Adam was born and raised in Hanover County, outside of Richmond, Virginia. His parents, Earle and Jo Anne, and older sister, Heather, still reside in Richmond. He completed his Bachelor of Arts from Randolph-Macon College where he majored in Religious Studies as a Purnell Bailey Ministerial Fellow, and minored in Western Philosophy, Musicology, and Ethics. Adam moved to Nashville in 2009 to study at Vanderbilt University Divinity School. While at Vanderbilt, Adam served at Belmont United Methodist Church as a Cal Turner Fellow for Church Leadership.
In 2011, Adam planted Belmont Wesley Fellowship, the United Methodist campus ministry at Belmont University. He was licensed as a local pastor in the Tennessee Conference in 2012, commissioned as a provisional elder in 2013, and ordained as an elder in full connection in June 2017. After the completion of his Master of Divinity degree, he was awarded a Fellowship at Auschwitz for the Study of Professional Ethics through the Museum of Jewish Heritage in New York City.
From 2012 to 2016, Adam was under appointment at Belmont United Methodist Church as Pastor of Global Outreach and Neighborhood Ministries. As part of that appointment, Adam was the primary pastor for the Golden Triangle Fellowship, a community of Burmese refugees who are members of Belmont UMC. He also led the church’s outreach and mission ministry in Malawi and Mexico.
From 2016 to 2018, Adam served as the Lead Pastor at Kingston Springs United Methodist Church, just outside of Nashville. From July 2018 to June 2022, Adam served as the Senior Pastor of Christ United Methodist Church, a large suburban congregation in Franklin, Tennessee.
Adam recently remarked about the ministry of Camden First UMC: “I’m quite proud and honored to lead the church of Camden First. The church has a long rich ministry of outreach in the surrounding community and an expansive welcome and love for all people. I look forward to years of fruitful ministry with the fine folks at First Church. And if you’re looking for a community of faith where you can belong, come see us for worship one Sunday at 10am.”
In July 2022, the pastoral family moved to Camden for a change in the pace of life and ministry. They are delighted to live in Camden, enjoying the beautiful outdoor options for recreation at the state park, Lakeshore Retreat Center, Eva Beach, the Springville Federal Wildlife Reserve, and various fishing spots on Kentucky Lake.
Adam and his wife, Keeli, met when their paths crossed at Vanderbilt University. Adam was in graduate school and Keeli worked at Vanderbilt University Medical Center as a Clinical Trials Specialist. Keeli remains in that role even after their move with over 12 years of cancer research experience. Keeli is a graduate of Tennessee Tech University where she studied Marine Biology.
Keeli and Adam are the proud parents of their daughter, Serena Grace, who was born in February 2017 and she is an independent, funny, sassy, and smart 6 year old. The family is also made up of a dog, Tybee, and Serena’s two guinea pigs, Marshmallow and Isla.