Meet our leaders.
"I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace." Ephesians 4:1-3 ESV
"Por lo tanto, yo, prisionero por servir al Señor, les suplico que lleven una vida digna del llamado que han recibido de Dios, porque en verdad han sido llamados. Sean siempre humildes y amables. Sean pacientes unos con otros y tolérense las faltas por amor. Hagan todo lo posible por mantenerse unidos en el Espíritu y enlazados mediante la paz." Efesios 4:1-3 NTV

Dan Johnson
Lead Pastor
Dan is passionate about helping others live the best life they can by serving God. Much of his time is spent with his wife, Kelly, and their two daughters traveling and seeing God's creation. While a huge fan of the Oregon Ducks, he enjoys anything that might even resemble a sport. Most importantly, he was a lost soul that God saved from the depths of depression on a basketball court in February of 2000. God called him into ministry at the age of 15. Before being led to Raleigh-Durham, Dan had served in ministries in Indiana, Oregon, and Arkansas.
Lead Pastor
Dan is passionate about helping others live the best life they can by serving God. Much of his time is spent with his wife, Kelly, and their two daughters traveling and seeing God's creation. While a huge fan of the Oregon Ducks, he enjoys anything that might even resemble a sport. Most importantly, he was a lost soul that God saved from the depths of depression on a basketball court in February of 2000. God called him into ministry at the age of 15. Before being led to Raleigh-Durham, Dan had served in ministries in Indiana, Oregon, and Arkansas.

Deonté Whitehead
Associate Pastor of Students & Worship
Deonté is a native of Rocky Mount. He has a track record of serving in the community and in various Gospel ministries. Deonté has a heart for those who have found themselves in hard places, which led him to develop The Lighthouse Urban Outreach Collective, an organization that supports the unhoused in the Washington DC area. In his free time, Deonté enjoys eating good food and spending time with his wife, Rebekah, family and friends.
Associate Pastor of Students & Worship
Deonté is a native of Rocky Mount. He has a track record of serving in the community and in various Gospel ministries. Deonté has a heart for those who have found themselves in hard places, which led him to develop The Lighthouse Urban Outreach Collective, an organization that supports the unhoused in the Washington DC area. In his free time, Deonté enjoys eating good food and spending time with his wife, Rebekah, family and friends.

Victor Hiraldo
Associate Pastor of Spanish Ministry
Víctor, a native of San Juan, Puerto Rico, moved to North Carolina 12 years ago. As an educator, Victor has a track record serving in outreach ministries. Victor’s pasión is to bring people to a closer and authentic relationship with Jesus. With his wife, Sunny, he has led different ministries where the main goal has been to be a liaison between the education systems and the Latino communities, creating a safe place for these communities to be heard, to be appreciated, and to learn how to put Christ as the center of their lives. In his spare time, Victor enjoys reading, spending time with his family and watching all kind of sports.
Associate Pastor of Spanish Ministry
Víctor, a native of San Juan, Puerto Rico, moved to North Carolina 12 years ago. As an educator, Victor has a track record serving in outreach ministries. Victor’s pasión is to bring people to a closer and authentic relationship with Jesus. With his wife, Sunny, he has led different ministries where the main goal has been to be a liaison between the education systems and the Latino communities, creating a safe place for these communities to be heard, to be appreciated, and to learn how to put Christ as the center of their lives. In his spare time, Victor enjoys reading, spending time with his family and watching all kind of sports.
Lans JonesAssociate Pastor of Family Discipleship
Lans Jones is, before anything else, a child of the King. He is madly in love with his wife, Kelly, and adores each of their seven children, but it is Jesus who remains his first love. As a Bible teacher, discipleship pastor, Christian ethicist, and parenting coach, Lans relishes every opportunity he is given to demonstrate and teach others how they too can live in the abundant vitality and freedom purchased for believers by the Messiah. In his spare time Lans enjoys reading novels, writing his books, and recording podcasts. |

Tyler Mendenhall
The Tech Guy
Tyler didn't grow up in the church or even really trying to follow God. If you had asked him, he would have said that he was a believer, but just by looking at his life, you couldn't tell. In high school, a girl he started dating invited him to an Ignite Student Outreach summer camp. There, Tyler realized that he needed Christ to overcome the nonsense that was in his life and gave his life to Him. Tyler was baptized later that year and has been with Cross Culture ever since. Now he is able to use the tech savvy talents God has blessed him with for His Kingdom work.
The Tech Guy
Tyler didn't grow up in the church or even really trying to follow God. If you had asked him, he would have said that he was a believer, but just by looking at his life, you couldn't tell. In high school, a girl he started dating invited him to an Ignite Student Outreach summer camp. There, Tyler realized that he needed Christ to overcome the nonsense that was in his life and gave his life to Him. Tyler was baptized later that year and has been with Cross Culture ever since. Now he is able to use the tech savvy talents God has blessed him with for His Kingdom work.

