Trinity Design Group - Church Planning, Design, and Architecture » Our Team

Lloyd R. E. James – Project Navigator

jhess — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 20:25:00 +0000

Lloyd R. E. James has joined the TDG Navigator team to further his work in God’s vineyard. Lloyd, a former business owner and company executive, brings to the table an extensive background in leadership, information technology and project management combined with a passion for church work.

Lloyd’s 25+ years of work experience has spanned across many industries and management levels. Lloyd held executive positions of Chief Operating Officer for two insurance companies. Lloyd also held management positions of increasing responsibility in television, philanthropic, and IT production companies. He established a consulting firm guiding “Mom & Pop” companies’ transition to a corporate culture. His work product is thoughtful, detailed-oriented and thorough which provides for the proper needs assessment resulting in informed decision-making.

As an Elder for the past 10 years at the Fayette Seventh-day Adventist Church in Fayetteville, GA, he is involved in many church-related spiritual and administrative projects. Lloyd worked with TDG on his church’s $1.3M expansion project and was so impressed with our Bible-based philosophy that he was thrilled with the opportunity to become part of the Trinity team.

“A church considering any building project should first look at Trinity’s philosophy to take a holistic view for the issues at hand.”

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Rick Thurman – Principal and Church Planner

admin — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 21:49:51 +0000

Rick Thurman uses his gifts, abilities and experience to help churches translate their vision for ministry and mission into a well developed game plan. Professionally, Rick was trained in engineering and organizational management and spent many years designing and managing large commercial, retail and religious projects. At the same time, spiritually, Rick has been very involved in almost every aspect of church life; from teaching and preaching, to deacon and elder, to ministry staff and ministry leadership. Out of those experiences, a passion for missions and the expansion of God’s kingdom has taken Rick to many parts of the world as he has both lead and sent over a thousand people on short-term mission trips. Through a series of events and experiences, Rick came to the realization that God had positioned him to play a unique role in the development of His kingdom. Rick’s passion for the expansion of God’s kingdom and conviction that the church is God’s instrument to do so, has led him to totally focus on helping churches. Utilizing his extensive project, organizational and ministry experience and working with a team of design and construction professionals, Rick is able to help churches develop a comprehensive game plan for moving their ministry toward the purposeful, incremental realization of their vision.

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Kevin Goins – Principal and Architect

Kevin Goins – Principal and Architect

admin — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 19:46:41 +0000

As a degreed and licensed architect, Goins has over 20 years of architectural experience with nearly 15 years being devoted exclusively to church design. Goins has extensive experience in church master planning for both small and large churches with budgets ranging from $500K to $25M. Goins has developed master plans, produced construction drawings and performed construction administration for a multitude of churches all over the country. Goins’ heart for churches allows him to patiently work with the church to create designs that are a true reflection of the personality and mission of the church.

From Kevin:

Early in my career, I worked for a firm that designed everything from schools to hospitals. This firm eventually decided to strictly design casinos, and I just didn’t feel that was my purpose in life! Surely God had a greater reason for putting me on this earth.

After much soul searching, I strongly felt God calling me to design churches. My wife’s first response was, “Are we going to starve?” Fifteen years later, having not missed a meal, God has richly blessed my endeavors. Working with churches has been freeing and frustrating, exciting and exhausting. Through thick and thin, church design is my calling, my passion, and one of my life’s greatest joys!

I love to be used in expanding the Kingdom of God. My work involves far more than producing a set of plans for a building. Building plans come about only after the building of relationships in partnering with a church to do God’s work. In drawing alongside pastors who have led building projects, I’ve been privileged to make many life-long friends. Praying for team members while going through a building project together can forge relationships that last for eternity.

Nothing is more rewarding than seeing the people of God worshiping and drawing closer to our Savior on the first service in a new facility! I greatly enjoy walking through a new preschool wing and seeing the children learning about God. I love that what we are doing is of eternal significance. I am truly overwhelmed with gratitude that God has blessed me to play a small role in expanding His Kingdom!

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Rick Thurman – Principal and Church Planner

Don Emmitte – Project Navigator

admin — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 19:44:11 +0000

Don Emmitte, D.Min. joined our team as Church Navigator in the spring of 2009. Don is a new “old hand” in church growth, facility design, and management. After serving for over thirty years as a Senor Pastor of churches with over two thousand resident members, founder of Grace Restoration Ministries, and author of Morning Devotionals, he joined the team to expand his passion: helping churches reach their God-given goals by making the most of their resources. While he is passionate about this ministry, the lights of his life are in his wife of forty years, three sons, two daughters-in-law, and two grandchildren. He is a member of Thompson Station Baptist Church. For more information about him, or some of his writings, please visit www.GraceRestoration.org.

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Jeff Hess – Project Navigator

admin — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 17:28:02 +0000

Jeff Hess joined our team to take on the role of project navigator with a focus on the emerging and non-denominational church. He attends Fellowship Bible Church and he has a background in engineering and project management and a heart for entrepreneurship and church planting. His passion for business and the outdoors led him and his wife to Tennessee, and his passion for advancing God’s Kingdom landed him here on our team, where his desire to be a Christian example in the marketplace can be lived out.

From Jeff: I think one of the greatest excitements of life is to create something new. Whether it is a ministry, a facility, a business, or community, it’s exciting to watch God’s at work in that process. I love working with people who are creative; who are visionary. Who embrace risk trusting in God’s faithfulness, and I know God rewards those who are faithful to their calling. I have found that while I have a passion for the Church, my role is not planter or pastor- I am not gifted as a teacher. My role is to execute alongside those who are gifted in that area and called to that ministry. Here at Trinity, I have that opportunity to work alongside some amazing leaders that God is raising up. This is an exciting time to be in God’s Church!

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