Our Pastors
 Harry Long
Senior Pastor
It has been a real delight to serve the Lord in one place since graduating from Seminary! In 1982 Mary and I came to a mission work that had been started by Al baker in 1980, named for Sycamore Square, the center of Midlothian, now a growing suburb of Richmond, VA. We bought property just down from Sycamore Square in 1983, organized as a church in 1984, met in Gordon Elementary School until 1989, began to develop staff in 1993, and most recently we have planted two daughter churches, Spring Run Presbyterian and Evergreen Community. Though we have stayed in one place, we have experienced a rich diversity of ministry stages over the years and have the benefit now of having raised our family and developing real roots in friendship and community here in Midlothian.
I am originally from Chattanooga, TN, where my father, George Long, was the pastor of Lookout Mountain Presbyterian Church. I met my wife, Mary, at Wheaton College and we were married in 1976. After Mary’s graduation in 1977, I served as youth director at Central Presbyterian Church in Chattanooga for two years before we headed off to Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary with one child in tow, Davison, and one on the way, Margaret. Our third, James was born here in 1984. Now the are all married, living nearby with a total of 5 grandchildren thus far.
I actually find a straight forward, first person bio hard to write. Plain facts are boring, jokes somehow seem inappropriate, accomplishments seem like bragging, difficulties too complex to explain (and failures too painful), our best stories too long to tell, and the central character in a church is not the pastor, anyway, but rather God who makes things quite exciting in his own time and way.
I think you should just come give us a visit, see what God is doing, pull up a chair and study the Bible with us, make friends and be friends. Our greatest needs are not met by the church, but by the God whom we worship, in the Lord Jesus who gave himself for us, and by the Holy Spirit whose power changes us. I think I’d rather talk about him than me!
Frank Matthews
Assistant Pastor, Young Adult and Young Family Ministries
 Frank was born and raised in the southern part of the US. He attended his undergrad at Erskine College in SC and received his MDIV from Covenant Seminary in St. Louis. He was led into ministry during his college years and after trying several secular jobs, God confirmed His place for Frank to serve Him in the church. Over the years, He has served in youth ministry in South Carolina, Mercy Ministry and Outreach in St Louis, Church planting and mercy ministry development in Lima, Peru and as an all purpose associate Pastor most recently in Gainesville, Fl.
Frank and Suzanne have 4 children -Joshua, Micah, Aaron and Elise. As a family, they enjoy games, outdoor activities, movies and music. They are excited to be at Sycamore Presbyterian to serve with the Young Adults and Families Ministries that are developing at the church.
John Casteel
Assistant Pastor, Youth Ministries
First, let me tell you I am delighted to be serving as the Youth Pastor at Sycamore. Sycamore is a grace-filled community that truly cares for one another and seeks to be a light for Christ in the community. I love helping youth begin to embrace their faith for themselves, learn about the value of living together in community, and catch a vision for ministering to those around them as part of God’s larger story of redemption in His world. Students are eager to know, embrace, and apply these things and parents and those who, like me, are privileged to be around them, get to be a part of helping them discover their place in God’s story.
A little bit about me: I was born in Nashville, TN, but my family moved to Knoxville, TN when I was four. We were members of Cedar Springs Pres. Church where I got my first taste of youth ministry. I was blessed to be a part of an amazing youth ministry as a youth and then later, as a college student. I discovered my passion for youth ministry by working with their youth group as a volunteer leader for three years. Most importantly, I met Kristen there our first year in high school and we started dating my senior year of high school. I attended the University of Tennessee for three years, but Kristen was away at East Tennessee State University. We got married the summer before our senior years and I transferred to ETSU to graduate in 2008 with a double major in English and Philosophy. Don’t get me wrong though, I am a Volunteer at heart. After graduating, we moved to St. Louis, MO for me to attend Covenant Theological Seminary, where I earned a Masters of Divinity degree in May 2011.
A little bit about Kristen: She grew up in Fort Lauderdale, FL and moved to Knoxville, TN the summer before 8th grade. She was a public school girl and had a great experience with it. She majored in nursing at ETSU and was very involved with RUF there. She has been a labor and delivery nurse ever since and loves it, but she would still rather be hanging out with youth. Now we are parents! Wyeth James was born November 22, 2012 and is a little bundle of joy! He loves his mom, food, and (soon) Tennessee football just like his dad.
Sycamore has been a place where Kristen and I have experienced the love and care of Christ through His people and we are privileged to serve here. Sycamore is a great place to come be a part of a loving community, learn more about God’s word or explore the claims of the Bible and of Christianity. I would invite you to check us out.
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