Leadership

Pastors & Staff

Rev.  Jeffery Hicks 

Lead Pastor

Rev. Jeffery Hicks is a South Carolina native and attended the Beacon Institute of Ministry.  He has been in ministry for 20 years, with 16 years being full time. He has traveled to 23 states sharing the love of Jesus and the life changing power of the Holy Ghost. The Lord has used him in youth camps, camp-meetings, tent revivals, radio broadcasts, television, and numerous other ways to spread His word to His people. Jeffery and his wife, Cayla, have been married for 13 years. They have two children, 9 year old son, Jonah, and 3 year old daughter, Charity.  Pastor Jeffery has an evangelistic anointing with a pastor's heart.  His passion is to help repair the generational gap so that "...young men will see visions and old men will dream dreams."  (Acts 2:17)  He and his family strongly feel the leading of the Lord to help raise up a church to proclaim the power of Pentecost and the goodness of God. 

Whitney Rylee

Music Minister

Whitney holds a Bachelors Degree in Music from Brenau University and a Masters Degree in Music Education from Piedmont College.  She has taught at East Hall High School for 11 years where the choral program has grown from eight students to over 160 students.  She has been the Minister of Music at Assembly of Praise since 2014.  She lives in Lula with her husband Rhett and their two boys, Bryce and Tucker.


Malichi White

Student Pastor

Pastor Malichi is passionate about serving God and his faith is extremely important to him.  His goal is to share his enthusiasm about the Lord with the students he teaches in youth group each Wednesday and draw them to a closer walk with Jesus. Malichi currently attends the University of North Georgia and also works at the Boys and Girls Club in Lula where he spends the afternoons helping kids with their homework and spending time with them until their parents pick them up. Music is also a big part of his life. He plays many instruments and finds a lot of joy from making music as well as listening to it. No matter his environment, he finds joy in teaching and sharing what he knows with those he comes into contact with.

Chris Smith

Children's Pastor

Pastor Chris and Jill live in Lula. GA with their 2 daughters Allison and Chloe.  Chloe is a rising tennis star and Allison plays college basketball.  He is a graduate of North Hall High School and North Georgia Technical College.  Pastor Chris owns his own business and has held numerous leadership positions in ministry.  His passion is ministering to children.