meet our LEADERSHIP AND STAFF


  • pASTOR

    GREG FORD

    Greg is the President and Pastor of Echo Ministries and has been leading Echo since January of 2007. Greg’s true passion and calling is to serve and minister to singles by helping them grow in their relationship with Jesus Christ, getting them into HIS Word, and connected to an authentic body of believers. Previously, he served as a singles leader in a prominent mega-church in Atlanta beginning in 2000. In January of 2007, Greg felt the Lord calling him to launch a new and distinctly different ministry, dedicated specifically to singles, that could minister to them in more unique and fulfilling ways.

    Greg knows firsthand of all the challenges as well as the advantages of being single because he has never been married. Greg currently resides and enjoys living in the Appalachian Mountains of Georgia. He is an avid outdoors-man and adventurer and loves encouraging others to reach their God-given potential. He is always in awe of God's Wonders and Love.

    Emailgregford@echoministries.com

  • eLDER

    KARL BERNDT

    Karl graduated from Luther Rice University and Seminary with a BA in Ministry. He was been the Pastor and founder of Calvary Chapel Hiawassee, the Lead Pastor at Cameron UMC and is now currently enjoying working as a full-tie Chaplin. He is married to his wife Holly and has a daughter Madeline. Over the years, Karl has had a heart for singles and has been a singles leader at Northpoint Community Church prior to becoming a Pastor.

    Email: karl_berndt@yahoo.com

  • ELDER

    AARRON PINA

    Aarron is the President and Executive Director of Seasons of Life Ministries in Alpharetta, Georgia. For many years, he has had a heart for singles and has served in discipling men, and as a leader in the Divorce Care and Singles Ministry at Northpoint Community Church. He is married with four children and currently holds dual membership at both Northpoint and Free Chapel in Gainesville. 

    Email: aarron@seasonsoflifeministries.org

  • Stewardship board chairman

    joel maxwell

    Joel grew up in Gwinnett County in the city of Lilburn and currently resides in Gainesville. He was raised in a Christian home and came to know the Lord at an early age. Joel works as a medical executive in the clinical research industry. He studied at Kennesaw University during his undergraduate and completed a medical doctorate degree at Albert Einstein School of Medicine. It's Joel's passion of ministering to singles which lead him to Echo Ministries, where he serves as a ministry leader and Chairman of the Stewardship Board

  • Stewardship Board vice chairman

    george graves

    George Graves is a Georgia native who is happily retired after serving 30 years in the Air Force with the rank of Colonel, and then 8 years as a Delta Pilot. He is a graduate of the Air Force Academy as well as a veteran of the Vietnam War. He did not become a Christian until late in life. He currently lives in Dawsonville where he is a community coach at Dawson County High School for cross country and soccer. He enjoys hiking, playing tennis as well as his 7 grandsons and 1 granddaughter. George has been a leader in Echo for many years and currently serves as the Vice Chairman of the Stewardship Board. 


  • TREASURER

    john muth

    John grew up in Tampa bay and worked for General Telephone “GTE” which later became Verizon. After being influenced by his Christian co-worker’s walk, he decided to attend a Billy Graham crusade at the Tampa stadium. It was then that he accepted the Lord. John has a love for serving. He has been on multiple mission trips to Honduras, Nicaragua, and Dominican Republic. He attends Browns Bridge Church where he serves as a greeter in Upstreet. He has two adult children and two grandchildren who live locally. If it’s outdoors, John enjoys it! A lot of his free time is spent hiking, camping, mountain biking, kayaking or snow skiing. He is excited to serve on the Stewardship Board and help Echo Ministries grow and reach Christian singles.

  • advisory board chairman

    rich forbes

    Rich was raised in Buckhead and currently lives in Sandy Springs. He attends Buckhead Church where he also volunteers as an UpStreet Leader. At the age of 15 he went to live in a Children's Home in Tennessee where he came to know the Lord. He graduated from Samford University with a BS in Finance and Real Estate, and is currently pursuing a Masters Degree in Project Management (PMP). After 22 years of working in real estate acquisitions, he has now become an entrepreneur of a successful movie production rental company. He loves this ministry and is stoked about Echo's future and looks forward to serving as the Treasurer.


  • SECRETARY

    mARTHA peebles

    For the past 7 years, Martha has been working for a Pump Manufacturing company in Marietta. Previously she has helped plant 2 churches in Kennesaw, led worship for 3 different churches and worked alongside her former husband in ministry for 25 years. Currently, Martha is heavily involved in her church, Riverstone Church in Kennesaw, through leading a small group and serving on the greeting and prayer teams. In 2016, Martha jumped into Echo Ministries with a camping trip and loved it so much that she hasn't missed one since. She enjoys hiking, kayaking, camping and anything outdoors, along with music, reading, and any 'people' activities. Martha hopes to bring value to Echo's Stewardship Board through her love for people and years of ministry experience.



