Timothy Brooks, Lead Pastor
Email Pastor Tim: timbrooks@crossroadsnaz.org
Tim has been a lead pastor since 2007. Before that, he served two separate churches as a youth pastor. He has earned a bachelors degree (Olivet Nazarene University), two masters degrees (Theology, Olivet, and Divinity, Nazarene Theological Seminary), and a doctorate (Nazarene Theological Seminary). Tim loves anything competitive, especially baseball and soccer related. He is married to Charryse (who is a teacher), his high school sweetheart and they have two lovely daughters, Mackenzie and Claire. When Tim is not working, you can most likely find him on an athletic field working with his girls and other community children developing a passion and skills for sports.
Austin Lash, Worship Pastor
Email Pastor Austin: austinlash@crossroadsnaz.org
Austin is a passionate follower of God with a heart for worship. Born and raised in the Chicagoland area, he is the youngest of 3 boys and an unapologetic Chicago fan. Austin grew up in a musical family and has traveled/toured around the world, singing about the Gospel since he was 11. He initially felt the call to ministry at 13 and later graduated from Cornerstone University with a Business Administration degree and a Music Minor with an emphasis in Worship. Austin has served in worship ministry for four years. In his free time, he loves to travel, hang out with friends, and create music with others. He is passionate about helping lead God’s people into a greater awareness of His presence. Austin is currently pursuing a Master’s of Divinity at Wesley Seminary.
Brian Eisentraut, Executive Pastor
Email Brian: brianeisentraut@crossroadsnaz.org
Brian has attended Crossroads since 2006. He began his journey into vocational Christian ministry as the Executive Director of Camp Hemlock, a Christian residential outdoor adventure camp. He is passionate about creating a space for people to grow. He earned his bachelor's degree from the University of Maryland College Park in elementary education and his master's degree from Johns Hopkins University in educational leadership and administration. Brian taught elementary school for 24 years in the Howard and Baltimore Public School Systems. He is married to Beth, and they have two children in college, Megan and Will. In his free time, Brian enjoys hiking with his dog, backpacking, triathlon, football, and reading.
Heather King, Director of Media & Communication
Email Heather: heatherking@crossroadsnaz.org
Heather joined the Crossroads staff in the fall of 2018 to support the organization of the creative arts team. She has attended Crossroads since 2010, serving on the worship team as a keyboardist, leading small groups, and organizing VBS during the summer. A graduate of Messiah College (BS Special/Elementary Education) and Nova Southeastern University (MS Brain-Based Teaching/Learning), Heather was a special educator in Montgomery County Public Schools for 8 years before shifting to a career at home and then in church ministry. Heather lives in Catonsville with her husband Christopher, a mechanical engineer, daughters Lydia and Mylah, and son Jonas. In her spare time, she enjoys traveling, baking, and taking in live music.
Gretchen Hand, Pastor of Children & Families
Email Pastor Gretchen: gretchenhand@crossroadsnaz.org
Gretchen has a passion for children and their families, and to create an environment where they can come and meet God. She believes that God can use anyone at any age, no matter how big or small to do great things. She loves using every event, and activity as a way to invite someone to learn about Jesus, and finding creative ways to do so. Gretchen graduated from Spring Arbor University in May 2014 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Children’s Ministries, and she also graduated from Lansing Community College in 2012 with an Associate’s Degree in Child Development. Both Gretchen and her husband Jonathan enjoy spending time with their new twin babies, reading, spending time with their two dogs Gwen and Logan, and tent camping.
Jen Willard, Pastor of Youth & Students
Email Pastor Jen: jenwillard@crossroadsnaz.org
Jen is a dynamic leader and passionate about ministry with youth. Jen holds a degree in Youth Ministry from Southern Nazarene University as well as a Masters of Divinity from Nazarene Theological Seminary. She has been in ministry for over 10 years and has served in youth ministries in Oklahoma, North Carolina, and Arkansas before moving to Maryland. Jen is also an established writer and has written for Youth Specialties, NYI Connect, Nazarene Compassionate Ministries, and Holiness Today. Jen is married to Bryan and they have one daughter, Mia. Together they enjoy traveling and serving in their local community.
Nan Jefferies, Pastor of Congregational Care
Email Pastor Nan: nanjefferies@crossroadsnaz.org
Liz Powers, Pastor of Community Formation
Email Pastor Liz: lizpowers@crossroadsnaz.org
Nan and her husband Dan arrived at Crossroads in the summer of 2011 and knew right away that the Nazarene church would be their home. Soon she sensed and answered God’s call into vocational ministry, and received her ordination in the Church of the Nazarene in April 2021. She has served as Pastor of Congregational Care since 2018. She loves praying with and for people, hearing their God stories and walking alongside others on their journey with Christ. This includes visitation in homes and hospitals, Biblical counseling and helping people find their needs met in Christ and the Church community. Married for 40+ years, Nan and Dan have served together in a wide variety of ministries throughout their married life. Today, their service includes leading marriage-based and sermon-based small groups, and discipling others. Keeping up with their 4 grown children and 5 grandchildren, working on the “Jefferies Palace,” gardening, and being out in nature makes for some pretty good downtime.
Liz is so excited to be living out God’s call on her life. She is passionate about leading others to grow in Christ and engage in God’s Word. She and her husband, Thomas, moved to the Baltimore region in January 2019 and have been attending Crossroads since. Liz is the mother of four sweet girls: Lillian, Shirley, Hannah, and Ruthie. In her spare time, Liz enjoys reading, traveling, hiking, working jigsaw puzzles, and making photo books online. Liz graduated from Olivet Nazarene University with a Bachelor of Science in Science Education and Chemistry. She taught middle school and high school science for five years until Lillian was born. She is thrilled to serve God and the people of Crossroads Church of the Nazarene.
Judi Kramer, Children’s Ministry & Office Assistant
Email Judi: judikramer@crossroadsnaz.org
Judi has been attending Crossroads since 2015. She and her husband Joe have a heart for serving the younger generation. They serve with the youth group and have launched the young adults group. She graduated from Towson University with a degree in Middle School Education. After 9 years of teaching math and science, she stepped away from the classroom and is excited that God placed her at Crossroads. Judi and her husband love spending time with their daughter Lydia and son Marcus. She is a huge animal lover with 2 dogs of her own and fosters dogs whenever she can.
Randy Clay, Executive Director of The Garden Mission, Baltimore
Email Randy: randyclay@crossroadsnaz.org
Randy has been a member of Crossroads since 2011 and currently serves as a sent missionary to Baltimore City. God has been developing and equipping him for ministry over many years through experiences ranging from global missions and work and witness to compassionate programs serving the homeless and vulnerable in our region. He has both undergraduate and graduate degrees in American Studies and Urban Planning from the University of Maryland College Park, as well as studied landscape architecture at Morgan State University. He was a city planner for Howard County before leaving in 2020 to pursue his calling to ministry and is in the process of completing the Nazarene course of study to become a church elder. Randy is a widower, losing his wife to cancer, yet still senses her presence and direction on the journey God has laid before him now. He enjoys cooking, visiting gardens and is a self-confessed 'used-to-be' soccer player.
Matthew Valentine, Building Services
Email Matthew: matthewvalentine@crossroadsnaz.org