Our Team

Keith Whitfield joined Temple as Senior Pastor in September 2024. Before moving to New Bern, he and his wife, Amy, lived in Wake Forest, NC. Married for 24 years, they are proud parents of two adult children. Keith’s passion lies in building a vibrant church community dedicated to making disciples and sharing the love of Christ with the world.

His pastoral journey has taken him through church planting and pastoring in Nashville, TN, and southeast Virginia. Most recently, he served at The Summit Church in Durham, NC, where he focused on Theological Development and held the position of Associate Professor of Theology at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary. In his time at Southeastern, he took on various administrative roles, including Provost and Vice President of Academic Administration.

An accomplished author, Keith has published works on trinitarian theology, Islam, and spirituality, and is currently writing a book on the doctrine of the Christian life. His diverse background, which began in non-profit management within the media and publishing industries, enriches his teaching and pastoral work, helping others explore and deepen their faith.

Keith looks forward to fostering a welcoming and dynamic environment at Temple, where together they can grow in faith and impact their community for Christ.

Darryl Radford has been with Temple 22 years & has served in many roles in that time. He currently serves as Pastor of Discipleship. Having been saved at age 27, Darryl’s life changed big time. He has been married to the love of his life, Jenny for over 34 years, and they have their three daughters: Hannah, Holly, and Haley. They now have a new son in law in the family named Trevor who just married Haley. Darryl attended ECU and Johnston Community College with a focus in Intermediate Education. He worked in retail and as a corporate manager, but the best experience he gained was his days growing up on the family farm in JoCo! Darryl looks forward to helping you grow as a student, as a leader, and as a disciple in Christ as we seek the Kingdom of God together.

Darryl was saved as a college student in campus ministry, and felt called to full-time ministry during his junior year at East Carolina University. He is passionate about helping people come to saving faith in Jesus. 4 years as a student pastor trained him in sharing the Gospel to a wide audience, and in his new role, he strives to inspire the church to be daily witnesses for Christ.

Coming soon...

 While originally from Upstate New York, Cody spent about 10 years in Lynchburg, Virginia where he and his wife, Leah, completed their masters degrees in Christian education, started a family, and worked on building up the online programs at Liberty University and Houston Christian University. God brought their growing family to New Bern with a call from West Craven High School, where Cody worked with the administration as a School Counselor, and was directed to also consider administrative roles throughout the district. Cody and Leah, who are members of Temple Church, have five children of their own: Aris, Eva, Ellie, Evie, and Asher.

Marion has been a member of Temple for over 24 years. She has served as the Weekday Preschool Director for 19 years and the Minister of Preschoolers for 11 years.

Her greatest passion is teaching little ones about Jesus and being the director of the preschool has been "one of the greatest gifts she has ever been given!"

Marion is also very passionate about Temple's Africa Outreach Ministry, where she has served in Tanzania as the Children's Ministry Leader for 7 years. The opportunity to impact the lives of so many African children has been a high point of her ministry.

Marion and her husband Steve enjoy traveling and spending time with their 3 granddaughters Brynley,  Amelia, and Andie. 

Melody oversees day-to-day operations at Temple Church, including facilities management, church events, and administrative functions, ensuring everything runs smoothly in alignment with the church’s mission and vision.

A South Carolina native, Melody attended Presbyterian College, where she studied education. She has spent much of her career as a practice manager at various veterinary clinics. Over the years, she has served in several roles at Temple Church, including Sports Director, Small Groups Assistant, and Minister of Service and Membership.

Melody and her husband, Randy, currently lead the Recovery Alive ministry at Temple. They have four children and six grandchildren. In her free time, Melody enjoys the outdoors, spending time at the beach, and trail riding her horse, Cash.

A member since 2021, Tony has been attending Temple since he moved from the Chicago area late 2020. He currently serves as the Minister of Production after first serving as their Storyteller beginning April of 2021. Tony also has a passion for music, serving as an occasional member of the praise band. "I love serving alongside the amazing people at Temple. This place has felt like home since day one, and I can't wait to see what God has in store for this church." Tony and his wife Jaime, have a beautiful new baby girl which he completely adores, Charlotte "Charli" Eleanor.

Alex is a graduate of Liberty University and is now working on a Master’s Degree from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary. He has a passion for teaching God’s Word in a way that students can understand and apply to their lives. He currently serves as the Student Minister here at Temple Church. His heart is to help students understand and experience victorious Christian living and learn what it means to be a disciple of Jesus.

Jessica graduated from East Carolina University in the spring of 2018 with her BFA in Theatre Arts and moved to New Bern a few days later, saying “Yes” to an unexpected invitation from the Lord into full-time ministry. She now serves as the Family Ministry Associate, leading within the Student Ministry through discipleship, worship, and teaching. Her heart is to lead students into a revelation of what it is to have a thriving personal relationship with Jesus, in order for them to experience the fullness of life that he died and rose again for.

