Although Tom grew up in Charlotte, North Carolina, he currently resides in Northeast Ohio. He holds a B.A. in Youth Ministry and M.A. in Biblical Exposition. He has been married to his wife for over 25 years and they have two children. His ministry journey began when he served as a high school pastor in Ohio for over a decade. In 2008, Tom and a team of 30 people planted The Summit Church (North Canton, Ohio), where he now serves as Lead Pastor. He has self-published several books, which aim to help people better understand the Bible and how they fit into the world around them.

Tom enjoys a variety of hobbies including listening to all types of music, writing, messing with electronics, and watching British TV.

Some of the highlights of his life have been his mission travels outside of the United States to places like Mexico, Argentina, Bahamas, Peru, Dominican Republic, Italy, and Ireland. Many of these trips have made a great impact on his life.

Jeff and his wife Kelly are native Ohioans that grew up in the Canton/Massillon area and currently reside in Northeast Ohio. They have been married for over 20 years and have been blessed with two children, Ethan and Arianna. Jeff began his ministry journey at Canton Baptist Temple and has served in churches in South Carolina, Kentucky and Ohio. He is a graduate of Southern Baptist Theological Seminary and has spent the ten years serving a church in Avon Lake, Ohio as the Student Pastor and the Pastor of Family Ministries. Jeff also served as a Hospice Chaplain and Bereavement Coordinator in several nursing homes in the Cleveland area.

Jeff loves spending time with his family and enjoys a variety of hobbies including photography, listening to all kinds of music, cooking, hiking, biking, and all things Batman.

Jeff has a passion for Christ and people. He loves missions, mentoring guys, and building relationships. 

I was born and raised in Canton Ohio. I am the son of, Rod and Nancy, two incredibly merciful parents and brother to two amazing younger sisters, Jill and Jamie. I played the trombone in 5th grade band but that was embarrassing so I quit. When I was 11, Mom forced me to take piano lessons, but that was even more embarrassing so I quit that too. Mom also forced me sing in the high school church choir…you can see where this is going.

Fast forward to a couple years ago when I married the love of my life, Ashley. We now have two beautiful children. I’ve been working as a carpenter for the past several years after spending nearly a decade as a banker (The long hair came after I quit) and I love stories of vengeance. Besides being a bit of a rebellious spirit, the most important thing about me is that I’m a sinner Jesus loved enough to die for. I have nothing to offer Him but He refuses daily to give up on me and I am forever grateful for His grace.

I have no real qualifications for the position of Worship Leader with the exception of a passion to glorify Jesus Christ. I have a desire for everyone to find their hope in Him and to do the same. I love the Summit and you, the people. I can’t thank you enough for the opportunity I have, through your faithfulness, to serve you.

This quote by an unknown author has forever changed my view of God and music. “Music has the ability to enter your soul, without your permission”.

This is all I know and love about music. 

Stacey joined our team a couple years ago and is vital in our guest experience and attender assimilation. She brings energy and organization to our team. 

Nolan Oakes resides in Louisville with his wife, Makala, and their four young children (Isaiah, Elijah, Arabella, and Judah). From his early childhood, Nolan began helping others learn to know Jesus. He is gifted with the love of life and music and has a background in worship and youth ministries. His focus is on the strength of family relationships and knows that the most crucial time to build strong faith is in childhood. It is for this reason that God has led him to nurture the spiritual growth and knowledge of young believers, thereby building a foundation that cannot be shaken. Being a high energy, fun-loving person himself, he tries to create a Sunday morning experience for the kids that he might have enjoyed at that age while also emphasizing the truths in God’s word.

Hannah Hogsed grew up in Dalton, Ohio. In May of 2022, Hannah married her best friend Ty and they currently reside in Massillon, Ohio. She graduated from Cedarville University with a Degree in Education and a Bible Minor. In addition to being the Director of Communications at The Summit, she also works as a 7th & 8th grade Teacher at Dalton Middle School. Some of her favorite things include small coffee shops, thrift shopping, and exploring new places.

Hannah has a passion at making the church family feel welcomed and in the loop through the use of social media, announcements, and engaging with members and guests. She is here to ensure that our message is clear and compelling across all platforms. She is dedicated to building bridges between our church and community to share the love, hope, & faith of Jesus that connects our church family.