Ministers & Staff
Ministers
Josh Vires
INVOLVEMENT MINISTER
Josh is our involvement minister. He began working with Riverchase in June of 2023. He has served in full-time ministry since 2012 including roles as a youth, family, and preaching minister.
He grew up in Oklahoma and went to college at Freed-Hardeman University where he met his wife, Kimberly, and earned an undergraduate degree in Bible. He also completed a Master’s degree in Ministry from FHU and is currently working on his research and dissertation toward a PhD. in Leadership Studies from Johnson University. Kimberly has been a school teacher throughout their life together. They have three children: Baileigh, Canaan, and Janie.
Malvin Sanders
YOUTH MINISTER
Malvin Sanders is our youth and family minister. He joined our staff in May 2021. Malvin grew up in the Atlanta area before going to college at Faulkner University in Montgomery, where he earned a degree in Youth and Family Ministry.
While at Faulkner, he met his wife Jan. They have three children, Owen, Blakely, and Parker. He is currently working on his Master’s degree in Marriage and Family Therapy at Amridge University.
Eric Gott
CHILDREN’S MINISTER
Eric Gott is our children’s minister. He joined our staff in July 2018. Eric has a bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Freed-Hardeman University and a Master’s degree in Professional Counseling with a concentration in Play Therapy from Lipscomb University.
Eric and his wife Leah moved to Riverchase from Nashville where Leah taught 5th-grade math and Eric had his own private practice in the children’s counseling business.
Office Staff
Donna Strickland
SECRETARY
Donna Strickland joined the staff in March 2015. Donna has a Bachelors’s degree in Finance from Auburn University. She and her family have been worshipping at Riverchase since 2002.
Donna is married to Keith Strickland and they have two daughters, Keely and Erica.
Sarah Pate
ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT
Sarah Pate joined the office staff in September 2021. Sarah has a Bachelor of Science degree in History and a Masters of Education from the University of Montevallo. She taught middle school for several years prior to joining our staff.
Sarah is married to Barton Pate and they have three children: Norah, Landon, and Ethan. They have been attending Riverchase since 2010.
“How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher?”
Romans 10:14