Our Pastor, Rev. Byron H. Wells, has been with Chestnut Ridge since 1997. Byron has brought to us a genuine love of God and a passion for personal transformation. Prior to coming to Chestnut Ridge, Byron served churches in Kentucky, Tennesssee, North Carolina, and Georgia.

Byron is a native of Kinston, NC, and he is married to Jena Kennedy. They have three children and two grandchildren, with a daughter and her family living in Hiram, GA, a son at Valdosta State University, and a son that is a student at Etowah High School in Woodstock, GA.

A graduate of North Carolina State University in Raleigh, NC, Byron also has a Master of Divinity degree from Lexington Theological Seminary in Lexington, KY. He is currently pursuing a Doctor of Ministry degree from Columbia Theological Seminary in Decatur, GA with a concentration in Church Planting and Congregational Transformation.

Byron has served in a variety of leadership positions within the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) and within the local communities he has served. He currently serves on our denomination's Congregational Transformation Task Force, chairs the Georgia Regional Transformation Team, and he writes a regular article for the Christian Messenger, our Regional newspaper.

When Byron is not spending time with his family, he also enjoys travel, playing golf, running and working out, reading, writing, and keeping up with college and professional sports.