OUR STAFF

  • John Newland // senior pastor

    Pastor John has served at Fall Creek since 2004. His mission in life is to lead people to become passionate Christ-followers who produce passionate Christ-followers. He is committed to practical teaching and application of God's Word that empowers people to live with joy, purpose, and hope in a broken world. In addition to his pastoral responsibilities, he served as Team Leader for Church Planting for the Crossroads Association of greater Indianapolis and has chaired the movement of church planting called Send Indianapolis. Additionally, Pastor John has partnered with mission trips to Bolivia, Brazil, Iraq, South Africa and Thailand. He and his wife, Tracy, married in 1988 and have two adult children. Pastor John is a 1990 graduate of the University of Kentucky with a BS in Mathematics. His post-graduate degrees include a Master of Divinity from Mid-America Baptist Theological Seminary in Memphis, Tennessee in 1993, and a Doctor of Ministry from The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky in 2002. He served as Second Vice President of the Southern Baptist Convention in 2008-2009. Pastor John is currently working on a Ph.D. in preaching and ethics from The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary.


    Email Pastor John circlerightarrow  

  • scott stayton // associate pastor of youth & families

    Pastor Scott has served at Fall Creek since 2005. “God’s ways are definitely higher than my ways!” says this 20-year veteran of student ministry whose diversified career has included stints as an award-winning television sportscaster and a communication specialist and speechwriter with the Kentucky House of Representatives. Though his experience spans an array of professions, it was always student ministry that had his heart. “I can’t remember a time that I didn’t work in student ministry in some way, whether it was as a volunteer, in sports leagues, or as a volunteer youth director during my time in broadcasting and politics—student ministry is where my heart always was!” After graduating from Liberty University, Scott spent years working as a sports reporter, anchor and director while volunteering as youth leader at his church. After God called him back to his father’s home church and into full-time ministry, Scott served 12 years at Bible Baptist in Mt. Vernon, Kentucky, where he also directed camps and spoke across the country at youth events. Scott has served at Fall Creek since 2005 where he leads X-Stream Student Ministries. He has been married to his college sweetheart, Lisa, for over three decades and has the joy of being Daddy to his five incredible children.


    Email Pastor Scott circlerightarrow  

  • APRIL REYNOLDS // Director, Children's MinistrIes

    April and her husband John, with their three daughters, have been members of Fall Creek since 2006. Originally from Michigan's Upper Peninsula (above the bridge), April is a Journalism graduate of Indiana University and enjoyed working in book publishing for over 15 years, starting her own firm to support local authors, independent bookstores, and to advocate childhood literacy programs. April spent fifteen years directing Fall Creek’s weekday preschool ministry, WEECare Preschool & Kindergarten, before becoming Fall Creek's Children's Ministry Director in 2016 ... and has loved every minute of it. In her free time, April enjoys reading, writing, crocheting and hiking. Women’s Bible studies and Marriage ministries are a passion of hers. In juggling many roles, she can definitely say that “Wife” and “Mommy” are the sweetest.


    Email April circlerightarrow  

  • melissa anderson  //  church administrator and director, weecare preschool

    Born and raised in West Virginia, Melissa and her husband Chad are die-hard WV Mountaineers fans. After Chad's retirement from the US Marines, the Andersons and their two children have made Indiana their home. In addition to managing the church administratively, Melissa has directed the weekday preschool ministry, WEECare Preschool & Kindergarten, since 2021.  When not rooting on their favorite WV teams, the Andersons enjoy bowling, motorcycle rides, camping in the mountains of West Virginia, and dreamining they lived on 15 acres in West Virginia.


    Email Melissa circlerightarrow