Nick graduated from New Bern High School in May 2024 with plans to attend Penn State University. However, God had other plans and led him to stay at Temple, where he is now interning under Alex Hinson in the student ministry. Through this role, Nick is gaining valuable hands-on experience in ministry while using his gifts to serve and connect with students. In the fall of 2025, Nick will begin his studies at Liberty University, pursuing a major in Pastoral Leadership and a minor in Business. He is excited to continue following God’s call on his life and is passionate about sharing the love of Christ with the next generation.

Amber and her husband, Bruce, moved to North Carolina in 2022 with their four boys, following Bruce's service as a Navy Chaplain. After joining Temple Church, they quickly became involved, serving as AWANA Directors before Amber stepped into her role as Temple Kids Director.

With a background as a classically trained attorney and over 16 years of ministry experience with children and youth, Amber is passionate about equipping children with a strong foundation in Christ. She focuses on teaching apologetics, systematic theology, and logical reasoning to prepare them to stand firm in their faith and engage the world with confidence.

Amber feels honored to serve in this role and is committed to helping the next generation grow in faith, identity, and purpose for God's glory.

Coming soon...

Brittany and her three children have called Temple home since 2014. Brittany has volunteered in many areas of the church over the years. In 2021, as she entered into a new season of life, she was able to come on staff as an assistant with Temple Weekday Preschool; where her faith was able to grow and she could see God's purpose for her. During the last few years her position has evolved into Brittany finding a true desire to help others in all areas of ministry here at Temple. This has led her into her new role as Discipleship Ministry Assistant. She is thrilled to be able to serve the Temple Church family in this new capacity.

Kathy Reinhardt moved to North Carolina in 2003 with her 2 children.  She married her husband, Douglas and they became members of Temple Church in 2004.  They have 8 grandchildren and a 5lb Shih Tzu named Molly.  She started working at Temple Church in 2012 and became the Hope Network Director in 2015.  With a passion for helping others, Kathy completed her Master's Degree in 2018 and has become a Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor (LCMHC).   She actively supports her husbands ministry to Tanzania.  Kathy is also an International Speaker, bringing the Women Of Value Conference to the Tanga region since 2020.  "I have been blessed to bring the concept of Identity in Christ to not only women in Africa but also the clients who come to see me.  I love helping women to find their full potential in Christ."

After moving to several states, Kim returned to New Bern, where her family has lived for over 250 years. She has been an active member of Temple Church since 2019, serving in small group ministry, women’s ministry, and children’s ministry. She has also had the incredible experience of participating in the Africa mission trip several times.

Currently, Kim works at The Hope Center and Temple Preschool. She is blessed to have homeschooled her beautiful daughter, Corrine, who is now a student at Patrick Henry College. Her greatest joy has been knowing and following Jesus and witnessing Corrine come to know the Lord at a young age and grow into a spiritually mature young woman.

 Dan is originally from Ohio (GO BUCKEYES!) and moved here to start working with NC Wildlife Resource Commission from which he recently retired. Dan started attending Temple Church over 20 years ago. He met his wife, Aimee, in the singles ministry here at Temple Church. Dan has two sons, Jamie and Trey, their wives, and four grandchildren. Dan loves anything to do with the outdoors. He also loves serving alongside the praise team as he plays drums and guitar occasionally. Dan looks forward to serving Temple in this capacity.

Claire and her husband, Thomas, came to Temple in 2017, shortly thereafter beginning their family and becoming more involved in church life at Temple by plugging into a Small Group. They have two children, Samson and Sloane. Claire has a bachelor's degree in History from Bob Jones University and is a former teacher and office manager.  She chose to stay home for a few years with her children and is getting back into the workforce by joining the staff at Temple Church. Beyond being a wife and mother, Claire's passions include running, painting, and all things coffee and tea related. She is excited to be serving Temple in the capacity of office manager.

 Karyn and her husband of over 30 years, Tim, "escaped" California in the fall of 2020, sadly leaving behind their beautiful daughter Kasandra. Karyn worked for almost 20 years with Deaf children and adults, also as a Christian Counselor since 2015 before retiring in 2020. Karyn has an Associate degree in ASL Interpreting, a bachelor degree in counseling, and is a certified Chaplain with ACA.  She is currently teaching ASL at Craven Community College, counseling at the Hope Center and working afternoons as Temple's receptionist. Karyn loves helping people and crochets with Loops of Love to donate all kinds of things to various charities.

Donna and her family moved to New Bern in 1996, where they joined Temple. Through the years, the Daniels family has served with youth, pre-schoolers, in the nursery, and in the kitchen. Donna is married to a retired Marine Officer, Rich, and they have two biological children, one adopted daughter, four grandchildren, and one dog. God has given their family a passion for His children who are hurting. They have fostered 39 children and adopted the 40th.

For the past five years, God had Donna serving as Manager of the Kingdom Café, where she loved serving coffee and connecting with our congregation. Her hobbies are quilting and reading. Donna is thrilled to step into her new roles and looks forward to seeing how God will continue to use her to serve His church and community!

Jennifer serves as our Kingdom Café Manager, where she brings her passion for hospitality and service to life. In addition to her leadership in the café, Jennifer is an integral part of our church family in many ways. She is a leader in our Recovery Ministry, prepares meals for our Thursday Meal Ministry, and sings on Sunday’s with our worship team. J

Jennifer and her husband, Ford, work side by side in many of these ministries, reflecting their shared commitment to serving others. They are proud parents to three children: Leah, Rita, and Adam.

