Matt Albright

Lead Pastor

We are glad you’re here. I’m excited about what God is doing here at Christ Little Rock. My wife Haley and I were blessed to be called here in 2023 and loving it. Before moving to the great state of Arkansas, we lived in Blaine, Minnesota, where we were at a church where I served as Pastor and worked closely with the senior high youth group. Arkansas is a significant change weather-wise for us from Minnesota, but Minnesota was a significant change for us coming from St. Louis. St. Louis will always hold a special place in my heart because of my time spent in seminary as well as discovering mentors and finding the love of my life. We have four nephews who live in St. Louis and one who lives in Council Bluffs, IA. Haley and I often travel to Nebraska and to Missouri to see family. When we aren’t traveling, we love Cubs baseball, Bears football, Blackhawks hockey, Nebraska anything, and any Olympic Event (winter or summer). While life hasn’t always been a smooth straight path for either Haley or me, we feel blessed to call this place home and look forward to continuing to do life together with you.

“For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God.” -Ephesians 2:8

John Mathis

Associate Pastor

My wife Debbie and I both grew up in Arkansas and met while serving as civil engineers at Arkansas DOT. We started carpooling together in 1989, and have been carpooling ever since! I signed up for retirement in 2015, planning on working at ARDOT for 5 more years, but within 3 months of signing the papers I had three different people tell me I should consider going into the ministry. Debbie and I decided to start walking through the doors God seemed to be opening, so I started Seminary in 2016, retired in 2017, and here we are! I completed my program of study at Concordia Seminary St. Louis in 2020, and serve here at Christ Little Rock as an Associate Pastor providing Pastoral Care to the community. It’s an honor to be asked by this amazing congregation to join this outstanding team, and I’m excited to see what the Lord has in store for career number two!

Logan Brown

Director of Worship Arts and Music Education

I have been at Christ Little Rock since the summer of 2014 when my amazing wife (Ashley) and I were called here to serve with the youth, her in the classroom as a teacher, and me as the Director of Youth Ministries. Since that time I’ve gotten to see God moving in some amazing ways through this ministry - from healing and serving to playing and learning, God has had an amazing hand in it all! In October 2015 we welcomed our first kiddo into the world, Lincoln, who has been a ball of energy ever since (pray for us), and then in January of 2019 we welcomed our lovely and sassy little girl Payson.

We’ve built our personal family and have been overwhelmed by the extended family of faith that has grown around us at Christ Little Rock. My job has moved and migrated a bit as I’ve grown into my strengths, and as the needs of the congregation have arisen, which leads me to my current position as Worship Director, School Music Teacher, and Director of Little Rock School of the Arts! My family and I are so blessed to be a part of what God has done here in our past and I look forward to faithfully uncovering His plans for our community of faith in the future with all of YOU!

Linaya Kolke

Director of Christian Education

I am adopted from Vietnam and grew up in the Evergreen State, WA for 8 years. My family moved to Albuquerque, NM when I was 8 where my brother and I were able to attend a Christian school that was connected to a church with a youth group. Throughout middle school and high school I was able to be involved in many ways at the church and school including sports, youth group, worship band, handbells, choir, etc. After graduating from high school, I felt God calling me into ministry! 

I graduated from Concordia Irvine in 2020 with a major in Theological Studies: Christian Education Leadership and minors in DCE and Global Cultural Studies. My DCE Internship was in Hagerstown, MD and shortly after that I spent a little over a year in Bellingham, WA working at a year-round camp. While working as a program director in WA during that year, God taught me that no matter where we go - He promises to be with us every step of the way and that every challenge and trial is an opportunity to look like Jesus. I joined our amazing team at Christ Little Rock in September 2022! I love traveling, hiking, the outdoors, getting to know people, game nights, and laughing. I am super excited to build programs and opportunities for children and youth to grow in their faith and relationships with others at CLR.

Donna M. Phelan

Central Support Director

I grew up right here in Little Rock and work only blocks from my childhood home in Midtown. Working over 25 years in public accounting - I never thought I would do anything different, but one of my favorite bible verses is Jeremiah 29:11, “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” I joined Christ Little Rock in 2008 and then, almost 10 years ago, I was blessed with the opportunity to be a part of the Christ Little Rock Church ministry team. Besides my passion for our mission here at Christ to "Imitate Jesus", I love to spend time with my friends and family! My favorite place in my home is the kitchen and if I could have two dream jobs, my second would be that of a chef! I share life with my precious cat, Phranky.

Heather Stewart

Executive Admin

Hi, my name is Heather Stewart and I am the Executive Administrator here at Christ Little Rock. I have been serving in some capacity in the church for over 25 years. I am self-motivated and love helping others, I'm quick to learn and will jump into any project that I can.

I was the right hand to my former pastor. I ran the children's church, the nursery, bus ministry, food ministry, and helped organize showers and decorations, to list a few things that I did while serving alongside him.

I graduated with my nursing assistant license over 25 years ago. I am certified in First Aid Training and CPR and also have my PCI license. Although my degrees have been in the medical field I have had 1st hand experience in the ministry.

When not in the office, I love to spend time with my family, especially the grandbabies. I love finding new coffee shops to try out while out shopping. When just hanging at home I like to watch movies and color with my puppies in my lap. I spend a lot of my time attending special needs outings with my youngest son who has Autism.