Leadership

Paul Laso serves as the Lead Pastor of North Georgia Fellowship. Born and raised in Miami, Florida, Paul is the son of Cuban immigrants who defected from Cuba more than 50 years ago under Castro’s regime. He holds a B.A. in Bible, a Master’s in Ministry (Leadership), and an M.A. in Christian Education (Church Discipleship), and hopes to eventually complete his doctoral work at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary with a focus on expository preaching.

Paul and his wife, Kaye, were married in 2014 and have two daughters, Isabella and Aubriella. They live in Ringgold, Georgia, where they enjoy the outdoors, local restaurants, and sports. Paul is a lifelong Miami Hurricanes fan, cheers for the Atlanta Braves, and - on occasion - can be heard pulling for his wife's team, the Crimson Tide, or accidentally singing along to Rocky Top with his daughter, Isabella.

Paul is actively engaged in the local community, serving on the Board of Trustees for Communities in Schools of Catoosa County, the Local Governance Team at Westside Elementary, and the Superintendent’s Advisory Team for Catoosa County Schools. Previously, he served as Dean of Men and Adjunct Instructor at Tennessee Temple University and spent over a decade on staff as a pastor at Brainerd Baptist Church. He also helped launch and lead Brainerd North Georgia, now North Georgia Fellowship, as a Campus Pastor and has served as a practicum instructor in pastoral leadership and expository preaching.

David Vanzant serves as the Operations Director at North Georgia Fellowship, where he helps oversee the day-to-day operations of the church and supports ministry teams as they carry out the church’s mission.

Originally from Estill Springs, Tennessee, David moved to Chattanooga to attend the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga (UTC), where he studied chemical engineering. He began his career in secondary education before transitioning out of the classroom to work for EPB. David has been part of the Brainerd/North Georgia Fellowship family since coming to Chattanooga in 2011. In addition to his role as Operations Director, he also serves on the worship team playing bass, leads the AVL team on Sunday mornings, and serves on the church’s finance team.

After meeting in a Life Group, David and his wife, Alison, were married in June 2020 and live in Ringgold, Georgia, with their daughter Frankie and their dog Darla. You can almost always find David and Alison somewhere around the church. Alison serves in both the kids and student ministries, while Frankie can usually be found toddling through the halls making friends and keeping everyone smiling. When they’re not at the church, the Vanzants enjoy spending time with family and friends, especially in the fall, when Alison cheers for the Georgia Bulldogs and David pulls for the Tennessee Volunteers.

Joseph has served as the Worship Ministry Director at North Georgia Fellowship since October 2023. He and his family joined the church in December 2018 and quickly found a home within its community. They were initially drawn in through Life Groups, where they experienced a warm welcome and a shared desire among members to grow together in Christ.

Joseph and his wife, Amy, spent five years serving on the mission field in Central and South America before returning to the US to continue working with the same organization, based in Chattanooga. In his full-time role, Joseph partners with pastors and leaders of child and youth development programs around the world, helping advance the Gospel and ensuring thousands of children have the opportunity to hear and respond to the Gospel, while also having their physical and intellectual needs met. He holds a BS in Theology.

The Haefs have been married since 2011, and after years of living in multiple locations across different countries, they are deeply grateful to call North Georgia home. They enjoy spending time outdoors as a family - running, hiking, kayaking, or just playing at local parks with their three children. Joseph’s heart for worship at North Georgia Fellowship is to see people discipled through music that is clear, compelling, and doctrinally sound. His desire is to lead the church in singing songs that not only resonate deeply but also draw people closer to the Lord.

Shelby has served as the Kids Ministry Director since 2020 and coordinates communication and events at North Georgia Fellowship. She and her family joined the church when it originally launched in 2018, and they have loved being a part of such a genuine community of believers who just want to know and follow Jesus. Shelby has a B.S. in Psychology from UTC and an M.A. in Marriage and Family Services from Liberty University. She works full-time as a school nurse's assistant and is a mom of three: Brock, Roman, and Emory.

Shelby is married to Blaine, who teaches high school Bible, and they have lived in the area all their lives, graduating from East Ridge High School in the early 2000s, marrying in 2006, and moving to Fort Oglethorpe, Georgia in 2009. They have a deep love for the North Georgia community and for North Georgia Fellowship specifically, and Shelby's desire is to see both adults and children come to know and better understand who they are in Jesus and to grow into His likeness as they become a part of the Church.