Pastors and Staff

Our Leadership Team

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

Rev. Dr. Joe Skillen

Lead Pastor

Joe is passionate about sharing from the Scriptures and mobilizing the church for faithful mission. He received a BA from Sterling College, a MA in Practical Theology and a MA in Organizational Leadership from Regent University, and a Doctor of Ministry from George Fox University.

Joe has spent most of his life in Kansas and has served churches in the Wichita area. Most recently, Joe served as the Pastor for Young Adults at Peachtree Presbyterian Church in Atlanta Georgia. Along with his ministry experience, Joe has experience teaching theology and ministry classes at Sterling College, Friends University, and Tabor College.

Joe and his wife Ginger have two children, daughter Avery and son Ezra. There is a good chance that you will find Joe at a sporting event, enjoying great coffee and conversation with others, or hanging out with his 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.