Staff

Dr. Gary Purdy - Senior Pastor

Gary took on the role of Senior Pastor at NorthCross Church in January 2024. Gary comes to us from RUF at Birmingham Southern College. In addition to his many years in campus ministry, Gary has been a church planter, assistant pastor, and senior pastor. He holds a Masters of Theology in Apologetics and a Doctor of Ministry in Preaching from Reformed Theological Seminary. 

Angela Howard - Church Administrator

Angela has a love for God’s Word and teaching women the truths found in Scripture. She has led a community Bible study and worked in a local Christian school for many years. She also serves on the board of a non-profit ministry in Peru and has taken several mission trips there. Angela started attending NorthCross in 2020 and began working here in October of 2022. Her duties focus on administration and finance. Angela and her husband Greg have three grown children and one precious granddaughter.

Hannah Nelson - Children’s Director

Hannah is a Navy Veteran wife and a mama of two! Hannah’s background includes a major in Psychology with a minor in Spanish, which led to an intense 480-hour internship in Child Life. Later, she became a Child Life Specialist at Seattle Children’s Hospital as well as other hospitals to date. Her love for Christ and personal relationship with Him deepened her calling and desire to use her skills to bring glory back to Him! She is ecstatic being able to serve and love on the families at NorthCross Church, while also being able to focus on her own family. She hopes to continue to reach the community &and build His Kingdom on earth!

Leaders

Elders

Josh Baker - Josh has been attending Northcross since 2022. He grew up in upstate New York and came to North Carolina after attending college in the Chicago area. He and his lovely wife, Erin, live in Huntersville; they have a one year old son named Wells. Josh works as a project manager at FHG, Inc in Mint Hill, NC. During his free time he likes spending time with his family and being on the lake.

Matt Estler - Matt has been an active member of NorthCross since 2019 and has been serving as an Elder since 2022. He has been married to his beautiful wife, Tara for 12 years and they have 3 amazing children.  Matt works in sales for Cisco Systems and in his free time enjoys hanging with his family and playing sports that won’t cause another knee surgery. 

Scott Tew - Scott has been a member of NorthCross since 2011. He has served several different churches as a Ruling Elder in the PCA for more than 20 years. In addition, Scott was a founder of a classical Christian school and remains passionate about Christian Education and Leadership Development. Professionally, Scott leads sustainability and public policy for Trane Technologies in Davidson. He and Cindy have been married for 35 years, and their children and grandchildren also attend NorthCross.  

Dean Whitehill - Dean has been a Ruling Elder at NorthCross Church since its inception. He has attended PCA churches in Florida and North Carolina since 1986. He is a retired banker with experience in retail, commercial, real estate, and corporate banking services. Dean and his wife Lynn have four children and eight grandchildren. He enjoys golf, hiking, travel and spending time with his family.

Deacons

Mark Bankert - Mark and his wife Heather moved to the Lake Norman area August of 2016 and have been members of NorthCross since 2017. He is a Maryland native but has lived and worked in North Carolina since 2010. They have two wonderful elementary school age children and he sincerely enjoys serving others, playing guitar on the worship team and helping in whatever way I can.

Max Bergstrom - Max and his wife Elizabeth have been members of NorthCross since 2020. They welcomed their first child the summer of 2025. Max is a North Carolina native and works as a physicians assistant. He ran in college and continues to enjoy training for races in his free time.

Seth Entwistle - Seth grew up in Kenya and Mozambique as a missionary kid. He has been a member with his wife Rebecca since 2020 and they just had a baby girl in late 2024. He works for PSA Airlines as a pilot and enjoys cooking, running, and painting/design when he is home.

Justin James - Justin has attended NorthCross Church for almost 11 years and has served as a deacon for 2.5. He is blessed to be married to Jessica, and have three kids: Walker (4) and twins, Annie and Camryn (19 months). His prayer for the church is to grow relationships, not only within the congregation, but more importantly outside of worship to touch the lives of others in the Lake Norman Community.

Reuben Vandezande - Reuben Vandezande has been a member of NorthCross Church since 2016. Reuben and his wife Rose have two children and live in the Cornelius area. He works as an Aerospace Engineer at Corvid Technologies and previously was an intern with RUF at Davidson College. He enjoys playing drums on the worship team.

Joel Campanella, Treasurer - Joel has served as our church treasurer since 2005. He and his wife Ann and their daughter Sydney have attended NorthCross since November 2004. Joel is the retired managing director of the PROFIN division of Royal & SunAlliance and is an avid golfer. Joel and Ann are both 1982 graduates of Davidson College and live in Cornelius.

Women’s Shepherds

Jean Edwards

Jodi Hinkson

Jamie Walker

Lynn Whitehill