Three women of the church standing together in the hallway before the service, smiling at the camera

Leadership

Get to know the team at Immanuel

A pastor, four elders, a handful of staff, and the deacons who keep the place running. Every one of them is here on a Sunday.

Pastor & staff

David Teem

Pastor

David came to Christ as a college freshman and quickly felt called to ministry. After serving as a volunteer youth leader for a few years, he decided to seek ministerial training at a seminary. After graduating from Dallas Theological Seminary, he served as a youth pastor for 10 years, then accepted a position as Senior Pastor at a small church in Oden, Arkansas. In 2019, he moved to Virginia to become the pastor of Immanuel. He is passionate about connecting people with Christ, because a relationship with Christ is the only hope we have for a meaningful life. David has been married to his wife Amy for more than 20 years and they have five wonderful children.

Patrick Annette

Youth Minister

Patrick felt called to ministry the summer before 10th grade. He would later graduate with a Bachelor of Science in Biblical Studies from Liberty University. He met his wife there and now has three kids. He works full-time at Chick-fil-A. He has a passion for developing and training up teens for the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Amy Teem

Children's Ministry

Amy came to know Christ as a small child in a faithful church that was dedicated to teaching children the truths of God. As a mom of five, she started to volunteer in children's ministry out of a desire to strengthen the Christian education her children received in church. After a couple of years her passion for children's ministry grew deeper, and she decided to pursue a seminary education. She graduated from Dallas Theological Seminary in 2026 with a Master's in Christian Education. Although most of her children have aged out, she continues to strive to educate children and support families to help them grow in knowledge and faith.

Steven Brown

Music Director

Steven brings over twenty years of musical experience in performance, education, and ministry. Holding a Master's degree in Percussion Performance, he has served as a school band director and theme park entertainer, and is currently a musician in the United States Air Force. Music has been a central part of Steven's faith journey, and he is grateful for the ways God has used it throughout his life to draw him closer to Him. Steven is passionate about creating worship environments that help people connect with Christ and engage meaningfully in worship.

Karen Perkins

Director, Immanuel Early Learning Academy

Karen has been a dedicated member of the Immanuel community for over a decade, serving faithfully in both the children's ministry and as a deacon. Bringing a strong background in education and Christian studies, she is excited to step into her role as the Director of Immanuel Early Learning Academy, where she can nurture both the minds and hearts of our youngest learners.

Elders

Scripture describes a plurality of elders shepherding each local congregation — men charged with teaching, praying, guarding doctrine, and caring for souls. At Immanuel that means the pastor is not alone in leading. The elders share responsibility for the spiritual direction of the church and for the people in it.

Dave Free

Elder

Dave accepted Christ at a church retreat when he was 12 years old. When his children were born, he decided to take his faith more seriously and began teaching adult Sunday school classes. He became a deacon in 1989 and remains passionate about teaching. He currently teaches classes for adults and children. He and his wife Linda have been married for 55 years. They have two children and eight grandchildren.

Bruce Gregory

Chairman of the Elder Board

Bruce and his wife Felicia have been members of Immanuel since 1997. Bruce retired from the U.S. Air Force in 2001 and then retired from Civil Service in 2024. He has served as a Deacon, an adult Bible study teacher, and is the Chairman of the Elder Board. He and Felicia have two grown daughters, Heather and Melissa, and three grandchildren. Bruce loves to play golf, is an avid hunter, and loves the outdoors.

John Schroeder

Elder

John has served at Immanuel for over forty years. Raised in the Catholic church, he became a born-again Christian on his 30th birthday and started attending Southern Baptist churches in various states. He has served in multiple ministries, including feeding the homeless, Southern Baptist Disaster Relief, and mission trips to Mexico City, Ghana, the Standing Rock Sioux Reservation, Nickelsville, Baton Rouge, the Eastern Shore, and many short trips within Virginia. He has also worked with the Royal Ambassadors and the youth ministry.

Rob Swale

Elder

Rob has been serving the people of Immanuel since 2000 with a humble heart and a love for the Lord. He enjoys encouraging others, praying with church members, and helping however he is needed around the church. He has served on numerous church committees and served as a church deacon. Rob and his wife Charla have been married for 43 years and love spending time with their children and eleven grandchildren. Rob's hobbies include photography and watching Atlanta Braves baseball and SEC college football.

Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight. — Proverbs 3:5–6

Deacons

Deacons were appointed in Acts 6 so that practical needs in the church would be met with care and the ministry of the Word would not be neglected. Our deacons carry the hands-on work of the church — media, hospitality, facilities, benevolence, Parents' Night Out — so that the congregation is genuinely served.

Tom Annette

Deacon

Marlene Bates

Deacon

Marlene has been a faithful member of Immanuel since 1991 and was married for more than 58 years. A devoted wife, mother of two, grandmother of 13, and great-grandmother of three, she has served through WMU and taken part in numerous mission trips to Africa, South Dakota, and Louisiana. As a military spouse who lived around the world, she enjoys travelling, learning, volunteering, and watching game shows, and treasures the encouragement found in 1 Peter 3:15.

Heather Hatfield

Deacon

Dwayne Perkins

Head Deacon

Dwayne has been an active member of the Immanuel community for over ten years. A computer engineer and proud grandfather of two, he was ordained as a deacon six years ago in recognition of his consistent leadership and service. Today Dwayne directs the media team, coordinates Parents' Night Out, and serves at the coffee bar.

Nick Sykes

Deacon

Tyler Thompson

Deacon

Tyler came to know Jesus in middle school thanks to the teaching and faithful direction of his great-grandmother. She taught him that Christians need to be the representation of Jesus to the world, particularly to those who are not privileged to have the same example he was blessed to have. In college he served as a volunteer in high school ministry. He currently works in the IT department at NASA and serves on the worship team both in media and on stage. He also enjoys helping with the youth, Parents' Night Out, and being the church tech meister.

Need to reach one of them directly?

Send a note through the contact form and tell us who it’s for — the elders, the deacons, the pastor, or a particular ministry. It goes straight to the office and gets passed along.

Come and see

Sunday morning, 10:30. We’d love to meet you.

69 Saunders Road, Newport News, VA 23601 — just off Saunders Road. Questions before you come? Send us a note, or call the office Monday – Thursday, 9:00 am – 3:00 pm.

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