Our Leadership
Elders
Rockbridge Church is led by a group of men who serve on the elder team. They oversee and shepherd the church as servant leaders submitted to Christ. Our Elders are Don Eland, Sam Gist, Matt Hoofnagle, Bryan Morrell, Richard McRae, Matt Niebur and Dan Sanders.
Staff
BRYAN MORRELL
SENIOR PASTOR
Bryan Morrell is one of the Senior Pastors at Rockbridge Church. A graduate of Virginia Tech, Bryan was an Area Director for Young Life, a Youth Pastor, and then a worship pastor for 16 years. Bryan loves organizational health, and among other things he currently oversees the staff, facilities, day to day operations, and many of the ministries we see on Sunday morning. He and his wife, Stephanie, have 4 kids: Luke, Elizabeth, Ella, and Will. If you need to find Bryan, he’ll most likely be playing music, watching a good movie, or working on a house project!
KEVIN WATKINS
SENIOR PASTOR
Kevin is one of the Senior Pastors at Rockbridge Church. He formerly served as a pastor in Hickory, N.C. Prior to that, Kevin worked with InterVarsity Christian Fellowship at Washington and Lee University for 8 years and was a part of the teaching team at Rockbridge Church. Kevin is married to Kristy and dad to Ryan, Hank, and Kinsey. He loves Atlanta Braves baseball. One of Kevin’s favorite passages of Scripture is Matthew 13:44 – “The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and covered up. Then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.”
JOHN STEPHENS
STUDENT MINISTRIES DIRECTOR
John Stephens is a graduate of Cedarville University, where he was involved in Living Room Worship and served as an intramural supervisor. He also spent his summers interning with Fellowship Community Church in Salem, Virginia. John has a passion for working with students and brings energy, enthusiasm, and a heart for ministry to everything he does. He is committed to creating an environment where students feel welcomed, cared for, and valued. John is engaged to his fiancée, Charlotte Nitzsche, and the two are looking forward to getting married in July 2027. In his free time, he enjoys working out, spending time outdoors, watching movies, and finding new adventures.
Email Denise: rockbridgechurchstudents@gmail.com
DENISE BOUCHER
EXECUTIVE ADMINISTRATOR
Denise is the Executive Adminstrator at Rockbridge Church. Denise is originally from the New England area, where she spent most of her career in technology and business. Denise spends much of her free time volunteering on the board of the Rockbridge Ballet and hanging out on her porch. Denise lives in Lexington with her husband Mike and has two daughters, Brooke and Sydney, and a very needy dog named Walter.
Email Denise: rockbridgechurchexec@gmail.com
LARISA STEPHENS
EARLY CHILDHOOD DIRECTOR & BOOKKEEPER
Larisa is the Early Childhood Director and the Bookkeeper at Rockbridge Church. After getting her degree at Seattle Pacific University in Consumer Sciences, she spent most of her career in banking & bookkeeping. Outside of paid work, Larisa spent the rest of her time volunteering in various capacities in the Children’s areas at her church, Bible Study fellowship and at a preschool.
Larisa is originally from the Seattle area until God took her family on the adventure of moving to Rockbridge County in 2015. Larisa is married to Ted and is the mother of Jake, Andrew and Hannah.
Email Larisa: rockbridgechurchkids@gmail.com
SARAH STAMPER
ELEMENTARY DIRECTOR
Sarah joined the RbC team as the Children's Ministry Assistant in the fall of 2025, and loves supporting kids and families. Originally from Northern Virginia and a Longwood University graduate, she spent seven years teaching special education before moving to Rockbridge County. She and her husband, Hugh, have four children—Clay, Aaron, Mason, and Raelyn. When she’s not at church, Sarah enjoys cheering on her kids at soccer games, volunteering with the school PTO, and expressing her creativity through baking, cookie decorating, and hand-painted banners.
Email Sarah: rbcelementary@gmail.com
HALEY SHOTWELL
COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR
Haley, the Communications Director, is a graduate of Radford University and native of Fincastle, Virginia. After college, Haley worked for seven years in college athletics throughout South Carolina and Virginia, before starting her career in ministry with Fellowship of Christian Athletes. During her free time, Haley enjoys spending time outdoors, golfing, and playing with her dog, Nala.
Email Haley: rockbridgechurchoffice@gmail.com
NICKI ULRICHMINISTRY COORDINATOR
Nicki joined the team at RbC as the Ministry Coordinator in the spring of 2024.
Email Nicki: rbcministrycoordinator@gmail.com
Chat With Our Elders
Want to chat with one of our elders? Reach out and we will put you in touch.