Jennifer Mason
Financial Administrator
Jennifer was born and raised in Durham and has a heart for the Triangle community. She has been married to her husband, James, since 2004, and they are the proud parents of daughters Kendall, Raegan, and Sydney. Jennifer has been a member of Cross Culture Church for 12 years and has enjoyed serving in the student ministry and, more recently, as a C2Kids coach in the children’s ministry. Jennifer loves reading, watching 90’s sitcoms, vacations at Oak Island, Diet Coke and podcasts.
Financial Administrator
Jennifer was born and raised in Durham and has a heart for the Triangle community. She has been married to her husband, James, since 2004, and they are the proud parents of daughters Kendall, Raegan, and Sydney. Jennifer has been a member of Cross Culture Church for 12 years and has enjoyed serving in the student ministry and, more recently, as a C2Kids coach in the children’s ministry. Jennifer loves reading, watching 90’s sitcoms, vacations at Oak Island, Diet Coke and podcasts.

Kimberley Jones
Hospitality & Communications Coordinator
Kimberley's passion is to serve the Lord by serving people in her house or His. Since Cross Culture launched in 2008, she has been a member of the Greeter Team. She has the wonderful opportunity to show the love of Christ by welcoming members and first time guests to worship service.
Kimberley also loves a good meal and a good time of fellowship with friends!
Hospitality & Communications Coordinator
Kimberley's passion is to serve the Lord by serving people in her house or His. Since Cross Culture launched in 2008, she has been a member of the Greeter Team. She has the wonderful opportunity to show the love of Christ by welcoming members and first time guests to worship service.
Kimberley also loves a good meal and a good time of fellowship with friends!

Ken Armstrong
Elder
Ken and his wife Caryn have been married for nearly 40 years. They are founding members of Cross Culture. When there isn't a pandemic, they love to go on cruises and explore this beautiful world God has created. Ken is retired from the US Army but still loves being around airplanes. What drew he and Caryn to Cross Culture is that our pastor unashamedly preaches from God's Word. It is their passion to serve on the praise team and they find great joy in both traditional hymns and more current gospel songs that are used. They love to see the church in action teaching children and youth about God's love for them and that it is not only multi-cultural but also multi-generational.
Elder
Ken and his wife Caryn have been married for nearly 40 years. They are founding members of Cross Culture. When there isn't a pandemic, they love to go on cruises and explore this beautiful world God has created. Ken is retired from the US Army but still loves being around airplanes. What drew he and Caryn to Cross Culture is that our pastor unashamedly preaches from God's Word. It is their passion to serve on the praise team and they find great joy in both traditional hymns and more current gospel songs that are used. They love to see the church in action teaching children and youth about God's love for them and that it is not only multi-cultural but also multi-generational.

James Mason
Elder
James is a lifelong native of Durham and has been a part of Cross Culture Church since the inception. He has been married to his wife, Jennifer, since 2004 and he is the proud dad of three beautiful daughters. James has worked in the hospitality industry for his entire career and loves to meet new people and share about what God is doing at Cross Culture and in the community. He enjoys playing golf, Duke basketball, sushi, Hot Wheels, car shows and spending time at the beach.
Elder
James is a lifelong native of Durham and has been a part of Cross Culture Church since the inception. He has been married to his wife, Jennifer, since 2004 and he is the proud dad of three beautiful daughters. James has worked in the hospitality industry for his entire career and loves to meet new people and share about what God is doing at Cross Culture and in the community. He enjoys playing golf, Duke basketball, sushi, Hot Wheels, car shows and spending time at the beach.

David McDonald
Elder
Elder

Joe Thomas
Elder
Joe is a proud husband of 22 years, a devoted father & faithful servant of God. Born in Tucson, raised by the values of honor & discipline as a Marine Corps veteran, he now keeps the law and brings hope as a Police Lieutenant and department chaplain where he has served since 1996. While laid up in sickbay as a result of an injury sustained in the Marine Corps, Joe placed his faith and trust in Jesus. He enjoys spending his time with his family and working out. His favorite verse is found in Isaiah 6:8 "And I heard the voice of the Lord saying, 'Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?' Then I said, 'Here am I!'"
Elder
Joe is a proud husband of 22 years, a devoted father & faithful servant of God. Born in Tucson, raised by the values of honor & discipline as a Marine Corps veteran, he now keeps the law and brings hope as a Police Lieutenant and department chaplain where he has served since 1996. While laid up in sickbay as a result of an injury sustained in the Marine Corps, Joe placed his faith and trust in Jesus. He enjoys spending his time with his family and working out. His favorite verse is found in Isaiah 6:8 "And I heard the voice of the Lord saying, 'Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?' Then I said, 'Here am I!'"