Jeremy Purvis
1. Where are you from, and what's a favorite memory from growing up?
I grew up on the gulf coast of Florida in a town called Bradenton, where I built lots of treehouses and forts with my good friend, Jimmy.
2. When did you come to faith in Christ?
From an early age, my parents taught me about Jesus and took me to church, so I don’t really remember a time when I didn’t know the Lord. But I do remember professing faith in Christ as a little boy at Bayshore Baptist Church one Sunday evening and then getting baptized.
3. Tell us about your family.
I have been married to Joy for almost eighteen years and we have three children: Jackson (15), Luke (13), and Caroline (7). We like to take walks, eat donuts, do puzzles, watch college sports, and debate cultural and political issues. There’s never a dull moment.
4. What do you do for a living?
I am a professor of Genetics at UNC, spending most of my time doing research in the field of cell biology.
5. What's your favorite and least favorite things about being a elder?
One of my favorite things about being an elder, lately, has been getting to know and serve the people in my care group. I also enjoy the time I spend with the other elders. We are close like brothers, and they are a great encouragement to me. But there are a lot of hard moments, too, because we are imperfect people trying to care imperfectly for our church. Thankfully, His grace is sufficient.
6. What's your dream for CCC?
That we would be a light to Chapel Hill in a way that brings glory to God and surprises everyone in the process.
7. What do you like to do in your spare time?
I’ve been reading a lot of classic fiction lately and just finished Isaac Asimov’s Foundation series. It was outstanding.
Pew-Thian Yap
1. Where are you from, and what's a favorite memory from growing up?
Malaysia—a country in Southeast Asia with a population of around 30 million. Climbing trees for rambutans.
2. When did you come to faith in Christ?
I first learned about the Gospel when I was in high school, but started walking with Christ when I was in college.
3. Tell us about your family.
Kailing and I met at a church in Kuala Lumpur, where we served together in the worship band. We are blessed with two lovely daughters - Vesmine and Rainelle.
4. What do you do for a living?
I’m a Professor of Radiology at UNC Chapel Hill. My research focuses on artificial intelligence and neuroscience.
5. What's your favorite and least favorite things about being an elder?
Favorite: Learning about people’s lives. Least favorite: Failure to learn about people’s lives.
6. What's your dream for CCC?
“We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.” - 2 Corinthians 10:5
7. What do you like to do in your spare time?
Spend time with my family, exercise, and ponder about life and science.
