Youth Ministry Staff
Laurel takes youth ministry very seriously. Our staff has a deep passion and love for serving students and pointing them to Christ.
Jonathan Thomas (JT), Youth Minister
JT joined Laurel's staff to work with the middle and high school students in March 2012. JT has worked with students in ministry since 1996 and has served teens in Tennessee, West Virginia, Florida, Mississippi, and Ohio. That experience includes youth ministry, school teaching, and coaching soccer and baseball. Ministering to students and leading his family are his deepest passions.
JT married Jana Poyet, the woman of his dreams, in May 2002. They have been blessed with three wonderful children: Brooks, Jacey, and Elli. The Thomas family loves living in Knoxville and being a part of the Laurel church family.
JT enjoys playing and watching sports, reading, exercising, camping/backpacking, being on the lake, and taking on minor DIY projects. Nothing is more thrilling to him than seeing young people give their lives to Christ and grow in their faith.
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Email: jtyouthguy@gmail.com
Twitter: @IHerdJT
Kimberlin Roberts, Youth Minister
Kimberlin began volunteering with the LYF Group in 2017. As the year progressed and opportunities opened up, she decided she would love to the make the volunteer position more permanent. Kimberlin officially joined the LYF Ministry Team in September of 2017 and is focused on building relationships with the ladies of LYF and encouraging them in their walk with Christ.
In August of 2014, Kimberlin moved to Knoxville from Texas with her dog Maddox to attend graduate school at UTK. As an undergraduate at Lubbock Christian, she spent two years as a counselor at Pine Springs Summer Camp and one summer as a youth ministry intern. These summers fostered the love Kimberlin has for being involved and working with students.
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Kimberlin enjoys spending time outdoors, hanging with friends, watching sports, crafting and projects, and ​eating ice cream.
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Email: kimberlin.j06@gmail.com
