Connect Church Staff & Leadership

The staff of Connect Church is comprised of men and women who love, care and pray for every single person in the church. If you have questions or would like to send a message to any of our staff or team members, please click here! 

  • THADD McELREATH

    Lead Pastor

    Before the launch of Connect Church, Thadd served twelve years in various ministry positions including Youth Pastor and Associate Pastor. At God’s calling in 2009 he helped begin a contemporary worship service designed to eventually grow as a church plant. He now serves as the lead pastor of that church plant, Connect Church, which launched in August 2012. Coming from this background of ministry, Thadd has developed a Scripture-centered, conversational style of teaching that seeks to reach people where they are; his passion for the gospel and desire to see others find Christ comes through in every sermon. Thadd has degrees from Campbell University and Emporia State University and currently teaches Physical Education at Central Carolina Community College along with serving at Connect Church. He and his wife, Jamie, enjoy life with their son, Jude, and their daughter, Meryl. 



  • CRAIG SPIVEY

    ASSOCIATE PASTOR

    Craig is a member of the Leadership Team and the Associate Pastor at Connect Church. He graduated from Western Carolina University with a degree in Sociology and is the Manager, Corporate Office and Facility Services at Cotton, Inc. He and his wife Kayla oversee our video ministry and serve as youth leaders of our Abide Student Ministry as they seek to share the hope of the Gospel with young people in our county.  

  • BEAU MCELREATH

    VISION TEAM & WORSHIP LEADER

    Beau has twelve years of experience leading a praise band and is the Worship Leader at Connect Church. He is also a member of the Connect Church Vision Team and has been part of the church planting process since it began in 2009. With a degree from Campbell University, Beau is a Network Analyst at North Carolina State University. He and his wife, Elizabeth, are passionate about serving Christ together, and have two children, Weston and Anna. 



  • HANNAH KELLER

    VISION TEAM & ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT

    Hannah serves on the Media Team during our worship services and also manages our website. With degrees from Campbell University, she currently teaches English as an adjunct instructor at Campbell and Sandhills Community College and works as the Administrative Assistant for Connect Church. She also helps lead Women's and Children's Ministries at Connect and is on the Vision Team. She and her husband, Andrew, have two children, Elaina and Johnny, and desire to shine brightly for Christ in the darkness of our county by loving and serving people. 

  • Dirk & Lacey Kuenzler

    VISION TEAM & Finance Team Members

    Dirk and Lacey serve on the Vision and Finance teams and work in our Women's and Children's Ministries where Lacey leads our Tuesday Morning Bible study and Dirk teaches our Connect Kids. They have two sons, Morgan and Seth, and love to travel, create, and work to build community with their church family and friends.

  • MIchael & MIsty MashBurn

    Co-Finance Directors

    Michael and Misty have been with Connect Church from the beginning and have served in various roles, most recently taking responsibility of overseeing the church's finances. They also help with our kids' ministry and stay busy with their teens, Madison and Maddox, and with loving and serving others in our Sanford community.