Staff | trinitycburg.org

John Altizer, Ph.D. | Lead Pastor

John was born in the coalfields of southern West Virginia and later moved to a farm, where he learned the value of hard work. His desire to serve others led him to the Christiansburg Police Department, where he served for several years. Feeling called to teach God's Word, he moved to Winston-Salem, NC, for training and began pastoring a church. After completing his undergraduate studies, John pursued further education, earning a Ph.D. in Systematic Theology from Baptist Bible Seminary in Clarks Summit, PA. He served as a lead pastor for seven years before becoming a missionary teacher with Baptists Equipping Nationals and the National Theological College and Graduate School. John remains active in missions worldwide, serves on two mission boards, and is the Chair of the Bible Department at NTCCGS

In 2011, John and his family returned to Christiansburg, where he became the lead pastor at TCC. He enjoys reading, mechanics, working outdoors, operating equipment, and occasionally hunting and fishing with his boys. Most of all, he loves spending time with his wife and family.

Brian Cockram | Associate Pastor

Brian joined the Trinity team in 2015, after years of experience in various ministry areas including seventeen years in the pastorate and ten years in higher education administration. Having served as a senior pastor in two previous churches in North Carolina and Virginia, Brian is uniquely equipped to serve as Associate Pastor and has a passion for discipleship and church growth. A large focus of the first ten years of his ministry at TCC has been facility change, including managing several major remodeling projects which have made the campus much more attractive and functional.

The vision set forth at Trinity, to "point people to Jesus" is a perfect fit for Brian's desire to see others come to Christ and be equipped to lead others to Christ. Brian also serves in other capacities including vice-chairman of Baptists Equipping Nationals. He is a graduate of Piedmont International University (now Carolina University) with a Bachelor of Theology degree and also holds a Master of Higher Educational Administration, from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro.

Growing up in nearby Floyd, Virginia, Brian and his family enjoy the outdoors and often visit Floyd to spend time on the family farm. His personal interests vary widely from hunting and fishing to raising quality beef cattle. Having a firm belief that God has directly created us with individual personalities and interests to build bridges with others. Brian often uses these as a tool to connect with new friends and reconnect with old ones to point them to Christ.