Staff

Greg Gilbert - Senior Pastor

Greg grew up in a wonderful Christian family, with two parents who love the Lord very much and made sure that he heard the good news of salvation at every opportunity. At 9 years old, he professed faith in Christ as his Dad shared the gospel yet again and he was baptized shortly thereafter. For the next few years, he grew as a Christian, still attending church, and then went to Yale University for undergrad studies. Those were good years spiritually, mostly because he had to learn like never before how to defend his faith. It was also during those years that the Lord began to call him to Christian ministry. After Yale, Greg spent some time serving in a few different churches, went to seminary, got married to Moriah, and had three awesome kids: Justin, Jack, and Juliet. Greg was called to serve Third Avenue Baptist as the Senior Pastor in 2010.

Brandon Shafer - Associate Pastor for Discipleship

Brandon grew up in a church-going family in Oklahoma and heard the gospel regularly at the church they attended. God saved Brandon at age 12 through the faithful witness of one of the members there, and he was baptized shortly after. As a teenager, the Lord called Brandon to Christian ministry. In preparation for that calling, he completed a degree in Biblical Languages from Oklahoma Baptist University and a M.Div. from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. Brandon met his wife, Cindy, while he was in seminary, and they married in 2007. They worked with refugees in Greece for several years before returning to Oklahoma to serve at a local church. In August 2018, Brandon became the Associate Pastor for Discipleship at Third Avenue. Brandon and Cindy are blessed with four wonderful children.

Mike Carnicella - Associate Pastor for Administration

Mike grew up in Zionsville, IN, a suburb on the north side of Indianapolis. After high school he headed up the road to West Lafayette, to begin college at Purdue University (boiler up!). In God's kind providence, Mike met his wife, Lindsey, and they were both baptized and married at Kossuth Street Baptist Church in Lafayette, IN. From there, Mike and Lindsey headed down the road to Louisville for work and seminary. God was kind again to lead Mike and Lindsey to Third Avenue, in 2010. Time spent in Louisville and at Third Avenue has been very formative. Mike has worn many hats at Third Avenue, starting out as Pastoral Assistant, then Administrative Assistant, then Administrator, and now Associate Pastor for Administration. Mike is excited about what God is doing at Third Avenue and looks forward to the days ahead. Mike enjoys spending free time reading fiction, climbing things, and giggling with his three kids, Leo, Lucia, and Luca.

Justin Woods - Associate Pastor for Counseling

Justin grew up in a church-going family in Bryant, Arkansas. God saved him during his teenage years through the faithful witness of men in his local church. Justin first met his wife, Mary, when they were teenagers in their church youth group. They were married in 2007 and moved to Louisville in 2009. Justin spent 14 years as a teacher in the local public school system. He started serving as an elder at Third Avenue in 2021 and came on staff as the Associate Pastor for Counseling in 2023. Justin and Mary are blessed with two wonderful children, Wilder and Lottie. 

Erin Robertson - Director of Children’s Ministry

Erin grew up in Toronto, Ontario, and came to the saving knowledge of Christ as a young teen, through the faithful witness of her Christian School teachers. She earned a degree in Elementary Education from Liberty University, and went on to work as an elementary teacher and Children's Ministry Director. Erin is married to Ryan (her high school sweetheart) and they have three great kids; Avery ('07), Callum ('09), and Reagan ('11). In 2018, the Robertsons transplanted to Louisville, and are so grateful for God's providence in bringing them to Third Avenue! Erin is delighted to serve the church in her role overseeing 3ABC Kids.

Stephen Xia - Director of Communications

Stephen grew up in a Christian family and was baptized as a believer in 8th grade. He first encountered expository preaching and systematic theology during his college years at the University of Illinois and has developed a love for those things ever since. After college, he returned to the East Coast to work in finance and attended an SBC church in Manhattan's Chinatown. Stephen moved to Louisville in the Fall of 2016 and is currently pursuing an M.Div at Southern Seminary. He was married to Emma at Third Avenue in September of 2019. He likes reading short fiction and can often be found sitting on the porch when it's raining.

Alex Duke - Director of Training and Sending

Alex grew up in Louisville. God saved him at an early age while he attended Southeast Christian Church and was surrounded by several faithful disciplers. Upon graduating from Christian Academy of Louisville, he studied Mass Communications and Creative Writing at Western Kentucky University. He started at Southern Seminary in 2012 and received his M.Div in 2017. From 2017 to 2019, Alex and his family lived in New York City, where he happily served as the youth pastor of North Shore Baptist Church in Bayside, Queens. Alex works full-time as the managing editor for 9Marks, a position he's held since 2014. Alex and Melanie currently live in Audubon Park, and they're blessed with both a daughter and a son: Elliot (b. 2015) and John (b. 2018). Go Cards.

