PAUL HARRIS
Founder/ Director
After visiting the Los Angeles Dream Center in 2002, Pastor Paul began to gain a vision for benevolent ministry. As youth pastor of Park West Church, he began using teenagers to serve widows and single parents in the church. His heart to serve the poor and needy only continued to grow, but it would take more than a decade to see his dreams come to pass with the launch of the Knoxville Dream Center in August of 2014.
In 2015, Pastor Paul became Campus Pastor at Park West Church Dutch Valley.
Located just next door to the Knoxville Dream Center, the relationship between the two present untold opportunities for building the Kingdom of God here in Knoxville! Pastor Paul is married to his wife Charity, and has four children; Olivia, Ava, Ezra, and Kai.
In 2015, Pastor Paul became Campus Pastor at Park West Church Dutch Valley.
Located just next door to the Knoxville Dream Center, the relationship between the two present untold opportunities for building the Kingdom of God here in Knoxville! Pastor Paul is married to his wife Charity, and has four children; Olivia, Ava, Ezra, and Kai.
Ross jones
Director of Operations
Ross’s earliest memories of Jesus being “fleshed out” were of his parents taking battered women and children into their home. Since then, his heart has always been for the broken and hurting in society.
Ross got his start in ministry as a youth pastor at Trinity Community Church, and after a brief stint in the private sector, the "can't miss" opportunity came to work at the Knoxville Dream Center! God's heart is close to those who are broken and hurting, and that's where Ross wants to be. He is married to his awesome wife, Stephanie, and has three boys; Wesley, Sam, and Lake.
Ross got his start in ministry as a youth pastor at Trinity Community Church, and after a brief stint in the private sector, the "can't miss" opportunity came to work at the Knoxville Dream Center! God's heart is close to those who are broken and hurting, and that's where Ross wants to be. He is married to his awesome wife, Stephanie, and has three boys; Wesley, Sam, and Lake.
Tommy Halcomb
Teams Coordinator
More info on Tommy soon!
Charity Harris
Administrative Assistant
Our Administrative Assistant, Charity Harris, joyfully assists the executive team and the Knoxville community with our motto: We Get to Serve! Charity is the wife of our founder, Paul Harris. They have four amazing children, an awesome son-in-law, and are expecting their first grandchild! Charity and her family also serve in a pastoral role at Park West Church. In her free-time she enjoys bible studies, journaling, and fitness. Being an eye-witness from the humble beginnings of the Knoxville Dream Center has her in awe of all that God has accomplished through the amazing team at the Knoxville Dream Center and looking forward to all that is still to come. Charity’s priority in life is to simply fulfill her ministry that God has entrusted to her according to 2 Timothy 4:5 “But you should keep a clear mind in every situation. Don’t be afraid of suffering for the Lord. Work at telling others the Good News, and fully carry out the ministry God has given you.”
John Unthank
Make a Teacher Smile Director
Pastor John serve as a liaison between the Dream Center and eleven elementary and community schools in Knoxville serving over 2000 students and 360 teachers.
He thoroughly enjoys his ministry to the Title-One Schools! Having been a minister for close to 50 years, he found reaching out to the University of Tennessee campus and now the Title-One Schools as some of the most rewarding times of ministry in his life.
John and his wife, Shelia, have been living in Knoxville for nearly 28 years and consider it home. They have two sons, two wonderful daughter-in-laws and seven lovely grandchildren. They are blessed and want to be a blessing to the Title-One Schools and others in the city of Knoxville through the Knoxville Dream Center.
He thoroughly enjoys his ministry to the Title-One Schools! Having been a minister for close to 50 years, he found reaching out to the University of Tennessee campus and now the Title-One Schools as some of the most rewarding times of ministry in his life.
John and his wife, Shelia, have been living in Knoxville for nearly 28 years and consider it home. They have two sons, two wonderful daughter-in-laws and seven lovely grandchildren. They are blessed and want to be a blessing to the Title-One Schools and others in the city of Knoxville through the Knoxville Dream Center.
Jessica Garret
Kitchen Manager
Jessica is a native of Tennessee, growing up on a small farm in North Knoxville.
Raising animals and gardening led to her pursing a career working with food. She first started serving in her church pantry when she was 12 years old and it had a dramatic impression on her, especially establishing the view that food brings people and cultures together and works as a catalyst to share the love and gospel of Christ.
She has a degree in Hotel Restaurant Management with an emphasis in Culinary Arts and has worked in the food industry for over 15 years. In 2013 she was given the opportunity to serve our community here at the Dream Center volunteering on food trucks then came on board as the Food Manager in 2015.
She and her husband Michael are involved in the children's ministry at Awaken City Church and have a heart for the hurting and forgotten, especially children.
Raising animals and gardening led to her pursing a career working with food. She first started serving in her church pantry when she was 12 years old and it had a dramatic impression on her, especially establishing the view that food brings people and cultures together and works as a catalyst to share the love and gospel of Christ.
She has a degree in Hotel Restaurant Management with an emphasis in Culinary Arts and has worked in the food industry for over 15 years. In 2013 she was given the opportunity to serve our community here at the Dream Center volunteering on food trucks then came on board as the Food Manager in 2015.
She and her husband Michael are involved in the children's ministry at Awaken City Church and have a heart for the hurting and forgotten, especially children.
Rod Maples
Under the Bridge Coordinator
Rod is married to his lovely wife Terri, has a daughter named Jamie and two cats. His background has mostly been in the business world and he has served in the military for six years.
Rod's passion for the homeless started while he was working at his previous job. To avoid taking the interstate to work, he would pass by KARM and Salvation Army in down town Knoxville. He began to notice all the homeless people on the streets on his new work route and would ask himself, "Why are they homeless?" and "How they could be helped?"
Since then, he desired to make a difference in the homeless community and started working at Lost Sheep Ministry to help make that happen. He has been with Lost Sheep Ministry and the Knoxville Dream Center since 2011 and his heart for the homeless grows more and more everyday.
Rod's passion for the homeless started while he was working at his previous job. To avoid taking the interstate to work, he would pass by KARM and Salvation Army in down town Knoxville. He began to notice all the homeless people on the streets on his new work route and would ask himself, "Why are they homeless?" and "How they could be helped?"
Since then, he desired to make a difference in the homeless community and started working at Lost Sheep Ministry to help make that happen. He has been with Lost Sheep Ministry and the Knoxville Dream Center since 2011 and his heart for the homeless grows more and more everyday.