Board of Directors

Board Compensation and Terms
All board members are volunteer and are not compensated for any of their time or service with the Center for Church Communication (CFCC). Board terms range from two to four years and are staggered to allow for new and old voices to always be at the table.


Brad Abare is the founder of the Center for Church Communication. He consults with companies and organizations, helping them figure out why in the world they exist, why anyone should care, and what to do about it. He lives with his family in Los Angeles.

Nick Jones is a journalist, cinematographer, and creative strategist with over 20 years of experience in supporting Christian ministries and nonprofit organizations. As the owner of Lampstand Story Co, a documentary film studio based in Oklahoma City, Nick has provided the creative horsepower behind many notable conferences and campaigns including the Willow Creek Summit, International Mission Board, Foursquare Church, Compassion International, Biblica, and more. Nick specializes in international journalism, and has filed stories for organizations in more than 25 countries around the world. Nick currently lives in Oklahoma City with his wife Rachel.

Nate Lu is an award-winning creative strategist, thought leader, and art director with over 15 years experience in the design industry. He’s steered teams and strategies at multiple creative agencies and startups including AXS, Capsa, Wipit, Ideation, Gelcomm, Artime Group, the Foursquare Church, and Azusa Pacific University. He is super passionate about investing in up-and-coming creatives through helping them grow and reach their potential with the sincere belief that the best designs combined with the strongest passions can have a positive impact in the world on multiple levels. Nate is an alumni of the ArtCenter College of Design in Pasadena, Calif., and serves as the executive director for Spire. He sits on the Founders Board for the Office of Innovation at Azusa Pacific University where he also teaches senior branding and UI/UX design courses as an adjunct professor.

Mark MacDonald is a bestselling author, speaker, and strategic communication consultant with Be Known For Something (a church branding agency in Jacksonville, Fla.). He empowers churches to become known for something relevant (a thread) throughout their ministries. Since the 1980s, Mark has served as creative director at one of Eastern Canada’s largest agencies, his church branding agency in North Carolina, and strategic communication catalyst for the 3,000 Florida Baptist Churches. Mark and his wife, Tammy, have two grown sons in Calgary and Chicago. Mark has also written a bestselling church growth and leadership book, Be Known For Something: Reconnect With Community by Revitalizing Your Church’s Reputation. Follow him on social media: @markmac1023 and his blog.

Cleve Persinger is the founder of Creative Missions—mission trips for media professionals—and director of partnerships and communications for the West Virginia Convention of Southern Baptists. He is passionate about strengthening and planting churches in small town contexts, specifically throughout West Virginia and Appalachia. Cleve and his wife, Katie, reside in Charleston, W.Va., with their children Cy, Charlotte, and Warner.

Andy Swart is married to his great equalizer, Carman, and they live in Fort Worth, Texas, with their four kids: Laine, Ellie, Shepherd, and MacArthur. Andy is a church planter and founded Metro Church of Northwest Arkansas in 2008. Over a decade later, Andy sensed God’s leading again, this time to the great nation of Texas. He is currently the teaching pastor of The Mount Church in Keller, Texas. Andy spends most of his days building leaders who build leaders for Christ. He is currently pursuing a masters in leadership at Dallas Theological Seminary. Andy loves college football, reading, working on home improvement projects, tinkering in the yard, and being with his family. You can always find his faithful Labrador Retriever, Hondo, close to his side.