  • Stewardship board member

    pam higgins

    Pamela grew up traveling the world as the daughter of a Non-Commissioned Officer in the Air Force. Georgia became home when she was 15 and she now resides in Lawrenceville. In 1993, she graduated from North Georgia College and State University with a Bachelors in Biology with a minor in Education. Pam was raised Catholic but didn’t have a personal relationship with God until she was 34 and accepted Jesus as her Lord and Savior. God has given her a calling and she has dedicated her life in service to the Lord by ministering to widows (singles) and orphans (James 1:27), both here and abroad. She spent 4 years as a missionary in Kenya, and has also gone on short term missions to Russia, Costa Rica, Colombia, and Rwanda. She is currently teaching Science in Gwinnett County Public Schools while continuing her international missions through CrossPointe Church in Duluth and How Far Ministries. A friend invited her to an Echo event and she was thrilled to find such an inspired ministry for singles to grow in their relationship with Christ and find fellowship with one another. She enjoys getting out in nature with the hikes and camping as well as experiencing a deeper relationship with the Lord through the Bible studies and fellowship with other singles in Echo. She is honored to serve God by being a member of Echo’s Stewardship Board, and continuing the calling on her life in a new direction with ministering to singles.  

  • Stewardship board member

    james jarrell

    James is a Georgia native raised in the Atlanta area. He grew up in the Baptist church and accepted Jesus as his Savior at the age of 12. He has worked for the same company since 1984 but also enjoys investing in Real Estate in the metro area. He moved to Cumming in 2008 and began getting involved with Echo in 2014. Due to the impact of Echo in James’ life, he has grown closer to the Lord and made some incredible friends. James is honored to be part of Echo and be a stewardship board member. He firmly believes in Echo’s mission of providing community for single adults to grow in their relationship with Jesus Christ and one another. 

  • STEWARDSHIP BOARD MEMBER

    TERESA CAMPBELL

    Teresa Campbell is from Texas and has been living in North Georgia for almost 8 years. 

    In her time of seeking for something more, she met Jesus in 1996. She would describe it as, “a whirlwind romance from the beginning!” Her testimony is full of instances she walked away thinking her way was better than God’s way, but it only led her to heartache and destruction. She is so grateful for God’s forgiveness, faithfulness and love, that not only allows her back but continues to call and pursue her. She is so happy to have found Echo Ministries. She started attending Echo around 7 years ago and started getting more involved around 3 years ago. This is how she would describe Echo Ministries: “Echo is a cut above with the outreach, outlets and community building and all for the glory of God. Echo is a ministry that truly provides for growth in our relationships with Christ and each other. As a single female, I have never felt more honored, loved and respected than with this great group of people. Come check us out!”

  • associate pastor

    WILLIAM ILLG

    Along with working for Echo Ministries, William Illg is a Regional Vice President with Primerica Financial Services. He graduated from Brenau University in Gainesville, GA with his Bachelor's Degree in Theatre Performance. William loves the mission and the values of Echo Ministries. He is happy to be working with a ministry that isn't just about being "social" or "hanging out." He says, "This ministry is about connecting with other single adults while collectively focusing on our Heavenly Father." You can catch him leading events from time to time, assisting Greg or working in the Echo office. When not at work, you will typically find him hanging out with his wife, Cassie, and six year old son, Beckett. He loves the outdoors and is happy to be on staff with Echo Ministries.

  • executive assistant and director of women's ministry

    sandra hunter

    Sandra Hunter was born in Tokyo, Japan and grew up as a toddler on the campus of UGA until she was 5 years old. She graduated from Georgia College (no not UGA) with a BBA degree majoring in Marketing and minoring in Economics. Sandra accepted Jesus Christ as her Savior at 9 years old at VBS in Warner Robins, GA where her grandparents resided and attended church.  She asked Jesus to be Lord of her life as a young adult while attending a retreat called Walk to Emmaus. On New Year's Eve of 2019 she told God she would surrender ALL to Him. Sandra found Echo through the invitation of a friend. She says "I have found a community to grow in my relationship with Jesus and others with like-minded and like-hearted people. Echo really is like a family. " Sandra has worked in and served in ministry for over 25 years. She says, “I am looking forward to giving back to a ministry that has given so much to me.”