Jake Banta - Senior Pastor’s Assistant

Jake is from Louisville, Kentucky. After high school he attended the University of Louisville where he majored in civil engineering and minored in political science. Growing up Jake was around Christianity, but the meaning of faith alluded him. Around middle school the Lord showed him the weight of his sin and brought him to saving faith in Jesus Christ. In college the Lord was kind to lead Jake to the college ministry of Third Avenue at the University of Louisville where he then got plugged into the church itself and joined at the end of his freshman year. College years at Third Avenue were very foundational for establishing Jake in his faith and opening his eyes to live all of life for the glory of God. After graduating in 2024, Jake began working for the college ministry of Third Avenue, Across Campus, where he hopes to see students come to faith and grow in their discipleship to King Jesus.

Tristan Clark - Pastor’s Assistant for Administration and Administrative Assistant

Tristan grew up north of Dallas, Texas. In God’s sweet providence, he gave Tristan a diligent and patient father, a funny and deeply loving mother, and two younger, very athletic brothers. Through his mother sharing the gospel with him regularly and clearly, he responded to the gospel in faith at an early age and was baptized soon after. Upon graduating high school, Tristan moved to Louisville in order to begin the Seminary Track Program at Boyce and SBTS. He is currently working on both an undergraduate degree in Business Administration and an MDiv. Tristan aspires to pastoral ministry and would recommend The Path to Being a Pastor to all men who desire to shepherd. In his free time, he loves to hang out and work out with friends, cheer for America’s Team and the Longhorns, and read biographies. Tristan is thankful to be a member at Third Avenue and for the regular teaching that has taught him to understand the beauty of how the local church fits into God’s redemptive plan.

Sierra Carlson - Pastor’s Assistant for Counseling

Sierra grew up in a half-Christian home in the Bay Area of California.  After graduating high school in 1999, she studied Modern Languages at Cal Poly State University.  It was during her college years that she reheard the gospel through a Campus Crusade Bible study, and believed.  She went on to study abroad in Spain and Italy.  These were very formative years, as she learned to walk in Christ.  Desiring to use Spanish on the mission field, Sierra started at Multnomah Bible Seminary in 2007.  It was here that she met her husband, Eric, and the two were married after graduation from seminary.  In 2018, the Carlsons moved to Louisville from California, and began attending Third Avenue in 2019, where they’ve been members ever since.  Eric and Sierra have five cool kids: Trey, Joan, Travis, Maverick, and Emma.

Giang Tran - Pastor’s Assistant for Discipleship

Giang (pronounced Zang) grew up in the largest city in Việt Nam—Sài Gòn. He came to the U.S. in 2010 to attend high school at Montrose Christian School in Rockville, MD. Over a period of two years, as his teachers taught him the Bible, the Holy Spirit helped Giang understand the good news of Jesus Christ. Finally, he realized that Jesus is the only Savior for sinners and gave his life to Christ. Giang was then baptized and joined a local church. While finishing up an associate degree at a nearby college, he taught children’s Sunday school. During that time, God gave Giang a strong desire to pursue pastoral ministries. That desire was affirmed by the church, and in 2015, they sent Giang to Kentucky to begin his biblical training. After completing a bachelor’s degree in 2019 from Boyce College, Giang went on to finish the Master of Divinity in Biblical and Theological Studies in 2023 from Southern Seminary. Currently, he is pursuing a PhD in New Testament at SBTS. Giang is married to Kelsey Faye. Their favorite food is Phở (it’s good pho you!). They cheer for the Kentucky Wildcats, and they are best friends!

Jacob Southerland - Director of Youth Ministry

Jacob is from McDonough, GA. He attended the University of North Georgia where he majored in Spanish and minored in criminal justice. Jacob was familiar with the gospel his whole life, but the Lord showed him the weight of his sin and his need of a savior his freshman year of college while at an event with Campus Outreach. He spent six years in the Air Force Reserves as Security Forces and began to desire serving in ministry while deployed overseas. Jacob moved to Louisville in the fall of 2019 and is currently pursuing an M.Div. with a focus in biblical counseling at Southern Seminary. You are encouraged to challenge him on the ping pong table or tennis courts, and he is a fan of all things Georgia sports and Barcelona soccer. Jacob is married to Carley who complements him well except for her loyalty to the Alabama Crimson Tide.

Melody Abel - Custodian

Melody was born and raised in western Washington State and then spent six years alternating between interior Alaska and Antarctica before moving to Louisville in January 2020 to pursue an M.Div. in theology at Southern Seminary.

Through God's grace, a young Melody heard the gospel (through an invitation to Sunday school) and responded in faith to the gift of salvation. Shortly after, her entire family began attending church. Through the working of the Holy Spirit, reading the Bible, and listening to the teaching of her pastor, Melody grew in knowledge and relationship with the Lord and was baptized at the age of eleven. During her late teens and early twenties, she drifted from the faith through one rebellious compromise after another, but God in his merciful sovereignty has since radically changed her heart, mind, and will and pulled her out of bondage and darkness into freedom, light, and eternal life in Christ Jesus. No longer God's enemy, Melody loves to worship and serve the Lord with fellow church members!

Across Campus Staff

Regional Director - Isaac Stiles

Women’s Director - Stephanie Stiles

Campus Staff - Julianne English, Ethan English, Jake Banta, Tarry Dunn

Accounting - Courtney Allan