The Summit Church

Find out more about The Summit Church including who we are, what we believe, how it all began, and The Summit Church staff.

Pastor Jonathan Robbins speaking

About The Summit Church

The reason we do what we do

The Summit exists to help people receive and share the love of Jesus. God loved us from the beginning and wants us to lead the way in loving each other. Jesus’ words from John 13:34-35 (NLT) motivate us to love first: ”So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other. Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples.”

Discovering and living the life God purposed for us and Jesus died to make possible for us begins as we receive the truth of His love for us. While the love of Jesus is most vividly seen by His sacrifice for our sin on the cross, we will spend the rest of our lives discovering the depths of His love for us. It all begins with receiving and continues as we receive His love.

Sharing is a natural part of receiving. Once someone discovers Jesus’ love for them, sharing that love with other people will be a normal way of living. It is in the sharing of His love where we will have our greatest and most meaningful impact in the world. Nothing links us to Jesus more than when we love the way He loves.

God did not create us to just love Him. He created us so that He could first love us, and Jesus’ death on the cross for us is proof of that beautiful truth. Our love for Him is a response to His love for us.

We are committed to helping people take their next steps in receiving the love of Jesus and then sharing that love with others. As God’s love through Jesus has no end, we will give our best days and energies embracing and accomplishing this mission.

The Summit Church Staff

Meet our team

Get to know a few familiar faces at The Summit.

Jonathan Robbins

Lead Pastor

Pastor Jonathan Robbins
Pastor Jonathan Robbins

Jonathan Robbins

Lead Pastor

Messages by Jonathan Robbins

Jonathan has been married more than 28 years to his wife, Donna, and they have 2 daughters and 2 grandsons. He has also served as a pastor for more than 28 years. Having planted a new church and assisted several church planting teams, helping new churches start and grow is very close to his heart. He believes a local church should create environments that both engage the heart of a non-Christian and encourage the Christian to the next step in their faith journey. He loves fishing, hunting, and spending time outdoors, especially in the mountains. He holds a B.S. and M.A.R. from Liberty University and a M.Div from Southeastern Seminary.

Eric Waldrop

Executive Pastor

Eric Waldrop
Eric Waldrop

Eric Waldrop

Executive Pastor

Messages by Eric Waldrop

Eric has been married to Kresha for more than 20 years and they have two boys. He has served as a senior pastor, church planter, small groups pastor, and currently as an executive pastor. He has a heart for leadership and helping people grow into their potential. He currently works directly with Pastor Jonathan Robbins to provide global oversight and leadership direction for The Summit. Eric has a B.S. from Wingate University, M. Div. from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary, and Doctor of Ministry from Fuller Theological Seminary.

Gina Newnum

Kernersville Ministry Director

Gina Newnum, Kernersville Ministry Director
Gina Newnum, Kernersville Ministry Director

Gina Newnum

Kernersville Ministry Director

Messages by Gina Newnum

Gina, along with her husband Rick and their two girls, began attending The Summit in 2010. They were immediately drawn in by the way it lived out loving others and being a church they could invite anyone to.

Gina joined the staff in 2011 as Guest Services and Serve Coordinator, and later moved into the Serve Director role. She never would have guessed how God would use her previous career in physical therapy to develop an understanding and compassion for people. Now, that groundwork allows her to better live out her passion for loving, equipping and serving the church. Her time as Serve Director taught her how the church has the power to change the world through the love of Jesus.

She is currently the Kernersville Ministry Director and enjoys seeing and celebrating people of all ages take their next steps toward Jesus. She’s stuck on hope and loves college football, making memories with friends and family, and taking in sights, sounds, and tastes of cities near or far.

Andy Cook

Oak Ridge Campus Pastor

Andy Cook, Oak Ridge Location Pastor
Andy Cook, Oak Ridge Location Pastor

Andy Cook

Oak Ridge Campus Pastor

Messages by Andy Cook

Andy married his wife Stephanie in 2003 and they have 2 girls, Kaylee and Karrington. Andy and Stephanie began attending the Summit in 2004 and he came on staff in 2009 as the Serve Pastor and Host Team Director. In 2013 Andy became the Campus Pastor at our first multi site campus in Oak Ridge. He studied at both Central Carolina and Appalachian State University. He is passionate about the local church serving it’s community and creating opportunities for people to connect their gifts and talents at the Summit. He loves camping, playing golf and the Carolina Panthers.

Beliefs

What we believe

We believe in God, the creator and sustainer of all things, present as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

We believe that Jesus is God’s Son and is the complete and full expression of who God is and what God is like. Jesus was born of a virgin, lived a sinless life, sacrificially offered Himself on the cross as the Savior of the world, and then physically rose from the dead. Jesus will one day return to earth and fully establish His Kingdom.

We believe the Holy Spirit is God’s active presence in the lives of those who trust and follow Jesus. God’s Spirit gifts, empowers, and guides us in the way of Jesus.

We believe the Bible is inspired by God to ultimately point people to Jesus.

We believe new and eternal life is a free gift offered to all by means of God’s grace through faith in Jesus.

We believe the Christian life is lived by following Jesus and living according to His way.

We believe the local Church is chosen by God to steward the message of the Gospel of Jesus and forward the cause of His Kingdom on earth.

The Summit Church staff at the ground breaking in Kernersville

History of The Summit Church

How and when it all began

The Summit Church launched on Easter 2000. For the first eight years, we met in Southeast Middle School in Kernersville. In 2008, we moved to a permanent facility on 32 acres of property right along I-74 in Kernersville.

To keep up with the ongoing growth, we launched our first multi-site location in Oak Ridge on Easter 2013. For seven years, we met in Oak Ridge Elementary School before moving into a permanent facility on 14 acres on NC Highway 68N in Oak Ridge.

Now, thousands of people and changed lives later, we stand in awe of all God has, is, and will continue to do!

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