Director / Co-Founder

Dr. Aaron Allison has been the Lead Pastor of CIL Church (Christ is Love) in Hendersonville, a Nashville suburb, since 2008. Dr. Allison grew up in Irving, Texas, and has been in vocational ministry since 1995, serving as a children’s pastor, youth pastor, associate pastor, and church planter.

Dr. Allison earned a Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) from Union University (Jackson, TN). He also has a Master of Art in Ministerial Leadership from Southeastern University (Lakeland, FL) and a Bachelor in Religion from MidAmerica Nazarene University (Olathe, KS).

Dr. Allison has been a college instructor since 2015, teaching various times at Union, Southeastern, and Trinity Baptist College (Jacksonville, Florida). Aaron and Beth Allison have been married since 1998 and are parents to three adult children.

Resident Instructor / Co-Founder

Rev. Deborah Jackson is the Operations Pastor at CIL Church. Prior to joining the CIL staff, she served as the Communications Director at Friendship Christian School in Lebanon, TN. Before moving to TN, Rev. Jackson was the Business Manager at McKinney Christian School in McKinney, TX. While employed in education, she served bi-vocationally as a children’s pastor, ministry leader, and church board member.

She holds a Master of Science Degree in Curriculum and Instruction from Nova Southeast University (Ft. Lauderdale, FL) and a Bachelor in Professional Studies, with a Minor in Biblical Studies, from Southwestern Assembly of God University (Waxahachie, TX). Rev. Jackson is a Certified Spiritual Director through Lipscomb University’s Institute of Christian Spirituality. She is also certified by Veritas College International as a facilitator for their Foundation Courses.

In addition to teaching at CIL and Three Streams School of Theology, Rev. Jackson is a facilitator for Lipscomb University’s spiritual director certification program. She is married to Paul; they have 3 adult children and one grandchild.

Resident Instructor

Jacob Bell has been on staff at CIL Church (Christ is Love) in Hendersonville, Tennessee since 2021, and became the Executive Pastor in 2024. Jacob grew up in Spring Hill, Tennessee, and is committed to cultivating opportunities for people to grow both in Christ and Christian community.

Jacob received a Master of Arts in Theology and Biblical Studies from Trevecca University in Nashville, Tennessee. He also has a Bachelor of Arts in Religion and Pastoral Ministry from Trevecca University.

Jacob has led lectures at different churches across the greater Nashville area. Jacob married to his person and partner, Katherine Bell, and has one son, Elijah Bell. Jacob loves learning and talking Christian theology.

Resident Instructor

Margie Burger began her career as a teacher and homemaker before becoming the Director of Prayer for Aldersgate Renewal Ministries in Goodlettsville, Tennessee, in 1992. In that role, she led the prayer team ministry, intercessor network, and prophetic ministry, while also taking teams into local churches for renewal events and developing a wide range of prayer resources. She retired from Aldersgate in 2014.

Margie is the author of five books focused on prayer and the person and work of the Holy Spirit, and she continues to create resources that help believers deepen their intimacy with God.

Resident Instructor

Dr. Robert M. Still, Jr., DWS, is a Nashville-based worship pastor, producer, songwriter, and instructor with graduate and doctoral degrees from the Robert E. Webber Institute for Worship Studies. With more than 25 years of experience teaching and leading worship in over 25 nations, he has directed the SOZO International Music & Arts Festival, taught “Practical Theology of Worship” at Scoala de Inchinare in Romania, and served as a guest lecturer at the Ukrainian Evangelical Theological Seminary in Kyiv.

Rob has also served as Pastor of Worship Arts at Belmont Church on Music Row, Hendersonville First United Methodist Church, Franklin First United Methodist Church, and New Life Church of Columbia, Tennessee.

Resident Instructor

Dr. James Stanford Wilson (Stan) is a Tennessee native who lives in Mount Juliet with his wife, Cheryl. They met in high school at David Lipscomb, and Stan went on to attend Lipscomb from first grade through his M.Div., earning him the affectionate title of “lifer.” He is also a certified spiritual director through Lipscomb’s Institute of Christian Spirituality.

Dr. Wilson holds a Ph.D. in Old Testament and Hebrew from Amridge University’s Turner School of Theology and serves as an adjunct professor at both Lipscomb University and Amridge University. He spent several years in Adult Education at Hendersonville Church of Christ, where he helped shape spiritual formation and discipleship efforts.