James Kent Hart
Lead Minister
Pastor Kent and his wife, Meghan are Charlottesville natives, growing up in surrounding counties of Scottsville and Fluvanna. They have 3 amazing children - Carter, Madison and Joshua - and they live an active lifestyle of bi-vocational ministry. In addition to serving as the head pastor for Ground Zero, Pastor Kent is a certified master BMW automotive technician with over 12 years of experience and works at BMW of Charlottesville.
About their call to ministry
Both Kent and Meghan served at Charlottesville First Church of the Nazarene in Keswick, Virginia from 2016-2021. Kent served as the Young Adult Pastor and Meghan served as a Children's Ministry Leader. During that time, Pastor Kent became a licensed minister in the Church of the Nazarene.
About the call to plant Ground Zero
In 2020, Pastor Kent felt that the Lord was calling him to plant a church in the heart of Charlottesville. At that time, Kent was leading a discipleship group of 12 young men that met outside in local parks every Saturday at 7:00am in the morning. In early 2021, Kent decided it was time to embrace the call of God upon his life to plant Ground Zero Church. The discipleship group of young men became his church planting team and we have been growing ever since!
About their call to ministry
Both Kent and Meghan served at Charlottesville First Church of the Nazarene in Keswick, Virginia from 2016-2021. Kent served as the Young Adult Pastor and Meghan served as a Children's Ministry Leader. During that time, Pastor Kent became a licensed minister in the Church of the Nazarene.
About the call to plant Ground Zero
In 2020, Pastor Kent felt that the Lord was calling him to plant a church in the heart of Charlottesville. At that time, Kent was leading a discipleship group of 12 young men that met outside in local parks every Saturday at 7:00am in the morning. In early 2021, Kent decided it was time to embrace the call of God upon his life to plant Ground Zero Church. The discipleship group of young men became his church planting team and we have been growing ever since!
Elizabeth Hart (Liz)
Crescent Halls Campus Minister
Pastor Liz Hart has served as Campus Pastor for three years with Ground Zero. She is the daughter of a retired minister's family. It has been an honor to serve alongside her son, Pastor Kent Hart. Pastor Liz is ordained in the Church of the Nazarene and is married to her best friend, Jim Hart. She has two children; Kent Hart and Sophia Hart. She has always had a passion for ministry and has always found ways to be used by God in the church.
About her call to ministry
Liz knew that God had a plan for her from a very young age. She raised her family while working with teenagers in church and then felt God tugging on her heart that there was more. God called her to study for ordination in the Church of the Nazarene and continues to show her many ways in which she can serve the community. It is a pleasure and privilege to love the people in the City of Charlottesville.
Experience
Pastor Liz has served as Youth Pastor for 25 years with Slate Hill Baptist Church, and then served as Discipleship Pastor at Charlottesville First Church of the Nazarene. She currently serves part-time as a Chaplain with Marketplace Chaplains. Coupled with her career as a Registered Nurse (R.N.), she finds many opportunities to serve the community in life and in love.
About her call to ministry
Liz knew that God had a plan for her from a very young age. She raised her family while working with teenagers in church and then felt God tugging on her heart that there was more. God called her to study for ordination in the Church of the Nazarene and continues to show her many ways in which she can serve the community. It is a pleasure and privilege to love the people in the City of Charlottesville.
Experience
Pastor Liz has served as Youth Pastor for 25 years with Slate Hill Baptist Church, and then served as Discipleship Pastor at Charlottesville First Church of the Nazarene. She currently serves part-time as a Chaplain with Marketplace Chaplains. Coupled with her career as a Registered Nurse (R.N.), she finds many opportunities to serve the community in life and in love.
