Joel serves as the Worship Pastor and Creative Director where he leads the collaborative effort for planning Sunday services and oversees the teams in the creative ministry.

Joel attended the Cleveland Institute of Music, which provided him training in music performance as a double bassist and an entry point into the immense arts world in Cleveland. Though he has been at City Church since the first service in 2011, before coming on full-time he was and continues to be an active freelance musician and composer.

Joel met Jesus when he was 18 years old, had made a mess of his life, and understood the good news about Jesus through the testimony of his [now] wife Allison and others. They live in Coventry Village with their four children and can often be found on walks in the neighborhood!