Blaine Tucker
Lead Minister
Blaine grew up in Phoenix, Arizona, attended Harding University where he received a degree in Youth and Family Ministry and has a Masters of Divinity from Fuller Theological Seminary. He spent time in Italy teaching people about Jesus. While there, he met and married his beautiful wife Kate.
Blaine and Kate have three kids- Hudson, Gabriella, and Sophia. He enjoys watching a good movie, woodworking, and hoping the Arizona Cardinals will someday make it back to the Super Bowl.
Blaine and Kate have three kids- Hudson, Gabriella, and Sophia. He enjoys watching a good movie, woodworking, and hoping the Arizona Cardinals will someday make it back to the Super Bowl.
Donna Ellis
Children's Minister
Donna joined our staff in 2012. She attending Harding College as a Bible major (1977-79), she then finished undergraduate work at the University of Alabama in Family Studies. Donna and her husband, Kin served Student Ministries across the Southeast for 32 years. She enjoys being outdoors - walking, riding bikes and the beach. She also loves to read and sometimes cooks for a crowd.
Donna specializes in organizing volunteers who teach and care for South's children. Her faith is strengthened every week as she watches volunteers serve in loving, self-less ways.
Donna specializes in organizing volunteers who teach and care for South's children. Her faith is strengthened every week as she watches volunteers serve in loving, self-less ways.
Becky Hendrix
Children's Minister
Becky joined our staff in 2012, and has attended South for 30+ years, beginning at LSU. She has her B.S. in English and is certified to teach elementary school. Becky and her husband, Lance have been married since 1994. They have two children, a son Peyton, and a daughter, Marylee.
Besides teaching, she loves to read and enjoys opening her home to people of all ages.
Becky specializes in developing our South Kids curriculum. She finds working with children incredibly rewarding and feels she is often taught as much as she teaches.
Besides teaching, she loves to read and enjoys opening her home to people of all ages.
Becky specializes in developing our South Kids curriculum. She finds working with children incredibly rewarding and feels she is often taught as much as she teaches.
Rachel Pounders
Youth Minister
Rachel joined our staff permanently in 2025 after being a part of South for 7 years. She taught middle school math after graduating from Harding University in 2016. Rachel received her MSW (21') and PhD(25') in Social Work from LSU. Her previous work after teaching centered around working at local, state, and national levels to address the youth mental health crisis and researching how relationships help students facing adversity succeed.
Rachel and her husband, Jimmy, a lifelong member of South, have been married since 2019. They have one toddler son who is the light of their lives. She has also facilitated the young families life group the last several years and previously served alongside Jimmy as teen director for our summer camp, Encounter. Rachel is deeply passionate about youth experiencing the abundant life that following Jesus offers. She seeks to help students everywhere know that they are fully known and deeply loved.
Rachel and her husband, Jimmy, a lifelong member of South, have been married since 2019. They have one toddler son who is the light of their lives. She has also facilitated the young families life group the last several years and previously served alongside Jimmy as teen director for our summer camp, Encounter. Rachel is deeply passionate about youth experiencing the abundant life that following Jesus offers. She seeks to help students everywhere know that they are fully known and deeply loved.
Chinese Minister
Jenna and Ben Stewart
Campus Ministry
Jenna and Ben joined our staff in 2022. They come to us after working with campus ministries in Tempe, Arizona and Austin, Texas. We're blessed to have them working with our college students and young adults! Jenna (lead minister) loves to garden, read, and listen to a good podcast. Ben loves playing the banjo, a good cup of coffee, and deep theological discussions.