Pastoral Staff
Our pastoral staff are responsible for the overall leadership and direction of Eastgate Church.
Gary Combs
Senior Pastor
Gary is our founding and senior pastor. Our church began as a small group meeting in his living room, launching publicly on January 26, 1992. Gary grew up in Bristol, Virginia. After earning a B.A. in Music from Radford University, he worked twelve years in the corporate world. He left his job in 1991 to answer God’s call to ministry. He attended Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary, where he graduated with a M.Div. with Biblical Languages.
Gary and his wife, Robin, have three grown children and ten grandchildren. Gary enjoys reading, playing guitar, riding his motorcycle, and being with friends and family. You can follow his daily devotions on the One Year Bible, sermons, and other regular blog posts at www.garycombs.org.
Jonathan Combs
Lead Pastor, Rocky Mount Campus
He and his family moved to Rocky Mount in 2015 to plant Eastgate Rocky Mount after graduating from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary and working as an associate pastor in Greenville, NC for a year. Jonathan is a native of Wilson, NC and is married to Nicole. They have 4 children.
Stephen Combs
Worship Pastor
Stephen attended East Carolina University, where he received a B.A. in Music, and Liberty University, where he received a M.A. in Worship Leadership. He has been on staff with Eastgate since July of 2005. Stephen has a passion for song-writing, leadership, and discipleship. He oversees our worship teams and is our graphic designer. Follow his music at www.stephenacombs.com.
Jonathan Minter
Pastor of Administration
Jonathan was born in Virginia Beach, VA and began working full-time for our church in 2012 after 14 years in the IT industry. He has a BS in Psychology and an MS in Information Technology. His family moved to Wilson and began attending in 2007. Jonathan oversees our Children’s Ministry, technology and finances. He is also an adjunct instructor at Wilson Community College and does freelance web development. He and his wife, Michelle, have 5 children and are the creators of Teach Us the Bible.
Lay Staff
Our lay staff are committed leaders from our congregation. They bring a valuable perspective along with their spiritual gifts and talents as they serve our church.
Michael Cain
Administrative Support and IT Specialist
Michael is a native Ohioan, and a graduate of the University of Cincinnati, with a BS in Information Technology. Michael works for Wake County as an IT Division Supervisor. His passion is helping support others, using his skills and talents to support, nurture and launch others into their ministry. He primarily serves at our Rocky Mount Campus but serves both campuses with IT support.
Mike Laramee
Director of Discipleship
Mike oversees our Community Groups and Life on Life Discipleship and is a member of the preaching team. Mike served in the U.S. Air Force for 21 years and is currently a professional pilot. Mike and his wife Cindy began attending our church in 2010 and have two grown children.
Ministry Leaders
Michelle Minter
Kids Ministry – Wilson Campus
Michelle has been a part of Eastgate Church since 2007 when her family moved to Wilson. She has a BS in Elementary Education and has experience as an elementary school teacher and preschool teacher. After serving as a volunteer in our Kids Ministry since 2007, she came on staff as the Kids Ministry Director in 2025. She and her husband, Jonathan, have 5 children.
Randy and Jennifer Tuttle
Young Adults Ministry (YAM) – Wilson Campus
Randy was born in Southern California where he was raised and also where he encountered Jesus. He and his wife Jennifer have two boys. Randy’s passion is to help others encounter Jesus. Randy leads one of our Community Groups and our Young Adults Ministry.
