Leadership
Resurrection Life Church is a self-governed church with spiritual oversight by a board of elders elected by the congregation. In Presbyterian churches, this board of elders is called the Session.
- Ruling Elder Travis Jones
- Teaching Elder Mark Knetsch, Pastor, Moderator of the Session
- Ruling Elder Ed Matson, Stated Clerk of the Session
- Teaching Elder Jeff Smith, Associate Pastor
To serve alongside the elders, deacons are also elected by the congregation as leaders. The role of deacon is one of service and care for those in need.
- Deacon Kaden Eaton
- Deacon Jonny Knowles
- Deacon Steve Snively, Chairman
Members of the SessionElder board
Ruling Elder
Travis Jones
Teaching Elder
Mark Knetsch,
Pastor, Moderator of the Session
Ruling Elder
Ed Matson,
Stated Clerk of the Session
Teaching Elder
Jeff Smith,
Associate Pastor
Members of the DiaconateDeacon board
To serve alongside the elders, deacons are also elected by the congregation as leaders. The role of deacon is one of service and care for those in need.
Deacon Kaden Eaton
Deacon Jonny Knowles
Deacon Steve Snively,
Chairman
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, 2002
- Master of Divinity, Calvin Theological Seminary, 2006
- Doctor of Ministry, Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary, 2022
Jeff Smith,
Associate Pastor
Following a career in software marketing and sales, Jeff joined ResLife staff in 2023 as Director of Ministries, and then was ordained and installed as ResLife’s associate pastor in November 2025. Together with Mark, Jeff leads worship services, including preaching; develops and teaches Christian education coursework; and oversees volunteer-led ministries in teaching, outreach, and service.
Jeff grew up in central Pennsylvania 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 served on the session (elder board) of three local PCA churches before becoming a minister in 2025.
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, 1989
- Master of Business Administration, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 1995
- Master of Arts in Biblical and Theological Studies, Knox Theological Seminary, 2020
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, 2009
- Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies, Trevecca Nazarene University, 2012
- Master of Biomedical Science, Florida Atlantic University, 2015