As a grateful believer in Jesus Christ, Jennifer strives to be the hands and feet of Jesus in all she does, pouring her heart into every area of ministry to bless others and glorify God.

Heather has been a proud member of Temple Church since 2014, where she has found both a spiritual home and a meaningful role within the community. As an office assistant, Heather plays a key role in ensuring the church’s daily operations run efficiently. Additionally, she serves as a sports assistant during the Upward Basketball season, helping young athletes grow both on and off the court while fostering a love for sports.

Beyond basketball, Heather is actively involved in supporting baseball programs and summer camps, positively impacting the lives of children and families in the area.

With a deep passion for giving back and serving the community, Heather is dedicated to making a difference through her work and volunteer efforts. Her commitment to serving others and her church family makes her an invaluable member of the Temple Church team.

Bethany, a native of New Bern, has been a part of Temple Church for several years. She began her career as the Campaign Assistant during the Capital Campaign, where she contributed to the success of this pivotal project. Following its completion, she felt called to join Temple Christian Academy and now serves as the Administrative Assistant to Principal Cody Krieger.

Bethany and her husband, Travis, are proud parents of two children and are actively involved in both church and school activities. In her free time, she enjoys spending quality time with her family, especially boating and fishing with her husband and kids.

Lisa has worked at Temple Weekday Preschool for 15 years. She served as Assistant Minister of Preschoolers on Sundays for 3 years during that time. "Working with small children has always been my passion, and I am so blessed to be able to fulfill that passion by serving God in ministering to these children. They are such a blessing and it is a joy to see their smiling faces each day." Temple Weekday Preschool is a loving environment for children not only to prepare for Kindergarten, but to do it with Jesus in their heart.

Rebekah is married to Kenny, and together they have one son, Emerson, whom she treasures deeply.

She is deeply committed to teaching children about the love and teachings of Jesus. With a passion for guiding young minds in their faith, she plays a vital role in the preschool-age ministry at Temple Church.

Outside of her ministry work, Rebekah enjoys horseback riding—a passion she finds both refreshing and fulfilling. Her dedication to both her family and her faith makes her a valued member of the team.

Lynn is a New Bern native, who has been with Temple for 20 years. She has been married to her husband Jerry Gaskins for the last  25 years. They have 3 kids, Tiffany, Kaitlynn, and Jerry Jr.

Lynn was the manager of Gussman cleaners before deciding to be a stay at home Mom to her 3 wonderful children. Soon after making the decision to stay at home, she got involved with Temple. She began working and eventually running our MOPS Childcare and Upward Cheerleading programs for several years before joining Temple Preschool. For the last 16 years, she has been working in the birth to toddler room teaching babies about Jesus! While with the Preschool, she runs the lunch bunch and early morning drop off programs.

Lynn has also been the Sunday Preschool Coordinator for the last 6 years. She works every Sunday, helping families feel welcome and teaching our little ones about God. In her free time, Lynn loves to spend time with her family and use her creativity to run her small business Sweet Bakes and Designs by Lynn. Throughout her time at Temple, she has been dedicated to sharing His love with children, helping them build a strong foundation in their faith.

Kaitlynn has been a part of Temple since the age of two, beginning her journey as a student at Temple Preschool. Her passion for serving the church started early, as she began volunteering in the preschool ministry at just ten years old. Over the years, she has taken on various leadership roles, first as the Preschool Music Coordinator and now as the Preschool Volunteer and Childcare Coordinator. 

Currently, Kaitlynn is a high school senior and is on track to graduate as Valedictorian with her Associates in Science. She is the president of her school’s National Honor Society and Secretary of it’s Mu Alpha Theta Mathematics Honor Society. While being apart of these acedemic clubs, she has helped with various community service projects and events. She plans to continue her education at Carteret Community College, where she will study Radiography and get her MRI certification. Kaitlynn is grateful for the opportunites she has ben given to serve the Lord and looks forward to continuing to spread God’s word wherever He leads her.

Sally has been a member of Temple since 1994 and has served on staff since 1996, after moving to New Bern from Charleston, SC. While on staff at Temple, Sally has served as Worship Leader/Choir Director, Communications Assistant, Youth Assistant, Financial Assistant, and Financial Manager. However, for the majority of these years, she has served as the Financial Manager.

Sally has been married to her husband, Tom, for 41 years. They have two wonderful children, Maghan and Rhett, and six beautiful grandchildren. “The time I spend with them brings me joy beyond measure!” Sally has a passion for reading and spending quality time with her family. She has a deep love for Jesus and for Temple and is dedicated to using her gifts and abilities to promote responsible stewardship while managing Temple’s finances.

Mary has been a dedicated member of Temple Church since 2015. She serves as the Financial Assistant on the counting team and also supports the church as the alternate Front Office Manager.

Mary and her husband, Dan, have two children and three grandchildren and are actively involved in various Temple Church ministries throughout the week. In her free time, she enjoys traveling and spending time at the beach with her family.