Our Team – North Avenue Presbyterian Church

Introducing Our New Senior Pastor

Rev. Dr. Chris Holmes

We are excited to share that at the congregational meeting on Sunday, December 7, North Avenue Presbyterian Church voted to welcome Rev. Dr. Chris Holmes as our new Senior Pastor!

Chris will be coming to us from First Presbyterian Church Atlanta. He has been involved in teaching and preaching the Word at First Presbyterian Church for the past six years as the Chief Ministry Officer and John H. Stembler Jr. Scholar in Residence and Director of Biblical and Theological Education.

Chris will begin his ministry with us on January 5^th, 2026. We are thrilled to welcome Chris to NAPC and to enjoy his steady and thoughtful leadership for years to come. We joyfully anticipate what God has in store for NAPC!

Born in Colorado Springs, CO, where his faith and sense of call to ministry were formed at First Presbyterian Church of Colorado Springs
Attended Whitworth University (Spokane, WA), a Presbyterian liberal arts college. Chris studied Religion and Spanish, swam in his freshman year, and led in campus ministry for three years.
In the middle of a Greek Reading course in college, Chris wrote down in his notebook what has become his sense of call: to teach Scripture, to study Scripture, and to spend time with people in deep relationships.
He worked for two years in a private foundation in Colorado Springs before attending Princeton Theological Seminary, where he earned the Master of Divinity degree.
In 2011, the Holmes family moved to Atlanta so that Chris could complete his PhD in New Testament at Emory University. He wrote his dissertation on the Epistle to the Hebrews and ancient rhetoric under the direction of Luke Timothy Johnson.
After completing his PhD, Chris joined the faculty of McAfee School of Theology as a Louisville Institute postdoctoral fellow. While there, he published his first book (a revision of my dissertation).
Chris spent a year in curriculum development at Johnson C. Smith Theological Seminary.
In July 2019, he joined the staff of First Presbyterian Church of Atlanta as the John H. Stembler Jr. Scholar in Residence and Director of Biblical and Theological Education. In this role, Chris facilitated in-person and online classes, authored a book on the Book of Revelation, and contributed to the worship and care of the community.
In 2023, he took on the additional responsibility of serving as the Chief Ministry Officer. In that capacity, Chris supervised three other pastors, met weekly with the senior leadership team, and facilitated weekly professional and leadership development for the full ministry staff (five pastors and four directors).

The Holmes Family

Chris is the youngest of three children. His older brother lives in Littleton, CO, and his older sister lives outside of Portland, OR. Chris’s dad lives in Colorado Springs. His mom died in 2023 after a years-long battle with dementia.
He is married to Jenelle (Ball) Holmes. They married during their senior year of college. Jenelle is the pastor of the Ormewood Church, a recently chartered PC(USA) church. They live in southeast Atlanta.
Jenelle and Chris have two children. Micah (17) is a senior at Maynard Jackson High School. Darcy (15) is a sophomore in the Atlanta Virtual Academy of Atlanta Public Schools. Both kids are extremely creative and artistically talented. Micah hopes to study Industrial Design next year in college. And Darcy enjoys drawing portraits and playing online video games with her friends.
They have two cats, Oscar and Chani, and one senior dog, Lexi.
You might find all or most of them out in the city, cheering on the Atlanta United, walking (or running) the Beltline, sitting out on their porch, or eating in one of their favorite nearby restaurants.

Preaching videos from First Presbyterian Church Atlanta

We Love Our Team!

At North Avenue, we believe the church is not just a building but a family on mission together. Our team is made up of passionate people who are committed to serving God and supporting one another as we grow in faith together. Each team member brings unique gifts, talents, and a deep love for Christ, united by the mission of sharing His love and message with the world.

We are excited to introduce you to the people who help lead and serve our church community. Whether in worship, teaching, outreach, or pastoral care, our team is dedicated to fostering an environment where everyone feels welcome and empowered to grow in their relationship with God.

Get to know us better, and feel free to reach out—we’d love to connect with you!

As an added bonus, each staff member has recommended a restaurant. Click the button to view more details and discover some seriously good eating places!