Meet Our Pastors
Our Team
Chase Jenkins
Elder and Lead Pastor
Chase was born in Virginia Beach, but grew up in the mountains of North Carolina. He attended UNC Chapel Hill where he majored in Political Science and Chinese, and after graduating, worked for State Employees' Credit Union in Raleigh, NC while preparing to serve as a missionary overseas.
In 2016, God redirected his path through an invitation to join the staff at FBC Durham. He left his role as Information Systems Manager at SECU to serve as the director of finance and the director of international ministries, and in 2020, Chase was confirmed as one of the staff pastors/elders at FBC. In 2024 he was affirmed by FBC Durham to plant Parkside Baptist Church.
Chase has an MDiv from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary. He met his wife Laura through mutual friends because of her common love for the nations, and they've been married since 2012. Chase and Laura have three children: Joanna, Andrew, and Ben.
Wes Treadway
Elder and Associate Pastor
Wes was born in Georgia but grew up all over the country. He attended Boyce College where he majored in Worship and Pastoral Studies. Wes has led worship in churches across North America and has served on staff at churches in Kentucky and North Carolina.
In 2017 Wes began serving as the Director of Worship Ministry at FBC Durham, and in 2020, he was confirmed as one of the staff pastors/elders there. In 2024, Wes and his family joined Parkside as a part of the initial membership of this new church.
Wes has an MDiv from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary and is currently pursuing a PhD in Christian Worship from The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. He met his wife Annie in Louisville Kentucky at Highview Baptist Church, and they’ve been married since 2015. Wes and Annie have two children: Oliver and Felicity.
Brian Ellison
Elder
Brian was born in South Carolina but has called North Carolina home since 1995. He attended Furman University where he majored in History. Later, Brian earned a Master’s Degree in Public Health from the University of Michigan. He also has a certificate in Christian Ministry from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary. He currently works at UNC Health.
Brian has previously served as an Elder at three other churches, most recently at FBC Durham. In 2024, Brian and his wife Brenda joined Parkside as part of the initial membership of this new church.
He met his wife Brenda in Columbia, South Carolina, and they’ve been married since 1989. Brian and Brenda have two grown sons, Brett and Elijah.
Ralph Thompson
Elder
Ralph is a native of the Danville, Virginia area. He has been married to his wife, Carter, since 1986, and together they have one son, Carl.
Ralph holds degrees from Danville Community College, Judson College, and Louisiana Baptist University, and earned a master’s degree in Biblical Counseling from the Master’s International University of Divinity. He was called to ministry in 1998 at the age of 37 and was later ordained at Bethesda Baptist Church in Durham, where he served for 10 years as Associate Pastor. In that role, he provided leadership in discipleship and outreach ministries and also served as Pastor of Administration.
In 2008, Ralph and Carter founded Emergency Chaplains, a ministry dedicated to multiplying gospel-centered chaplains who serve and support first responders. Ralph continues to lead the organization as Executive Director. He is passionate about equipping others for ministry and being a faithful, compassionate presence in the lives of those on the front lines.
John Savage
College Outreach Minister
John Savage was born in Columbus, Mississippi, and raised in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. In 2015, he moved to North Carolina to study at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary, where he earned a BA in Global Studies and an MDiv in Christian Ministry.
In 2017, John served as an intern with Mission Taiwan, where he developed a deep passion for ministry in the region. He is now in the process of returning to Taiwan long-term through the organization Connect Taiwan, seeking to continue his work of sharing the gospel, serving the church, and building relationships within the community.
