Our Team
Bishop Billy & Betty McCool
Founding Pastor
Bishop McCool is the founding pastor of First Apostolic Church. Bishop McCool met Sis. McCool at a tent meeting. They were later married in 1956, and they immediately evangelized the country. In 1957, Bishop and Sis. McCool came to Knoxville with a dream of a church, Christian school, and child care center. They have seen this dream fulfilled and have been the facilitator of many daughter works, such as Eagle Bend Apostolic Church, Clinton, TN, and First Apostolic Church, Maryville, TN. They both still oversee and serve First Apostolic Church Knoxville in a great capacity with their dynamic teaching and passionate leadership.
Mark & Jamie McCool
Senior Pastor
Pastor McCool was born in Knoxville in 1958. He grew up working for and loving the saints of First Apostolic Church. He graduated from the University of Tennessee with a bachelor’s degree in elementary art education. He married Sis. Jamie McCool in 1981, and together they served as associate pastors and teachers in Apostolic Christian School. Sis. Jamie McCool also has a bachelor’s degree from the University of Tennessee in child and family development. In 2001, Bro. Mark was named Pastor of First Apostolic Church. Together they are leading First Apostolic Church forward.
Nate & Ashley Whitley
Associate Pastor
Pastor Nate Whitley was born and raised in Bloomington, Indiana. He felt his call to preach in 2002. Pastor Nate was a full time Evangelist for several years traveling across the country and internationally. Before evangelizing, he worked as an intern at Medora Pentecostal Church in Indiana under Pastor Tim Gill, and at Bethlehem Church of the Lord Jesus Christ in Potts Camp, MS under Pastor Jon Vazquez. In 2010, he married Sis.Ashley. They both felt their call to Knoxville where Sis. Ashley had been raised. Pastor Nate received his bachelor’s degree in Biblical Studies from Indiana Wesleyan University. Sis. Ashley received her bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from the University of Tennessee. They are both now serving and working at First Apostolic Church and Apostolic Christian School.
Anthony & Kelli McCool
Youth Pastor
Pastor Anthony McCool was born and raised in Knoxville, and grew up in First Apostolic Church. Pastor Anthony has always had an interest on how Christian ministry functions both in the church and in the world. In 2016 Pastor Anthony married Kelli Gardner from Shreveport, Louisiana. She faithfully attended and served under the leadership of Pastor Jerry Dean. Pastor Anthony received master’s degrees from Penn State University, and Duke Divinity respectively. Sis. Kelli is a registered nurse with her BSN degree from Northwestern State University. Pastor Anthony and Sister Kelli oversee the student ministries of First Apostolic Church and both teach at Apostolic Christian School. Together they form a dynamic ministry team.
