Leadership at Hurley
At Hurley church of Christ, we believe that Jesus Christ is the true Leader and Head of the church. All we do and teach is guided by His Word and His example of humble service and love. Our leadership team serves as a local reflection of that care—striving to shepherd the flock with compassion, lead with integrity, and ensure that every member has the opportunity to grow in their relationship with God.
Guided by the Word
The New Testament church is a body with many parts, led by men who are called to serve in specific biblical roles. Below, you will find information on our elders, deacons, and minister. Each role is vital to our mission of preaching the Word, caring for one another, and honoring the Lord in Jackson County and beyond.
Elders
Our elders lead with love, wisdom, and devotion to God’s Word, offering guidance to help us grow in faith and unity.
Deacons
Our deacons are dedicated servants who manage the practical needs and benevolent work of our congregation.
Ministers
Our minister is committed to the clear preaching of the Gospel and the spiritual growth of every member.
New Testament Elders
Elders play a vital role in the Lord’s church as spiritual shepherds. As your base text mentions, they "care for the flock" by watching over the souls of the congregation (Hebrews 13:17). This involves more than just management; it is a commitment to "feed" the church with the Word of God and provide the same type of protective care a shepherd gives his sheep (1 Peter 5:2).
Additionally, elders serve as doctrinal guardians. Throughout the New Testament, we see them protecting the church with wisdom and devotion. According to Titus 1:9, an elder must hold firmly to the "trustworthy message" so he can encourage the church with sound teaching and defend it against false ideas. This ensures the congregation stays grounded in the truth of the Gospel.
Finally, elders act as stewards and overseers appointed by God. They lead by example rather than by force, managing the affairs of the church much like a father cares for his family (1 Timothy 3:4-5). They are also available for personal needs, such as praying for and visiting the sick (James 5:14). Their ultimate goal is to lead the congregation closer to Christ through humble, prayerful service.
New Testament Deacons
Deacons are specially appointed servants who handle the practical, "hands-on" ministries of the congregation. The origin of this role is often traced back to Acts 6:1-6, where the early church selected seven men of good reputation to oversee the daily distribution of food. By taking care of these essential physical needs, deacons allow the elders to remain focused on prayer and the ministry of the Word.
The qualifications for deacons, found in 1 Timothy 3:8-13, emphasize a life of high integrity and deep faith. They are described as men who must be "grave" (serious-minded), honest, and "holding the mystery of the faith with a pure conscience." Their work is vital because it ensures that no member of the flock is overlooked and that the church's resources are managed with care and compassion.
Through their work, deacons strengthen the unity of the church. By serving the widows, maintaining the building, or coordinating relief efforts—as seen when the disciples sent aid to the brethren in Acts 11:29—deacons demonstrate the love of Christ in action. As 1 Timothy 3:13 promises, those who serve well as deacons "purchase to themselves a good degree," gaining great confidence in their faith.
New Testament Ministers
In the New Testament, the minister (often called an evangelist or preacher) serves as a dedicated messenger of the Gospel. As your base text explains, the core of this role is found in the command to "Preach the word!" (2 Timothy 4:2). This isn't just a Sunday morning task; it is a life of readiness "in season and out of season." The minister's work is to deliver the message with a balance of firmness and patience—convincing, rebuking, and exhorting the congregation through careful, "longsuffering" teaching.
Beyond the pulpit, the ministry requires intense personal discipline and integrity. As noted in 1 Timothy 4:16, the minister is charged to "take heed" to himself first. This means his personal life must reflect the message he preaches. By maintaining high moral standards and strictly adhering to sound doctrine, the minister protects the spiritual health of the church and ensures that the message of salvation remains pure for all who hear it.
Finally, the New Testament minister is defined by a dedication to teaching. This is perfectly exemplified by the Apostle Paul in Acts 20:7, who was so devoted to sharing the Word that he continued his message until midnight. This level of commitment shows that the ministry is a labor of love and urgency. Whether in public worship or private study, the minister’s goal is to equip the saints with the knowledge of God’s will, ensuring that every member has the opportunity to grow in their faith.
Those Who Lead through Christ
Wayne Roberts
ElderWayne was born in Camp Polk, LA, and grew up in Montgomery, AL. He met his beautiful wife, Lana, in Kansas, and they married in 1968. Their next-door neighbor, Debbie, shared the Gospel of Christ with them, and they were baptized into the Lord in 1978. Wayne served in the U. S. Army as a cook from 1965-1971 then joined the Air Force Reserve, serving from 1980-1996, including during Desert Storm, as a mechanic on KC-135 refuelers.
Wayne and Lana have two children, Russ and Keri (Adam), and they have been blessed with four grandchildren and one great-grandson. He and Lana also have a love for animals and have rescued countless ones through the years.
With a strong love for Christ and His church, Wayne attended preaching school in Independence, MO, and he preached for congregations in the area surrounding Eudora, KS, for several years. He began preaching for the church in south Mississippi in 1996 and continued for 15 years. Wayne’s quiet strength and humility in serving as an elder in the church for over 20 years has been a tremendous blessing to the Lord’s work here in Hurley.
Wayne Roberts
ElderWayne was born in Camp Polk, LA, and grew up in Montgomery, AL. He met his beautiful wife, Lana, in Kansas, and they married in 1968. Their next-door neighbor, Debbie, shared the Gospel of Christ with them, and they were baptized into the Lord in 1978. Wayne served in the U. S. Army as a cook from 1965-1971 then joined the Air Force Reserve, serving from 1980-1996, including during Desert Storm, as a mechanic on KC-135 refuelers.
