Our Team
Eddie White
Senior Minister
Eddie White became the senior minister at Eastside in June 2014 after serving as a youth minister, associate minister and preaching minister in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. He met Karen, a native of Belfast, Northern Ireland, while they were students at Harding University, and they married in 1985. He & his family moved to Brno, Czech Republic in 1992, where he spent ten years and helped to establish a congregation. As a minister, Eddie has been deeply involved in pastoral church care, preaching and teaching, leadership training, one-on-one studies, and counseling. Eddie & Karen have two adult children, three amazing grandchildren, and a beautiful big red dog.
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Matt Elliott
Worship Minister
Matt’s passion for ministry began while growing up in south Alabama — leading singing in church even before his voice changed, spending his summers at church camp, and, as a little boy, accompanying his father, a minister, on visits to the sick and “shut-ins” from their congregation. He has served as a youth minister for churches in Alabama and Florida, was the chaplain for eight years at a large Christian school in Atlanta, GA, and was a worship minister in Atlanta for 14 years prior to moving to Eastside in July 2009. His wife, Lela, is a licensed professional counselor/licensed marriage & family therapist for the US Army, and they have three almost-grown children, Isaac, Seth, and Annie. Matt has a Bachelor’s degree from Freed-Hardeman College and a Master’s from The University of Alabama.
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Kevin Knight
Youth & Family Minister
Kevin’s passion for youth ministry is rooted in the disconnect he felt as a teenager, feeling that there was no one in his church whom he could trust. As a result, he has spent most of his adult life creating safe environments for students to make connections, build community, and grow spiritually. He has planted churches, preached, served college students and young couples, and currently offers his time as a fire department chaplain here in Colorado Springs. He holds degrees from York College and Amridge University and also spent five years in the U.S. Air Force. He enjoys spending time outdoors, playing ice hockey, and building relationships. He and Kris have two adult children as well as a daughter-in-law. Kevin joined our staff in summer of 2021.
Sarah Gwinn
Executive Minister
Sarah serves at Eastside’s Executive Minister, leading the staff and managing day-to-day activities and issues. She grew up in the Midwest as a preacher’s daughter, calling Quincy, Illinois home. She attended Harding University where she met Jordan, her husband, and they relocated to Colorado Springs shortly after their wedding in 2010. She worked as a restaurant manager for several years, then she and Jordan served as Eastside’s interim student ministers for more than a year. Sarah loves spending time with friends, reading, being outdoors, and working with the church in any way needed.
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Laureen Henegar
Children’s Minister
Laureen Henegar joined the Eastside staff as children’s minister in June 2019. She is a native of California, where she worked as a nurse for 28 years, caring primarily for kids. She has taught children’s classes her entire adult life, has led VBS programs for over 15 years, and directs the “Making Waves” children’s program each year for Pepperdine University’s Bible Lectureship program, “Harbor.” She has three adult children and nine grandchildren, and she was married to her high school sweetheart for 47 years before his passing in 2015. We’re thankful to have her on our team at Eastside!
Contact Laureen