Pastors and Staff
Our Leadership Team
Our Pastors and staff are invaluable in directing and coordinating the various ministries and volunteers at Advent.

Alan Bugg
Executive Director
Alan comes to us with nearly 20 years of experience in this role, having served as Executive Pastor in churches in the St. Louis area, Fort Wayne, Indiana, Paducah, KY, and, most recently in Houston, TX. Before being called into full-time, paid ministry, Alan spent 20 years in banking leadership. He’s also served on the board for the Houston area YMCA and with church planting networks in the Houston area. Alan is married to his wife Tammy. Together they have three children and five grandchildren. They are excited to move to the Memphis area in order to serve at Advent and to be nearer to their lovely family.
Rev. Dr. Don Kerns
Campus Pastor, Advent Arlington
Don serves as the primary site pastor of Advent’s Arlington campus. He is a graduate of the US Air Force Academy in Colorado. Don received his Master of Divinity degree from Fuller Theological Seminary in California then served as the Pastor of Springwood Presbyterian Church in Burlington, NC. He came to Advent Presbyterian Church in Cordova in 2008 to form a new church campus in Arlington and has completed the Doctor of Ministry program at Denver Seminary. His wife Amy is a PA working at Faith Family Medical in Arlington and they have two children, Luke and Rachel, both in Arlington schools. Don is active in the Arlington community and enjoys hiking, biking, and travel.

Rev. Greg Aydt
Pastor of Youth Ministry
Greg enjoys watching God change hearts, lives, and relationships. Leading the youth ministry of Advent Church gives him a front row seat to God’s work in those ways. Before Advent, he served as the Youth Director at Bethel Church in Western Pennsylvania. He received his seminary degree from Trinity School for Ministry in Ambridge, Pennsylvania. He is proud of being from New Jersey (the Armpit of America), but has fallen in love with Memphis. He serves as chaplain of Memphis 901 FC. Greg is married to Heather, and they have two children, Truett and Fiona. Greg enjoys soccer, chess, reading, and fixing things with his hands. He is also very passionate about good coffee.

David Shotsberger
Director of Worship & Music – Cordova

Linda Aycock
Preschool and PDO Director – Cordova

Donna Wolfanger
Preschool Director – Arlington

Leslie McKinney
Director of Communication and Connections

Cheri Wooster
Children’s Ministry

Gary Pennel
Maintenance Director

Daniel Eubanks
CLC Director

Dave Schieber
Grand Adults Ministry

Jordan Walston
Coordinator of Recreation and Video Ministries

Randy Young
Business Administrator

Sandy Finerson
Financial Assistant

Amy Barnes
Kitchen Services Director


