found his way to Creekstone his first Sunday attending the University of North Georgia. While there, he studied English Literature and began serving in the worship team. During the last two years of college Fish served as the youth coordinator for Creekstone and continued to do that for the next seven years. 


    In 2020, Fish started working as a Job Superintendent for McEntyre Construction. However, he was able to continue his ministry at Creekstone by becoming the Worship Coordinator. In the fall of 2023, Fish was called and ordained as a Ruling Elder. 


    Fish loves trail running and spending time outdoors with his wife, Emily, daughter, MaKay, and their chocolate lab, Margot. 


    To contact Fish, please click here.


  • ERIC STEED, RULING ELDER

    Eric was raised in Monroe, GA until he went on to attend the University of Georgia in Athens. He went on to physical therapy school in 2010 at the Medical College of Georgia where the Lord connected him with a group of men who were a part of Medical Campus Outreach (MCO) – a campus ministry under the support and direction of First Presbyterian Church of Augusta (PCA). Eric had a passion for making disciples of the next generation of healthcare providers while on the healthcare campus. This passion brought him and his wife, Morgan, who is also a physical therapist, to Dahlonega in 2014. Since then, they have invested in physical therapy students on the UNG campus.

     

    In 2019, Eric was called and ordained as a ruling elder, shifting his focus from campus ministry to serving as a leader in the local church.

     

    The Steeds have two young children – Jackson and Hannah. Along with spending time with his family, Eric loves to roast coffee, woodwork, waterski, hunt, fish, and scuba dive for fossils.


    To contact Eric, please click here.

  • morgan barnhardt, deacon - mercy ministries

    Morgan was raised in Suwanee, GA. He became a Christian in 11th grade, but did not understand how to truly walk with God until he attended Georgia College, where he got involved in Campus Outreach and was discipled by strong believers. Shortly after graduating college in 2017, he and his high school sweetheart, Lisa, married and moved to Dahlonega so that she could attend physical therapy school. At that time, God led them to becoming members of Creekstone Church. They now live in Dawsonville, GA along with their twin daughters, Reagan and Avery, and their labradoodle, Skylar.

If Morgan’s not spending time with all the girls in his life (Skylar included), you can find him outside, on a hike, or watching the Atlanta Braves. He also enjoys helping others through his work as an insurance broker.


    To contact Morgan, please click here.

  • Mike Burgess, deacon - finances

    Mike was born and raised in Jacksonville, FL. He and his wife moved to the Atlanta area in 1986, and joined a PCA church. Mike worked many years for GE Capital, then started up several businesses. He also worked in sales and marketing with several other companies, until retiring.  They moved to Dawsonville in 2019 and joined Creekstone Church.  Having been raised attending church, he understood his need for a savior at an early age and professed his faith in Christ. He has continued to grow in his understanding of God’s love and grace.


    Mike and his wife, Patsy, have twin adult sons and two grandchildren. They enjoy living and playing on Lake Lanier as well as traveling with family and friends.


    To contact Mike please click here.


  • mark sussman, deacon - facilities

    Mark was born in England and at a very early age his family relocated to the United States where he became a US citizen.  Mark spent his earliest years in Tampa, FL and Great Neck, NY.

     

    Mark enjoyed a 35-year career in the hospitality industry in various cities within the US until he moved to Dawsonville in 2016. Currently Mark enjoys helping others by using his skills as a Realtor with Atlanta Communities.

     

    Mark became aware of who Christ was and His need for Him while attending Perimeter Church (PCA). Mark has been attending Creekstone Church since moving to Dawsonville. He enjoys helping however he can and spending time on the lake with his wife, Laurie, their two adult children and their families which include 6 grandchildren.


    To contact Mark please click here.


  • Steve shuler, deacon

    Steve grew up in Fort Worth, Texas graduating from Texas Tech University in 1977. He became a Christian in high school and has enjoyed the journey these many years. Starting his real estate career in Texas, he eventually moved to Atlanta and continued until his semi-retirement in 2022.

     

    He married Cheryl in 1985 and they now live in Dahlonega attending Creekstone Church since 2017. They have 4 children and 4 grandchildren which is an active part of their lives.


    Steve enjoys hiking and traveling with Cheryl and has been involved in various ministries and church functions over the years.


    To contact Steve please click here.

  • LAURIE SUSSMAN, CHURCH ADMINISTRATOR,

    WOMEN'S MINISTRY TEAM COORDINATOR

    To contact Laurie, please click here.


  • BEcky benson, audio visual team coordinator

    To contact Becky, please click here.


  • austin whitehouse, youth team coordinator

    To contact Austin, please click here.


  • emily luke, children's ministry team coordinator

    Emily grew up in Gainesville, Georgia. She graduated from the University of Georgia with a bachelor’s degree in education. She spent several years as the Retreat Coordinator at a local Christian camp and was an educator for 6 years in a local school system. After giving birth to her daughter in the spring of 2023, she decided to stay home with her. 

     

    She's grateful to continue to use her gifts and passion for teaching children in this role at Creekstone. As the Children's Ministry Team Coordinator, her desire is to preach the Gospel to the littlest ones in our church and she longs for children to cultivate an understanding of authentic Christian community as they learn about God and His Word. 

     

    Emily enjoys running and doing anything adventurous with her husband, Fish, their daughter, MaKay, and their Chocolate Labrador Retriever, Margot. To contact Emily, please click here.