Leadership
As a “mission church,” we are governed by a commission of Eastern Carolina Presbytery of the Presbyterian Church in America until the congregation elects its own elders and deacons. We expect to become a self-governing congregation in 2025.
- Teaching Elder Doug Domin
- Teaching Elder Mark Knetsch, Moderator
- Ruling Elder Jeff Smith, Stated Clerk
- Ruling Elder Dale Walley
Staff
Mark Knetsch,
Pastor
Mark is married to Heather and is father to Mark, Deacon, Ava, Clay, and Lily. Mark grew up in Ontario, Canada while Heather hails originally from Durham, North Carolina. They married in 2004, and in 2006 Mark graduated from Calvin Theological Seminary. After spending time pastoring in Canada, the Knetsch family moved to North Carolina in 2013 to seek out God’s calling to plant a new, vibrant faith community.
In October 2014, Mark was called as the church-planting pastor of Resurrection Life Church. Mark’s life goal is to help people discover the joy of belonging to Jesus with resurrection life — amid the ups, downs, adventures, challenges, and even suffering we all experience in life.
Mark loves spending time with family. He appreciates many different hobbies, including baseball, music, sports, and home remodeling.
Education:
- Bachelor of Arts in Communications and Minor in Religion, Calvin University
- Master of Divinity, Calvin Theological Seminary
- Doctor of Ministry, Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary
Jeff Smith,
Director of Ministries
Jeff joined ResLife staff in 2023 as Director of Ministries, following a career in software marketing and sales. Jeff assists in worship services, develops and teaches Christian education coursework, and oversees volunteer-led ministries of teaching, outreach, and service.
Jeff grew up in central Pennsylvania and spent his early twenties in the Philadelphia area, but relocated to the Research Triangle in 1993 for graduate studies at UNC-Chapel Hill. In 1996, he was ordained as a ruling elder in the Presbyterian Church in America and has since served on the session (elder board) of three local PCA churches.
After years of sensing God’s call to become a minister of the gospel, Jeff enrolled part-time in a seminary degree program in 2014 and graduated in 2020. Jeff is currently a licentiate and teaching elder candidate under care of Eastern Carolina Presbytery (PCA), and a member of the ResLife Temporary Session.
Jeff lives in Cary. In his spare time, he enjoys reading, photography, board games, hiking, and camping.
Education:
- Bachelor of Science in Economics, The Pennsylvania State University
- Master of Business Administration, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
- Master of Arts in Biblical and Theological Studies, Knox Theological Seminary
Anna Knowles,
Church Administrator
Anna grew up in South Florida, then headed north to attend Grove City College in Pennsylvania. There she met her husband, Jonathan, and they were married in 2013. Jonathan and Anna have five daughters: Selah, Lily, Ruthie, Miriam, and Abigail. Anna is trained as a Physician Assistant, and after working in the field for 10 years she was called to stay at home with the birth of their fourth child. She is thankful for the opportunity to homeschool and spend each day with their children.
After Jonathan and Anna married and moved to central North Carolina in 2013, they joined a PCA church in Raleigh. In 2016, their church commissioned them to transfer membership to, and support, ResLife as a church plant. In 2024, Anna joined the ResLife staff as Church Administrator.
Anna and her family live in Apex. She enjoys reading, baking, traveling, book clubs, the outdoors, and spending time with friends and family.
Education:
- Bachelor of Science in Molecular Biology, Grove City College
- Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies, Trevecca Nazarene University
- Master of Biomedical Science, Florida Atlantic University