Ministerial Staff

Anthony (Tony) Tench answered Poplar Springs’ call and began service as interim pastor in August 2022.  Originally from Bristol, Virginia, Tony received a Bachelor of Arts from Milligan College (Tennessee) and his Master of Divinity from the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky. Tony and his wife, Janet, were married in 1979.  God has blessed their family with one daughter and two grandchildren. Tony began following Jesus as Savior and Lord at the age of nine. He was licensed…

Katherine Asis has been the minister of music and music education at Poplar Springs since October 2012.  Originally from Lenoir, NC, Katherine received her Bachelor of Music degree in Sacred Music from Appalachian State University.  She began working in music ministry in 2006 in Gastonia, NC and received her Master of Divinity degree from Gardner-Webb University in 2010.  Her passion is introducing others to the truths of God through music and leading God’s people into authentic worship.  Katherine is married…

Nicole Hamrick grew up at Poplar Springs and has been serving as the Minister of Children and Youth here since June 2017.  Nicole studied at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro where she received a degree in Mathematics, a 9-12 licensure to teach, and a minor in Spanish.  She taught high school mathematics for 5 years before heading to graduate school at Gardner-Webb University where she received her Master of Divinity degree in 2016 with a concentration in Intercultural…