Our Leadership
Dr David & Barbie Cooper
Dr. David Cooper’s personal life mission is to give hope in Christ. His unique manner of sharing biblical truth in a simple, down-to-earth style has encouraged the 10,000 plus member Mount Paran Church while he has served as Senior Pastor since 1996.
Pastor Barbie is an Ordained Minister with the International Ministerial Fellowship and serves as the Minister to Women at Mount Paran and directs WomanLife Ministries.
Barbie’s education and career experience is in business administration and leadership development. She is an inspiring Bible teacher and motivational speaker, weaving biblical truth with real-life application. She is the founder of WomanLife Ministries, which provides Systematic Bible Studies, Christian Women in the Workplace and Woman-to-Woman Mentoring ministries. Special events are a major part of the WomanLife Ministries including retreats, conferences, and outreach opportunities benefiting various charities.
Barbie has authored a number of Bible studies and teaching materials for women and is a co-author of Christianity 101: A Self-study for New Believers. She is a speaker for Christian organizations, churches, businesses and civic organizations. Her dramatic testimony of personal salvation is presented in Reclaiming Your Dream, by Ann Platz. She has raised two wonderful children and has been a strong supporting influence to her husband David throughout his pastoral career, and for over 30 years of marriage.
Mark Blankenship
Pastor Mark is an Oklahoma native with a Bachelor of Music Education degree from Lee University where he was a member of the Lee Singers, the college’s premier touring choral ensemble.
Mark served congregations in Allentown, PA and Pompano Beach, FL before coming to Mount Paran in 1987. As a member of the group Ekklesia, Mark participated with the Billy Graham Evangelistic crusades in the United States and Canada, and is also a member of the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra Chorus, founded by Mr. Robert Shaw.
Mark enjoys traveling, and is frequently invited to lead church music seminars around the United States.
404.923.8700 x 402
Greg Clark
Pastor Greg joined the Mount Paran staff in June of 2003 after serving seven years as a missionary in south central Siberia, planting the first Christian church among the un-reached Altai people. Prior to entering ministry full time, he spent eight years in business and served almost five years active duty as an officer in the U.S. Army.
Pastor Greg holds a B.A. in Theology from Presbyterian College in South Carolina and lives in Marietta with his wife Melissa and their three children, Landon, Joanna and Abigail.
404.923.8700 x 417
Tim Walk
Pastor Tim recently joined the Mount Paran staff in August 2012, but has been involved in youth ministry for 10 years including 5 years as a youth director at a thriving youth ministry in Ohio. He was ordained in 2008, certified as a life coach in 2011 and is currently majoring in Bible and Theology. Tim has also spoken at middle schools, retreats, leadership workshops and conferences, and in the Spring of 2011, released his first book, “Becoming Who You Are Made To Be.”
Tim’s leadership and contagious passion makes him a catalyst to inspire and equip today’s young generation. Using humor, media, creativity, and a sound Biblical perspective, he has the ability to communicate to a variety of audiences. His heart for young people in one word is “grow.” To grow from strangers of God to lovers of God, to grow from church attenders to church leaders and to grow from students in the youth ministry to influencers in the community.
Tim married the love of his life Kelly in 2008 who was a third grade teacher before she also joined the youth staff at Mount Paran. In 2012, the Walk’s welcomed their first child into the world, their son, Asher James.
404.923.8700 x 417
Hector Diaz
Pastor Hector has served at Mount Paran since 1977 as lay leader and elder, and became Administrative Pastor in June 2003 to oversee finances, facilities, security and human resources. Driven by a genuine concern for people, Pastor Hector is consistent in helping individuals by giving sound financial advice, and is readily available to humbly assist and serve others with various ministerial needs.
Pastor Hector attended Georgia State University and earned three designations from the American College in Bryn Mawr, PA. He is a Chartered Financial Consultant, Chartered Life Underwriter, and Registered Health Underwriter, and has worked in the financial industry since 1974.
Pastor Hector and Loida reside in Vinings, GA. They have two adult married sons and three grandchildren.
404.923.8700 x 444
Dr Kent Hawkins
Dr. Kent has been in the ministry for more than 30 years, serving as both pastor and Christian school administrator and has been on staff at Mount Paran since 1992.