Wayne and Lana have two children, Russ and Keri (Adam), and they have been blessed with four grandchildren and one great-grandson. He and Lana also have a love for animals and have rescued countless ones through the years.
With a strong love for Christ and His church, Wayne attended preaching school in Independence, MO, and he preached for congregations in the area surrounding Eudora, KS, for several years. He began preaching for the church in south Mississippi in 1996 and continued for 15 years. Wayne’s quiet strength and humility in serving as an elder in the church for over 20 years has been a tremendous blessing to the Lord’s work here in Hurley.
Sam Craft
ElderSam was raised on Paris Mountain, SC. At 17 years old, he volunteered to join the army, serving as a Quartermaster Heavy Equipment Repairer. At 18, while stationed at Fort Lee, VA, he met his lovely Diane, and they married at 19 and 16 years old in 1963. Sam was baptized into Christ that year.
The Crafts have four children, Teresa, Tammy (H. T.), Toni (Steven), and Stephen, and they have been blessed with seven grandchildren and 19 great-grandchildren with more on the way.
Sam has worked in many fields, including working in a bakery, making contact lenses, working on a horse ranch, building steel buildings, and working as an electrician. He retired as an Electrical Instrumentation Controls Design Engineer in 2009. Sam’s parents, Homer and Lizzie Craft, were instrumental in helping establish several congregations of the Lord’s church in SC, and they instilled a strong love for the church in him at an early age. He has been actively involved in domestic missions for most of his life. The Central Chesterfield church of Christ in Chesterfield, VA, began in his and Diane’s home in 1986, and he also served as an elder there. The name was changed to the Hopkins Road church of Christ in 1988. Sam was prayerfully appointed as an elder in the church at Hurley in 2015.
Sam Craft
ElderSam was raised on Paris Mountain, SC. At 17 years old, he volunteered to join the army, serving as a Quartermaster and Heavy Equipment Repairer. At 18, while stationed at Fort Lee, VA, he met his lovely Diane, and they married at 19 and 16 years old in 1963. Sam was baptized into Christ that year.
The Crafts have four children, Teresa, Tammy (H. T.), Toni (Steven), and Stephen, and they have been blessed with seven grandchildren and 19 great-grandchildren with more on the way.
Sam has worked in many fields, including working in a bakery, making contact lenses, working on a horse ranch, building steel buildings, and working as an electrician. He retired as an Electrical Instrumentation Controls Design Engineer in 2009. Sam’s parents, Homer and Lizzie Craft, were instrumental in helping establish several congregations of the Lord’s church in SC, and they instilled a strong love for the church in him at an early age. He has been actively involved in domestic missions for most of his life. The Hopkins Road congregation in Chesterfield, VA, began in his and Diane’s home in 1985, and he also served as an elder there. Sam was prayerfully appointed as an elder in the church at Hurley in 2015.
Steven Lucas
Elder and MinisterSteven was raised in Mobile, AL, and he was baptized into the Lord’s church in 1979. He received a Bachelor of Business Administration from Faulkner University in 1990 and worked with the city of Montgomery after graduation. In 1993, he married Toni, and they moved to Chesterfield, Virginia, where he worked in the home lighting industry. Steven had the fine example of service to the Lord in his parents, Perry and Donna Lucas, and while in Virginia, he served as a deacon in the church and was involved in youth ministry. At the encouragement of Tom and Donna Marshall, he began preaching once a month. This stirred in him a desire to preach full-time, and the Lucases moved to Knoxville, TN, to attend the East Tennessee School of Preaching and Missions under the directorship of James Meadows. Steven graduated with a Bachelor of Bible and Toni graduated from the women’s program in 2006.
The Lucases have been blessed with two children, Emily and Will. Emily has a degree in photography from Freed-Hardeman University, and Will has a preaching certificate from the North Carolina School of Biblical Studies and is currently studying digital media and sports broadcasting at Faulkner University.
Steven and Toni worked with the church in Ligonier, PA, for several years then moved to Hurley in 2011 to assist with the work here. Steven has been the full-time pulpit minister since that time and was appointed as an elder in Hurley in 2022.
Steven Lucas
Elder and MinisterSteven was raised in Mobile, AL, and he was baptized into the Lord’s church in 1979. He received a Bachelor of Business Administration from Faulkner University in 1990 and worked with the city of Montgomery after graduation. In 1993, he married Toni, and they moved to Chesterfield, Virginia, where he worked in the home lighting industry. Steven had the fine example of service to the Lord in his parents, Perry and Donna Lucas, and while in Virginia, he served as a deacon in the church and was involved in youth ministry. At the encouragement of Tom and Donna Marshall, he began preaching once a month. This stirred in him a desire to preach full-time, and the Lucases moved to Knoxville, TN, to attend the East Tennessee School of Preaching and Missions under the directorship of James Meadows. Steven graduated with a Bachelor of Bible and Toni graduated from the women’s program in 2006.
The Lucases have been blessed with two children, Emily and Will. Emily has a degree in photography from Freed-Hardeman University, and Will has a preaching certificate from the North Carolina School of Biblical Studies and is currently studying digital media and sports broadcasting at Faulkner University.
Steven and Toni worked with the church in Ligonier, PA, for several years then moved to Hurley in 2011 to assist with the work here. Steven has been the full-time pulpit minister since that time and was appointed as an elder in Hurley in 2022.
Come join us in our mission to share the hope of Christ and live out His love.
“To Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end.” — Ephesians 3:21