Staff Directory

Senior Pastor: Dr. Wayne Evans

Our Lead Pastor is Dr. Wayne Evans. He comes to GFC with years of experience as a pastor, author, college instructor, and denominational superintendent. Pastor Wayne and his wife, Regina, moved into their new home in Knox County when he joined the staff at Gilead Friends Church in late-2022. Now as our senior pastor and main speaker, Wayne (as he likes being called) aims to keep it real and make it practical. The Evans share their home in the woods with their eldest son, Jason (who has Down Syndrome) and their dog, Winston Churchill. The Evans family includes three other grown children (Diane, Jarrod, and Denise) who, with their families, live in the central-Ohio area. Wayne’s life verse is Nehemiah 8:8, "They read from the Book of the Law of God, making it clear and giving the meaning so that the people understood what was being read." Regina’s life verse is Colossians 3:23-24, " Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving."

Dr. Wayne & Regina Evans

Pastor of Children's Ministries: Richard Jones

Richard & Aleta Jones

Richard Jones, our Pastor of Children's Ministries, grew up in Mt. Gilead and attended Gilead Friends Church from a young age. He attended Malone University, Canton, Ohio where he met his wife, Aleta. They have served in full-time pastoral ministry for 13 years in Maryland and Northeast Ohio before coming to Gilead Friends. Richard was installed as senior pastor on September 18, 2016. He served as the senior pastor until summer of 2023 when he accepted the role of Pastor of Children's Ministries. Richard is excited to serve the Lord in his "home" and anticipates God doing great things in and through the people of Gilead Friends Church.

Richard and Aleta have two sons, Garrett and Brayden.