Kelly Mance
Worship Ministry Leader
Kelly has served as the Worship Leader with Ground Zero since February 2023. She is married to Peter, who you will see serving alongside her each Sunday. In addition to leading worship each week, Kelly also helps with the administrative and marketing functions for Ground Zero. Kelly has led worship for many churches and special events, and more recently celebrated publishing 3 new songs that debuted on all music streaming platforms. These songs were a collaboration with producers and musicians from Elevation Church in North Carolina and were mixed and mastered by Grammy award-winning musicians and engineers. In addition to this, Kelly has co-authored and published 3 anthologies with women in ministry leadership from around the United States.
About her call to ministry
Kelly gave her heart to the Lord when she was 15, and prayed the prayer of salvation in the corner of a kitchen in a church fellowship hall. A life-long lover of singing, she began leading worship in earnest in 2009 and has been blessed to have worked with many talented local and national musicians. It is her passion for others to experience the love of Jesus in the tender way He has loved on her. When leading worship, she sings from that place of gratitude.
Experience
Kelly has a dual Bachelor's degree in Business Administration and Marketing. She has worked for marketing and recruitment agencies for many years and recently branched out to launch her own agency, The Goldstone Group LLC. She also serves on the Board of Directors for RITES (Rhode Island Tutoring and Educational Services).
About her call to ministry
Kelly gave her heart to the Lord when she was 15, and prayed the prayer of salvation in the corner of a kitchen in a church fellowship hall. A life-long lover of singing, she began leading worship in earnest in 2009 and has been blessed to have worked with many talented local and national musicians. It is her passion for others to experience the love of Jesus in the tender way He has loved on her. When leading worship, she sings from that place of gratitude.
Experience
Kelly has a dual Bachelor's degree in Business Administration and Marketing. She has worked for marketing and recruitment agencies for many years and recently branched out to launch her own agency, The Goldstone Group LLC. She also serves on the Board of Directors for RITES (Rhode Island Tutoring and Educational Services).
Noah & Laci Branch
Youth Ministers
Noah has served as Youth Minister upon earning his Lay Minister License in early March 2024. He is married to Laci and they reside in the Fluvanna/Scottsville area. Like the rest of the team at Ground Zero, Noah serves bi-vocationally, working full-time at the University of Virginia and interning for the men's basketball team. Laci has a Master's degree in education and teaches at a local school district. When not working or serving at church, Noah and Laci have an active life - traveling, spending time with their friends, and loving on their fur children, Bailey and Kylo.
About their call to ministry
Noah is surrounded by family and friends who have prayed for him throughout his life. At the young age of 2, Noah was welcoming fellow children into the classroom on Easter Sunday. A wise (and possibly prophetic?) parent smiled and asked, "future pastor?". Seems they were on to something. Since then, Noah has served in many capacities at church - from leading worship, coaching Upwards Basketball youth, serving as a leader for VBS, as well as babysitting for a Christian after-school program. More recently, the Lord laid on his heart that it was time for him to step out fully into the call God had on his life. Noah began studying under the mentorship of Pastor Kent and successfully completed his lay leadership study program.
Experience
In addition to recently completing his lay minister license, Noah is currently finalizing his studies to earn a Bachelor's degree in Sports Management from Liberty University. He has over 10 years of service as a volunteer in church as well as several years experience serving in management for local retailers.
About their call to ministry
Noah is surrounded by family and friends who have prayed for him throughout his life. At the young age of 2, Noah was welcoming fellow children into the classroom on Easter Sunday. A wise (and possibly prophetic?) parent smiled and asked, "future pastor?". Seems they were on to something. Since then, Noah has served in many capacities at church - from leading worship, coaching Upwards Basketball youth, serving as a leader for VBS, as well as babysitting for a Christian after-school program. More recently, the Lord laid on his heart that it was time for him to step out fully into the call God had on his life. Noah began studying under the mentorship of Pastor Kent and successfully completed his lay leadership study program.
Experience
In addition to recently completing his lay minister license, Noah is currently finalizing his studies to earn a Bachelor's degree in Sports Management from Liberty University. He has over 10 years of service as a volunteer in church as well as several years experience serving in management for local retailers.