Meet the Team
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Nathan Bumgarner
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Serving Transylvania County
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Deanna Bumgarner
Serving Transylvania County
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Lexy Stroup
Serving Transylvania County
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Larry Madden
Serving Highlands - Cashiers Plateau
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Rick Plotts
Serving Highlands-Cashiers Plateau
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Cable Krieger
Serving the Hayesville Area
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Payton McCracken
Serving the Swain, Robbinsville, and Andrews Areas
Nathan Bumgarner
Nathan was born and raised in Cashiers, North Carolina, and later attended Clemson University, where he studied Professional Golf Management. After working as an assistant golf professional at Mountaintop Golf and Lake Club, Nathan felt a clear and compelling call from God to step into ministry.
Over the past 12 years, Nathan has dedicated himself to directing ministry in the small communities across Western North Carolina. His passion is to see lives transformed by the hope of Christ, especially in areas that are often underserved or overlooked. His heart for discipleship, community outreach, and gospel-centered relationships continues to shape his vision for ministry today.
Nathan remains an avid golfer and enjoys following and playing a variety of sports. He is married to his high school sweetheart, DeAnna, and together they are raising their two sons, Beckett and Truett. As a family, they are committed to loving their neighbors well and living out their faith in practical, meaningful ways.
Serving Transylvania County
Deanna Bumgarner
DeAnna, a native of Lake Toxaway, is a wife, mom of two boys, and someone who has passionately served in ministry for over 10 years. Her heart beats for mentoring young people, walking alongside them through life, and helping them discover who they are in Christ.
Motherhood has deepened her understanding of patience, grace, and unconditional love—lessons that overflow into every area of her life, especially in ministry. She and her husband are partners in both family and faith, and they’re raising their children to love Jesus, live generously, and find joy in the everyday moments.
Whether she’s leading a small group, planning an event, or meeting one-on-one with a community member, DeAnna believes in the power of showing up, listening well, and pointing others to the hope found in Christ. She’s deeply grateful for the journey so far—and excited for what God has in store through InWord.
Serving Transylvania County
lexy stroup
Lexy was born and raised in Brevard, North Carolina, and attended Rosman High school where she met her husband, Zach. Together they have a sweet toddler, Selah, and are joyfully expecting a baby boy in the fall.
In 2023, Lexy faithfully responded to God’s call to step away from her full time career as a dental hygienist to devote herself to mentoring, discipling, and ministering to the youth in her community. Lexy is passionate about encouraging others in their walk with the Lord and loves creating spaces where people can encounter the hope and joy found only in Jesus. Whether serving in her local schools or connecting with her community, her desire is to point others to the life-changing love of Christ.
Lexy believes ministry is not limited to the walls of a church but is lived out daily in relationships, conversations, and acts of service. Her heart is to see lives transformed by the gospel and for others to discover their identity and purpose in Christ. She counts it a privilege to walk alongside people of all ages as they grow in faith and pursue the calling God has placed on their lives.
Serving Transylvania County
larry madden
In 1995, Larry answered God’s call to ministry, leaving behind a career in electrical engineering to serve as Worship Pastor at Trinity Baptist Church in Asheville, NC. After nearly a decade in that role, Larry followed the Lord’s leading into music evangelism, traveling across the country with a ministry team. During those years, he partnered with church choirs, worship teams, pastors, and evangelists to help encourage the body of Christ through worship and the Word.
A passionate and eclectic musician, Larry appreciates nearly every style of music. Combined with his creativity, this love for diverse sounds shapes his unique musical style. Yet, one thing remains constant: the message of the songs he writes and sings. Larry testifies that Jesus reached a long way to save him, and his mission is to make much of Christ by proclaiming the good news of His love through music.
In addition to music, Larry has long been a student and teacher of God’s Word. He has served as a church planter in Cleveland, Ohio, and as a volunteer with various organizations. His greatest passion is seeing lives transformed as people become obedient followers of Jesus.
Larry married Sarah Johnston on May 22, 2010—a testimony to God’s perfect timing and provision. Both had believed marriage was not in their future, but the Lord had other plans. Their story is a continual reminder that God is good… all the time.
Serving Highlands-Cashiers Plateau
rick plotts
Rick and his wife, Suzi moved to Western North Carolina in 1989, where Rick served faithfully as a public school teacher in Transylvania and Jackson counties until his retirement. Alongside his career in education, Rick devoted his life to ministry, serving together with his wife in small mission and local churches for more than 26 years. His passion for sharing the message and teachings of Jesus Christ has also taken him into short-term mission work in many places, where he has witnessed countless lives changed by the gospel.
Married for 42 years, Rick and Suzi began their journey in ministry together in children’s ministry during their very first year of marriage. From the beginning, they embraced the call to be available for God’s work, learning that to serve Christ is to serve others. Their journey has been filled with blessings beyond what they ever imagined, as God has continually given them the desires of their hearts through ministry and family.
Among their greatest joys are their three grown children and five grandchildren, all of whom live nearby. Rick and Suzi cherish their role as grandparents and see God’s faithfulness in how He first called them to serve children and young people—and continues to use them in that calling today.
Serving Highlands-Cashiers Plateau
Cable krieger
Cable was born and raised in Hayesville, North Carolina, and is currently pursuing a degree in Psychology at East Carolina University. In 2023, Cable felt a profound calling to preach and has since dedicated himself to reaching the youth in his community through discipleship and sharing God’s word. His passion for serving others and embodying the hands and feet of Jesus is at the core of his life’s mission.
Beyond his academic and spiritual pursuits, Cable has a deep love for sports and the outdoors, often finding peace and renewal in nature. Whether it's hiking, playing sports, or engaging in community outreach, Cable is driven by a desire to make a positive impact and live out his faith in action.
Serving the Hayesville Area
Payton McCracken
Serving the Swain, Robbinsville, and Andrews Areas
Payton McCracken grew up in Murphy, North Carolina, with a deep love for sports and the outdoors. He played college football for a time before sensing a clear call from the Lord to step away from the game he loved and pursue ministry full-time.
Passionate about using sports and the outdoors as a bridge to share the love of Christ, Payton sees everyday activities—whether coaching, fishing trips, or conversations on the field—as opportunities to build relationships and point people to Jesus.
In his free time, he enjoys fishing, watching a game, and spending time with friends and family. His heart is to see lives transformed and to help others discover the same calling and purpose he has found in Christ.