Operations Coordinator / Serve Team Director / Women’s Regeneration Leader

Katie is a Military Brat originating from northern Virginia. After living in two different countries in the first seven years of her life, her family finally settled in East Tennessee, where she would live until college. She grew up heavily involved in church, but did not always feel as fulfilled as it seemed her peers were. When she moved from Seymour, Tennessee into her college dorm in Williamsburg, Kentucky, she was not aware of how different her life some four years later. She had decided to invest almost all her time in lacrosse as it would be her best chance at earning a college scholarship and gaining new life experiences—and her plan worked! She became an accomplished athlete who earned All-Conference honors, playing all four years of college. 

Katie’s faith was tested early in her college years, as many young adults often experience. After a couple years of battling traumas from early childhood that challenged what she knew to be true about Christ, she came to the conclusion that, although many of the events she experienced yielded unfortunate results, God had used each experience to mold her perseverance (Romans 5:1-5) and guide her to a point where she could no longer deny the magnitude of God’s presence in her life. While at college, Katie finally felt the fulfillment in Christ that she longed to have. She earned a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology and a Master’s degree in Christian Studies. In 2018, she met Aaron Wharton and they got married after two-and-a-half years of dating. After about a month of moving to Mount Juliet, Katie came on board our staff as the Operations Coordinator. Among all her duties, the ones she enjoys the most are supporting the staff to accomplish their goals, leading our Regeneration ministry, and helping with Grove Youth. 

Today, Katie and Aaron enjoy visiting every and all coffee shops in the Nashville area. She loves reading and playing pickleball, and still makes time for lacrosse through coaching or individual training.