Dr. Kent is a member of the American Association of Christian Counselors, completed Attachment Theory Training, and holds a certificate of primary training in Rational-Emotive and Cognitive-Behavioral Theory and Techniques. He has spoken at seminars and ministries in the areas of pastoral care, marriage, family and ministry, and has written curriculum for pre-marital counseling classes, grief ministry and ministerial instruction.
Dr. Kent holds a B.S. in Social Science from Lee University, a M.Ed. from the University of Miami of Ohio, a Master of Science and a Ph.D. in Psychology from California Coast University. He and Renay are active tennis players and travelers, have been married for over thirty years and have two children and two grandchildren.
404.923.8700 x 414
Ash Mangham
Pastor Ash has a Christian Ministry degree from Shorter University and uses his natural love and passion for youth to serve them. The son of a pastor, Ash grew up in the ministry, but never saw himself serving in it until 2005. In 2008 he came on staff at Mount Paran and in 2011 became the middle school pastor.
Ash knows that there is a battle raging for the hearts and minds of our students and is passionate about helping them realize the unspeakable joy that happens when they discover God’s plan for their lives. He and his recently newlywed wife, Laurel live in Marietta.
404.923.8700 x 325
Jesus Mendoza
Pastor Mendoza has been in ministry for over 22 years, and has been the Spanish Ministry Pastor at Mount Paran for 8 of those years. He holds Bachelor’s Degrees in Theological Science and Engineering. Together with his wife Elizabeth, he has served the Spanish speaking community through radio, street evangelism, counseling, and the teaching of biblical principles.
Married for 18 years, the Mendoza’s are the proud parents of two sons, Isaac and David, who also share their love and passion for the ministry.
404.923.8700 x 219
Mike Parker
Pastor Mike has been in full time ministry for fifteen years with an emphasis in Creative Arts and Worship, Church Management, Musical Performance and Volunteer Team Development. He holds a B.S. in Biblical Studies with a minor in Music from Kentucky Christian University and has pastored the Young Adult/Singles and Small Groups ministry at Mount Paran since 2011. In addition, Mike leads worship on Wednesday nights and is the lead singer and rhythm guitarist of Open Door, which ministers in prisons throughout the state of Georgia while also performing in concerts, TV appearances and conferences.
Mike’s true heart is to help people connect with God, grow in authentic relationship with others and find a place where they can passionately serve within the church, in the local community and beyond. Mike and Julie live in Mableton with their son Ethan.
404.923.8700
Todd Rainwater
Pastor Todd has been in ministry for 17 years and is currently the Assistant Pastor and Pastor of Community Care. Pastor Todd teaches and ministers on Wednesday nights, and leads and the Men’s Ministry, GrowPath and Guest Services.
Pastor Todd attended Dallas Theological Seminary and New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary and holds a B.S. in Psychology and Business from Berry College in Rome Georgia. Todd and Karen live in Kennesaw with their three daughters.
404.923.8700 x 406
Chuck Sutherland
Pastor Chuck began attending Mount Paran Church over 25 years ago. Through the years he has served on the World Mission Board, as an elder, chaired the Task Force for the development of the Mount Paran property, gave over-site to construction of the new campus and served as chairman of the Board of Trustees.
Pastor Chuck graduated from Tennessee Tech with a degree in engineering and started his business career at IBM. He later became involved in the millwork industry in various executive positions. He and Janice have 2 children and 8 grandchildren.
404.923.8700 X 295
Joseph Tvaroch
Pastor Joey has been involved in ministry for 17 years, as a Children’s Pastor for the past 13 years in Atlanta and South Florida, and as Children’s Pastor at Mount Paran Church since 2004. He holds a Degree in Musical Theatre from the Florida School of the Arts and later continued his ministerial education, with Global University.
Using his training in drama & the arts, Pastor Joey thrives on bringing the Word of God to life for children and has a passion for reaching children with the message of God’s love.
Pastor Joey and Rachel live in Marietta with their son, Joe Martin.
JosephT@mountparan.com
404.923.8700 x 407
