Together, our ministry team is working to provide an atmosphere where our church family can grow spiritually, get connected relationally, and serve effectively. If you have any questions regarding your involvement at Northside, or if you would like to find out more about opportunities to serve, please do not hesitate to contact anyone on our ministry team.

David Sessions

Minister of the Word

David is coming to Northside from Abilene, Texas where he was the University and Associate Preaching Minister at the Highland Church of Christ. His primary value in working with young Christians has been discipleship from the inside out; believing, before doing anything for God, people must connect to the God dwelling within them. David is very excited to preach at Northside where he hopes to connect his love of discipleship to his love of God’s word. In his spare time David is probably with his family. His wife, Kristin, is a speech therapist at ACU and they are the parents of two awesome children named Cale and Mae.

Ben Crain

Youth & Young Adults Minister

Ben Crain began serving as the interim Youth Minister in August 2020, and became the full-time minister in January 2021. After a long career in Retail Management, Ben is thrilled to be working in full-time ministry, alongside the youth of Northside. Ben has a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Painting/Drawing from Abilene Christian University. He loves incorporating his passion for art and all things visual, into his teaching of God’s word. His other interests, like Star Wars, Marvel, Disney, hiking, sports, and eating, help connect him to the youth group. Or, as some like to say, he doesn’t act or talk like someone his age. Ben takes this as a compliment. He sees the young people of Northside as a mission field, and feels called to share the love of Jesus with them, in the hope they will choose to follow Jesus and be blessed all of their days. He and his wife Rachel, have been married 19 years, and enjoy living in Bulverde with their two dogs.

John Hodges

Minister of Worship and Communications

John Hodges began serving at Northside in August 2020. Before coming to Northside, he was Worship and Executive Minister at Glenwood Church of Christ in Tyler, Texas, and Worship and Family Minister at Eastside Church of Christ in Colorado Springs, Colorado. John has a Master of Marriage and Family Therapy degree from Abilene Christian University and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Music and Vocational Ministry from Harding University. John enjoys reading, watching movies, and singing with his wife, Kim, and their four children.

John loves to collaborate with others in planning deeply meaningful worship experiences. In leading worship, his ultimate goal is to get out of the way and point people to God. He loves to see the message communicated in unique and powerful ways and longs to see unity in the body of Christ.

Nicole Largent

Children’s Minister

Nicole Largent joined the Northside Staff full time in 2017 as Associate Children’s Minister. Her love of children has grown into a passion to teach them God’s love. Her experience teaching Early Childhood and Elementary gives her firsthand knowledge that assists her in following God’s lead. She has an amazing group of parents and members who help encourage, teach and love the children at Northside. Nicole has also worked at Northside Preschool since 2012, serving as Director until 2022. She and her husband, Brandon, have three children, Breann, Wade, and Zakary, and a granddaughter, Eryn.

Jack Reese

Executive Minister

Jack Reese began serving as Northside’s Executive Minister in June 2020. Jack has ministered in a variety of settings for more than fifty years. He has been a youth minister, campus minister, and singles minister in St. Louis, Norman, Iowa City, Memphis, and Abilene. He was the Minister of the Word at the Oak Hills Church in San Antonio from 1982 to 1987. Jack has served as a professor of preaching, worship, and ministry at three universities and has served as a ministry consultant with churches on five continents. Before moving to San Antonio, Jack headed the Foundation for Community Empowerment in Dallas, addressing issues of poverty and racism and providing opportunities for personal advancement through education. He has composed numerous hymns and is the author of several books about church and ministry.

Jack is married to Lesa, who is a speech pathologist and educator. They love cooking together, singing, traveling to new places, reading geeky social science books, hosting friends in their home, working with San Antonio interfaith leaders, mentoring young Christians, and spending time with six adorable grandchildren. They love helping churches and are delighted to be part of the Northside family.

Tina Wharton

Minister of Congregational Care

Tina Wharton has served at Northside as Children’s Minister since 1999. In 2020, Tina became Northside’s very first Minister of Congregational Care. She leads a fantastic team of volunteers who serve the ministry with servant hearts. She has always had a passion for teaching children God’s Word and brings her extensive hands-on experience to care for the whole congregation. She finds it an honor and pleasure to serve God and the families at Northside. She and her husband, Greg, have four young adult children, Christian, Lauren, Rachel, and Tyler.