GCA Founder and Board Members

 

Reggie Garner spent most of his childhood in Memphis, Tennessee. He opened his own company when he was 21 years old and had 16 employees within the first year. He always had a desire to be a builder, so when he was 24, he sold his current business in order to pursue building homes. He built 10 homes in the first year. For over 40 years, he has continued to be successful in the home building industry as well as land development. His determination has allowed him to build over 3000 homes in the Memphis, Nashville, Chattanooga and Huntsville area.

 

Adversity is not a stranger to Reggie, but through the years he has persevered. The Lord began to prompt a desire in Reggie’s heart to do something for God’s kingdom. He started pursuing the start of a Christian school in the Franklin area. God birthed this dream in Reggie and Reggie feels honored to be a part of a Christian school especially since he struggled through school.   Through hard work, several miracles and God’s provision, GCA had their first graduating class in 2016.

The Lord has blessed him with a loving family and five wonderful children and they reside in Franklin, Tennessee. As the school continues to expand, Reggie offers both his business expertise and his faith in a God who still does miracles!

 

Mr. Robbie Mason is a graduate of Memphis State University with a BS in English. He also has a Master’s Degree from Trevecca University in Administration and Supervision and his Educational Specialist Degree in Educational Leadership from Union University. He and his wife Dabney have seven children.

Mr. Mason has taught subjects in every discipline as well as serving as a high school principal, athletic director and coach. For over 13 years he has served as Headmaster at Christian schools with enrollment of up to 900 students. A product of Christian education himself, Mr. Mason sees Biblically saturated education as not only a ministry, but as his passion.

 

Tim Fish graduated with a Bachelor's of Science in Finance from the University of Memphis.  He has worked for two banks upon graduation from college.  He served with his wife Cassie on the mission field in Asia for two years after leaving banking and has been a self-employed home builder since 1998.  Tim and his wife have lived in the Franklin area since 2001 and have nine children.  

Having been a homeschooling family and being raised in Christian education, Tim is passionate about Christian education that shapes the heart, first and foremost, to be like our Savior and then educates the minds.  His heart is to see children trained in a Biblical worldview that seeks to serve others and to share the gospel in fulfillment of the Great Commission.  He brings experience to the school board through his education in banking and finance. He desires to apply Psalm 90:12 to his life daily which is " So teach us to number our days, that we may present to You a heart of wisdom."

 

Nate Shurden is the Senior Pastor of Cornerstone Presbyterian Church in Franklin, TN. Before moving to Franklin, Nate was the Minister of Discipleship & Young Adults at First Presbyterian Church in Jackson, MS, and the Assistant Editor of reformation21, the online magazine of the Alliance of Confessing Evangelicals.

Nate was educated at Bannockburn College and Reformed Theological Seminary. In addition to his pastoral responsibilities at Cornerstone, Nate serves as adjunct faculty at New College Franklin, a Christian liberal arts college in Franklin, TN, and contributes regularly to a variety of print and online ministries including Ligonier Ministries, Christward Collective, He Reads Truth, and The Gospel Coalition. Nate married his college sweetheart, Christy. They have three children at Grace Christian Academy: Katie, Knox, and Luke. They have a GCA graduate, Rosalyn, and a baby girl, Lila Mae. 

Nate has been involved on committees and advisory boards for Christian schools in both Mississippi and Tennessee. He is passionate about seeing the next generation equipped with a mind for truth and a heart for God. To that end, Nate is honored to serve on the board of GCA.