Church Staff

John T. Mabray, Pastor

John is from Monroe, Louisiana. He received a B.A. with a major in English from Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas in 1979, and a Master of Divinity from Columbia Theological Seminary in Decatur, Georgia in 1982. He did his middle year of seminary at Westminster College, Cambridge, England (1980-1981). 

Before coming to Rivermont in 1996, John was pastor of the First Presbyterian Church of Warren, Arkansas (1984-1987) and Covenant Presbyterian Church of Monroe, Louisiana (1987-1996). 

John and his wife Catherine have two daughters, Cole and Michal, and one son, Trimble. John is an avid outdoorsman and enjoys being in the woods, hunting, fishing, and horseback riding, as well as the fellowship of his family, friends, and good dogs.

John's email address is john@rivermont.org 

Ronald M. Cox, Executive Pastor

Ron is from Sanford, North Carolina and received a B.A. in History from Davidson College, Davidson, North Carolina in 1983.  He has a Master of Arts in Marriage and Family Therapy (1995) and a Master of Divinity (1997) from Reformed Theological Seminary in Jackson, Mississippi. 

Prior to joining the Rivermont staff, Ron was associate pastor of First Evangelical Presbyterian Church of Anna, Illinois (1997- 2004).  He has ten years of finance and banking experience in Charlotte, North Carolina. 

Ron and his wife Elke have one son, Daniel, and a yellow lab named Mattie.  With his family and friends, Ron enjoys travel, exploration, discovery, and the outdoors.

Ron’s email address is ron@rivermont.org.

A. Chris Deneen,
Associate Pastor of Christian Education

Chris’ email address is Chris@rivermont.org.

Vic Uotinen, Director of Missions

Vic, who grew up in a missionary family, joined the staff in 1997 after a 30-year career as a physicist in the field of nuclear science and technology. He earned a B.S. and M.S. in physics from Worcester Polytechnic Institute in Worcester, MA, and did additional graduate work in physics and nuclear engineering at University of Michigan and University of Washington. During his nuclear career, several of Vic’s scientific papers were published in journals of the American Nuclear Society (ANS), and he was an invited speaker at several international nuclear conferences. He has continued his membership in the ANS, and in 2001 was appointed to serve on the ANS Ethics Committee, which he chaired in 2003-2004.

Another way Vic has been active in “marketplace ministry” has been through the Christian Nuclear Fellowship, a group he founded in 1976 to encourage the Christian witness of his colleagues in the nuclear technology field. 

Vic has been a member of Rivermont church since 1976, and an elder for more than 25 years. Prior to joining the staff, he served as an adult Sunday School teacher and as chairman (at various times) of the Evangelism, Christian Education, and Commitment committees.

Vic and Kay have two grown children. 

Vic's email address is vic@rivermont.org   . 

Peggy Bettcher, Director of Music Ministry
 

Peggy is from Aurora, Illinois.  She received a Bachelor of Music degree in organ performance and a Master of Music degree in music theory, both from Northern Illinois University, DeKalb.  She has done additional organ study under the tutelage of faculty members from the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois, and the American Conservatory of Music in Chicago.

From 1983 to 2001, Peggy served as organist and director of handbell and children’s choirs at Westminster Presbyterian Church in Aurora, Illinois.
 Peggy Bettcher

In recent years she has had numerous handbell choir arrangements, a book of handbell arrangements, and a book of organ arrangements published by Hope Publishing Company.

Peggy and her husband Wes have two school-age children, Stephanie and Nathaniel.  Peggy enjoys cooking, gardening, and creating music for publication. 

Peggy's email address is pbettcher@rivermont.org 

Shane Whelan, Director of Youth Ministries

Shane is from Marietta, GA and received a B.A. in Communication from Mississippi State University in Starkville, MS in 1998. He is currently pursuing a Master of Arts in Religion from Reformed Theological Seminary (Virtual Campus).

Deborah Chennault, Director of Children’s Ministries

Debbie has been working with the children here at Rivermont since 1995.  She is a native of Monroe, Louisiana where she graduated from Northeast Louisiana University in 1973 with a B.A. degree in Elementary Education. 

In Louisiana and North Carolina, prior to moving to Lynchburg, she taught grades kindergarten, first, third, fourth, and fifth, and has many years experience in preschool education.

Debbie is married to David Chennault, an employee at the University of Virginia, and has two children, Samuel and Mary Beth.  She lives in the mountains of Nelson County and is greatly blessed in her commuting time enjoying the countryside of our beautiful state of Virginia and time spent in prayer.

Debbie's email address is Debbie@Rivermont.org.