Our Team

Brad Davis

Lead Pastor

Brennan Travis

Executive Pastor

Robyn Queen

Choir Director

Payton Rowe

Student and Family Pastor

Payton and his wife, Tori, serve at Living Word Church, where Payton is the Student & Family Pastor. Having grown up at Living Word, he considers it a special privilege to now serve the same church that helped shape his own faith.

Payton earned his degree in Middle School Education from Emmanuel University and taught middle school for three years before stepping into full-time student ministry. For the past two years, he has loved walking with students through some of the most important years of their lives and helping them build a faith that is real and lasting.

Payton and Tori care deeply about creating a place where students feel known, valued, and connected. Their heart is to partner with families and invest in the next generation both inside and outside the church.

Max Rhyne

LWC Kids Ministry Director

Andrea Smith

Administrative Assistant

Andrea married her high school sweetheart, Michael, in 1990, and together they have raised three children who are now adults.

Her family began attending Living Word Church in 2007 and quickly fell in love with the welcoming community. Around that same time, Andrea’s 17-year career in banking—14 of which were spent in Global Corporate Banking as an Operations Manager—came to an unexpected transition when her department was outsourced.

While seeking new opportunities, she accepted a part-time role at the church as Finance Secretary, initially intending it to be temporary. However, in 2009 she stepped into a full-time position as Administrative Assistant, and the rest, as they say, “is history”.

She enjoys spending time with family, cooking and preserving, gardening, as well as sewing and crafting.

Andrea is deeply passionate about her work and is known for her strong faith, attention to detail, and intuitive ability to learn and implement new systems efficiently. She values serving alongside her team and is excited about continuing to support the growth of the church and its mission.

Rohit Cala

Media Ministry Director

Rohit Cala serves as the Media Ministry Director at Living Word Church. Having grown up in the church, he has been a part of the Living Word family for over 10 years and stepped into a full-time role in the fall of 2025.

With more than five years of experience in media ministry, Rohit is passionate about everything behind the scenes—especially technology, lighting, and visual design. His heart is to create a worship environment where people feel welcomed, engaged, and connected through intentional use of lights, graphics, and media.

Rohit is dedicated to reaching people through all forms of technology, using creativity and innovation to help communicate the message of the Gospel in a powerful and meaningful way.

Laurie Abernethy

Worship Director

Laurie Abernethy is a passionate worship leader. She is devoted to leading others into authentic encounters with God through music and ministry. With a heart for Living Word Church and a deep love for Jesus, she strives to cultivate worship environments that point people toward Christ and encourage spiritual growth. Laurie believes worship is more than music; it is a lifestyle of surrender, gratitude, and devotion to God.

For over 25 years, Laurie has shared life and ministry with the love of her life, Jeremy, building a Christ-centered marriage that reflects faith, commitment, and grace. Together they are raising three beautiful daughters who are their greatest joys and reminders of God’s goodness.

Whether serving on the platform, mentoring others, or pouring into her family, Laurie is driven by a desire to glorify God and help people discover the power and freedom found in worship. Her life and ministry reflect a simple but profound mission: to love God deeply, serve others faithfully, and lead with humility and purpose.