President

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.

Provost

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.

Dean

Dr. Rhonda Gregory is the Dean of Academic Support at Volunteer State Community College where she oversees areas such as distance learning, library services, and tutoring. Dr. Gregory has been a college instructor since 2010, teaching courses in education, English, and freshman orientation.

Dr. Gregory earned a Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) in Instruction and Curriculum Leadership from the University of Memphis (Memphis, TN) in 2018. She also has a Master of Art in Teaching from Greenville University (Greenville, IL) and a Bachelor in Science in Business Administration from DeVry (Irving, Texas).

Dr. Gregory grew up in Venus, Texas and later Litchfield, Illinois and has volunteered in her local church in various ministries since her teens. She has served on CIL’s leadership board since 2019. Rhonda and husband, Brian, have been married since 1997 and are parents to two adult sons, Matthew and Brennen.

Resident Instructor

Jacob Bell has been the Community Life Pastor of CIL Church (Christ is Love) in Hendersonville, Tennessee since 2021. 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.