Ridgeline Leadership
Matt and Sharon Jeffreys
Matt & Sharon both grew up Texas and were raised in Christian homes where they were exposed to the transforming love of Jesus at an early age. Although neither foresaw a life spent in Christian ministry, God’s call captured their lives during their college years and drew them together.
Matt & Sharon met while attending Hardin-Simmons University in Abilene, Texas. Originally majoring in Criminal Justice, Matt changed his major, and direction in life, his junior year as a result of God’s call. They married in 1999 following Matt’s graduation with a B.B.S. in Theology and a minor in Leadership. Sharon holds a B.B.S. in Interdisciplinary Studies from HSU with a minor in Mathematics. After graduation they moved to Waco where Sharon taught 8th grade while Matt attended Truett Theological Seminary at Baylor University. Matt spent 6 years in the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve, being honorably discharged as a Sergeant in 2003.
Prior to founding Ridgeline Community Church, Matt served in various church staff positions including student minister, young adult minister, and pastor. Sharon has used her gifts and abilities in ministries ranging from children & preschool to women’s ministry and programming. She taught public school and served on a Curriculum Alignment Team in Texas until choosing to stay home full-time with their children.
Matt & Sharon have three kids, Jayci age 4, Cade age 2, and their newest edition, Karis, was born in February. Matt loves to run, hike, and do just about anything outdoors. Sharon loves scrapbooking & connecting with other young moms. Together they share a passion to be part of a God-honoring, Christ-centered, transformational, life-giving church.
Jay and Jen Haugh
Jay grew up in a small town in northern Indiana. He went to Purdue University for the beginning of his college and it was there that he re-dedicated his life to Christ and pursued serving Him through a summer mission trip with Campus Crusade for Christ. After that summer, he transferred up to St. Cloud State University in Minnesota to finish his undergraduate degree and to be close to the northern girl he would later call his wife, Jen. After graduating in 2003, Jay and Jen married and soon after moved to Texas. It was there that Jay completed a year discipleship program at Denton Bible Church under Pastor Tommy Nelson. He began his pursuit of a Masters degree at Dallas Theological Seminary and is finishing this degree at Fuller Theological Seminary in Pasadena, CA.
Jen was born and raised in Minnesota near the Twin Cities. She became a Christian through a friend’s youth group in middle school and while in high school was involved in Student Venture (the high school ministry of Campus Crusade for Christ). While in college, she continued her involvement with Campus Crusade for Christ and went on the same summer mission trip to Newport Beach, CA as Jay. Jen has worked as a floral designer, a college admissions counselor, and now as a stay-at-home mother.
Ben is a new addition to their family, he was born January 2008. Ben loves to growl, play with cars and balls, and also likes to watch “Oswald” and “The Backyardigans”.
Gavin and Nicole Papit
Gavin grew up with a pastor for a dad and a music minister for a mom, and came to know Christ personally at a young age. He felt a full time call to ministry while at a summer camp before his junior year of high school. Gavin has his Bachelors in business from the University of North Texas, and hopes to achieve his Masters of Divinity from Fuller Theological Seminary. Gavin has long had a passion for telling others about Christ, and loves teaching and serving others. He has served as a Student Minister for the last couple years, and joined the Ridgeline lead team in September of ’08. Gavin married his high school sweetheart, Nicole, back in 2007.
Nicole grew up in a home passionate about God, with parents who loved teaching children of all ages the truth of Jesus. She came to know Christ when she was seven years old. Nicole has her Bachelors in Development and Family Studies with a Psychology minor, from the University of North Texas, and has a passion for seeing families grow together in God. She worked the past few years for non-profit organizations KERA and Scottish Rite Children’s Hospital. Gavin and Nicole are eagerly expecting their first born, who is due in August of 2009.