Church Ministry Team

**Pastor Greg Bullard** started his ministry in northern Alabama when he first felt the call at his home church. His pastor, then, said, “Greg, I’m sorry you’ll never be able to be in ministry because of who you are, and that’s not fair.” Over three decades later, Pastor Greg has built one of the most long-standing affirming ministries in the Southeast. A graduate of The University of Alabama in Huntsville, he made Nashville his permanent home in the late 1990s. With an accounting and business systems background, he marries his analytical side with his humor and storytelling each week as he ministers in the community and his home church. Greg has been recognized by the Human Rights Campaign, Tennessee Equality Project, Middle Tennessee State University, and Hands On Nashville for his work in LGBTQ+ ministry and food security. He and his husband, Brian, live with their son, Micah, born in 2011 and daughter, Esther, born in 2014. You’ll find his other son, Zach, on the piano bench every Sunday, sharing the ministry. ***pastorgreg@covenantofthecross.com***

**Zach Bullard Copeland** spent years on the road with touring Christian music artists after a five-plus year tenure on the piano on almost every cruise line in America. In 2020, Zach came off the road to pursue his passion in music and ministry alongside his father, Pastor Greg. An Arkansas native, he enjoys country-living and centers his free-time around organic gardening in his backyard. Zach was formerly employed by a social media platform and brings that same digital savvy to his ministry each day. ***worship@covenantofthecross.com***

**Mayah Ezell** is a student at Nashville’s Fisk University. She has extensive theater and technical skills and has worked directly with children in the arts for over five years now, including running a fine arts summer camp at a large local school. She’s also versed in social media and graphics. She sings, and plays drums and guitar. ***kids@covenantofthecross.com***

**Victor Curry** is the elder in care of the Covenant Cupboard, our food pantry that feed hundreds of food insecure Middle Tennesseans monthly. You’ll also see Victor each week on stage as part of the praise and worship leadership team. ***support@covenantofthecross.com***

Rich Hogan is the administrator for the church, overseeing much of the day-to-day activities and office functions. He also serves as a deacon and will likely be one of the first to give you a warm greeting when you arrive. ***office@covenantofthecross.com***

**Micah Copeland** is a student at Goodpasture Christian and is the drummer for the church. He’s known for his creative stage drumming which includes paint drumming, black light drumming, LED drum shows, and bubble drumming. He’s been the primary drummer for the Nashville Jazz Workshop Youth Summer Program, He’s played with the band Anything For Nothing and can hold his own in everything from Gospel to metal to country. You may have seen him in 2022 on ABC’s Generation Gap with Kelly Ripa playing one of his many instruments. Oh, yes, he’s one of the pastor’s sons, too. **support@covenantofthecross.com**

Get To Know The Pastor’s Family

Pastor Greg and Family On The Downtown Nashville Pedestrian Bridge

Greg and his family live in Nashville, Tennessee. Covenant of the Cross started in Greg's living room at 1912 Boscobel Street, about one mile from this bridge that used to be the only connector from downtown into East Nashville

Nashville Roots For The Family

In one of Greg's sermon series, he talks about the relationship we have with "place." Nashville is an essential relationship for Pastor Greg's entire family. Nashville is the backdrop for everything they love.

Pastor Greg and His Spouse Brian

Greg and Brian met at the church in 2005 and married a year later. Brian visited with one of his best friends, who was a member of the church. Little did they both know that one day the ministry would be over 20 years together.

Creating A Family

Adoption is a central theme and value for Pastor Greg. All three children came through the pathway of adoption. Greg and Brian are fierce adoption advocates and run one of the largest networks of fathers on Facebook.

Micah and MCX Drums

Micah started drumming at two and hasn't stopped. When you ask him how he does it, he replies, "It's in my soul. I just feel rhythm all the time in everything I do." While Gospel is what you'll hear at church, he loves to pull out some AC/DC at any given time. Check him out on YouTube at MCXDrums.

Esther: Daddy's Girl

These two are very best friends. The crochet together, cook together, and are inseparable.

Micah on ABC

The entire family was on ABC's Generation Gap in 2023 to cheer on Micah and Brian's father, Virgil as they went head to head with two other teams with Kelly Ripa hosting.

Esther's Stages

Esther loves being on stage. She's been in almost every school production including Frozen Jr., Finding Nemo Jr., and The Wizard of Oz.

No Stage Fright Here

Esther calls herself shy, but when it comes stage time, she comes to life. She was a narrator for her third grade show in 2023.

Micah As A Ham

Don't buy into the stereotype that all drummers are quiet and behind-the-scenes. Micah prides himself on being the life of the party. When he had his chance to play WhoPaul in the church Christmas play, he jumped at it.

Zach and Esther

On any given night, you'll find Zach and his baby sister cuddling on the couch watching stupid videos. Zach always says, "Me and Esther live in the same neighborhood on the internet."

Becoming Esther

Esther is becoming more and more comfortable in her gifts as she grows up. She's got the sweetest voice and can sing in perfect pitch.

Zach And His Chosen Family

Zach and Rachael have been friends since their high school years. While distance keeps them apart, their hearts remain as close as always as they visit each other in Nashville as much as possible.

Travels

Outside of church, you'll always find the family on-the-go. Brian is the official trip planner, and everyone goes along with the fun. Whether it be Dollywood, Niagara Falls, New York City, a cruise through Mexico, or a trip to Greece, Brian always jokes, "I'm going to spend my kids' inheritance while we all can enjoy it together!"

Pastor Greg and his first spouse, Ken, were founders of the church. Ken passed in a car accident in 2003. In 2005, Brian visited the church with a friend who was a member there, and the Bullard family as we know it today was born. Pastor Greg and Brian never dreamed they’d be dads to three kids, but sometimes God creates dreams for you that you didn’t know were possible. Zach, Micah, and Esther are at the core of the ministry, alongside their father. Zach is the worship minister. Micah is the drummer and sings with The Cove. Esther sings with The Cove. Brian sings every Sunday on the Worship Arts team and assists in the behind-the-scenes organization of the ministry.