Our ELDERS

Three Rivers Church believes that the model of leadership and governance that we see modeled and prescribed in the New Testament is one of multiple elders (also referred to as pastors or overseers in the New Testament) leading the church as undershepherds to The Chief Shepherd Jesus.  


As undershepherds and overseers of a local church, elders are men who are entrusted with teaching, protecting, leading, equipping, and caring for the corporate church body and her individual members.  Our elders work together to shepherd the church body in all areas. Each elder has specific ministry areas they lead as well as pastoral responsibilities to the entire Three Rivers Church family.

  • mitch jolly

    Mitch is the primary teaching pastor. He is the husband of Jennifer, the daddy of Gabriel, John Mark and Daniel. Mitch loves to teach, hunt, and watch football.


    mitch@threeriversc.org

  • JIM LANIER

    Jim and Diane have been married over four decades and have two grown sons and four grandsons.  Jim and his sons are Georgia Tech graduates.  After local business involvement, Jim now enjoys being outdoors managing the family farm, hunting, fishing, gardening, and playing with the grandsons. 


    jim@threeriversc.org

  • Jon palmer

    Jon has attended TRC since 2016.  He is a Project Manager for Sonoco in Hartsville, SC and works from his home office in Rome. He obtained his Mechanical Engineering degree from Southern Poly in Marietta, Ga. He is Dad to his beautiful daughter Alaina Palmer.


    jon@threeriversc.org

MINISTRY DIRECTORS & LEADERS

  • Adam and Averi Waites

    MINISTRY directors | HOSPITALITY

    Adam and Averi have been married since 2018 and moved to Rome in April 2021. Adam is a Client Relationship Manager at Every Leader's Journey and Averi stays home with their beautiful baby girl, Micah. They also have a 95 pound Newfoundland Poodle named Monte.


    hospitality@threeriversc.org

  • STEPHEN & GABBY GALLOWAY

    MINISTRY directors | student MINISTRY

    Stephen and Gabby came to Rome in 2014 for school and began attending Three Rivers in 2017. Since their marriage in the spring of 2018, they have been eager to get plugged in and serve with Three Rivers. Youth ministry has been an important part of their relationship, even when they started dating as high schoolers in 2013. Stephen works in I.T. at WinShape Foundation while Gabby enjoys staying home with their son, Jude. They also love having new adventures, such as kayaking and axe throwing. When in Rome, do as the Romans do!


    Stephen: stephen@threeriversc.org

    Gabby: gabby@threeriversc.org

  • BRITTANY HAYES

    MINISTRY DIRECTOR | RADICAL KIDS

    Brittany oversees Radical Kids for Three Rivers. She teaches fifth grade and has a strong passion for teaching. Brittany attended Berry College where she received her master’s degree in early childhood education. She has attended Three Rivers Church since its beginning in 2003. Brittany and her husband, Chris, live in Cartersville, GA. They are the parents of Addison Rae Hayes.


    brittany@threeriversc.org

  • CHRIS HAYES

    MINISTRY DIRECTOR | Administration, communications, Marketing, events & Audio-visual

    Chris has attended TRC since 2003 while a student at Berry College and currently oversees administration, communications, social media, audio-visual ministry, events, and is part of the worship team. He came on board full time at TRC in October of 2023 and also started his own marketing company called C3 Creative Services. Chris is a big fan of the Braves, Dawgs, and Falcons as well as an avid musician, worship leader, singer, and writer. Chris married Brittany in 2008, whom he first met at TRC, and they live with their beautiful daughter, Addison, in Cartersville, GA. 


    chris@threeriversc.org

  • ADAM JOSLIN

    MINISTRY DIRECTOR | worship ministry

    Adam married and moved to Rome in 2021. He is the husband of Amy and the father of Addie, Alivia and Anna. He is a local high school teacher and also enjoys lots of outdoor activities - mostly whitewater sports.


    adam@threeriversc.org

  • andrew & jessica smith

    MINISTRY directoRS | FAM Ministry

    Andrew and Jessica Smith started attending TRC as college students in 2006. Andrew, or Dr. Smith if you prefer, currently teaches Mathematics at a local high school and Jessica homeschools their 3 beautiful daughters Callie, Maisie, and Lillie. They love to travel and enjoy biking and swimming with their girls.


    fam@threeriversc.org

  • MARCO & KAYLA ZUNIGA

    MINISTRY directors | student MINISTRY

    Kayla and Marco started attending Three Rivers while college students in 2015. While in school, they worked on staff at Snowbird which led to the opportunity to begin working with the youth at TRC. Kayla works now as a nurse at Floyd Medical Center while Marco works as an Admissions Counselor at Shorter University.


    Marco: marco@threeriversc.org

    Kayla: kayla@threeriversc.org

  • Tim & Beth Wood

    MINISTRY directorS | global Engagement

    Tim and Beth began attending TRC after moving to Rome in the summer of 2018. Tim and Beth have two adult children, Jonathan and Sarah. Tim works at Hobby Lobby in Rome while Beth works in customer service and administration at Camp Industries. They lead the Sunday morning Radical Life Group while Beth also works in Radical Kids and Tim leads us in the Lord's Supper and Corporate Prayer occasionally. 


    missions@threeriversc.org

  • mark estes

    MINISTRY director | radical life groups

    Mark moved to Rome in 2019 and lives here with his wife, Lauren, and their three beautiful girls, Allie, Chandler, and Charlie. They joined TRC in 2020. Mark and Lauren are in the process of opening a children's consignment shop and are excited about this new venture in life. They are also foster parents and Mark serves as a co-chair for the Floyd County Foster Parent Association. Lauren homeschools their children. Mark enjoys playing sports, camping, kayaking, hiking, and Krispy Kreme. 


    mark@threeriversc.org

  • Abraham Zavala

    MINISTRY DIRECTOR | Local engagement

    Abraham arrived in Rome in 2011 for Berry College and began attending Three Rivers Church in 2012. His love for Rome and the Three Rivers community brought him back after graduation. He is married to Katlyn and is a father to his son, Abraham Jr. He serves in higher education and his wife is in the medical field. He hopes to encourage and educate followers of Christ in participating in the restoration and redemption of the world through Christ Jesus. Favorite Verse: "To live is Christ and to die is Gain." Phil 1:21


    local@threeriversc.org