lead PASTOR


RICH SAUNDERS

Welcome! I'm Pastor Rich Saunders, Lead Pastor here at TRNaz. I was the Pastor to Students and Families (CrossFire Student Ministries) for over 10 years before being called to serve as Lead Pastor at the start of July 2019. Time has surely, and certainly, flown by and what a crazy, but exciting, transition this has been!


My wife and I, Pastor Tracey, who serves as our Pastor of Worship and Connections as she works through our Nazarene Ordination process, have been married since June 18th of 2005 and have 4 kids: two boys, men now, who are grown and married to two INCREDIBLE women, with beautiful children of their own (GRANDKIDS!) another boy, a student at Olivent Nazarene University, and our daughter, and youngest, who is a Senior at Three Rivers High School.


This church is our "home church", meaning this is the first church we have attended as a couple, and the first church I have ever attended in my life. We started coming to TRNaz in late 2004 seeking hard to make changes in our life for the better. This church is where I "found Jesus" (He was never hiding from me) and became a believer, accepting Christ as my Savior and repenting of my sins. It's also where I asked to be completely filled with His Spirit (sanctification) and where I was also called into church ministry (Super Bowl Sunday, Feb 1, 2009). To say I've had some experiences here would be a extraordinary understatement!


It is an honor and privilege to be made useful by our Creator and to be allowed to come alongside this church family as they travel on the journey of faith. I am grateful to have been able to impact so many and thankful so many have been able to impact me. We truly are a family here and always looking to add more to our number!


I like to think of Sunday as "Reunion Sunday," where we get to see each other, share our successes and our struggles, and learn and grow together. I look forward to seeing you here at the next reunion!


God bless you with His Holy Spirit,


Pastor Rich (PR)

Associate / Pastor to Students and Families


Nathan Colburn

I’m Pastor Nathan Colburn, and I’m on a journey with Jesus.  A brief snapshot of my family: My wife, Megan, is the love of my life.  We have been married over 21 years, and are the proud parents of five beautiful daughters (Our oldest is a student at Olivet Nazarene University, and the youngest is finally with the big kids in the "Upper Hall" at her elementary school).  Life in our home can sometimes be loud, raw, busy, and stressful, but also full of joy at other times.  In our big family, it's easy for Megan and I to clearly see how God can use all of our relationships to teach us how to love others.  

 

I grew up attending Nazarene churches and Christian schools, and from a very young age my parents taught me the truth of Scripture and God’s love for me.  When I was about 8 years old, I first invited Jesus into my heart, but it was in junior high when I really surrendered my life to Him.  As I reflect, it was that point when I can really see my relationship with Jesus begin to grow and put roots deep into my very being.  I began to read my Bible and desire to know God on a deeper level.  Then, as a sophomore in high school, I went on the first of many mission trips and felt a call toward full-time mission work.  I pursued that call for the next 11 years through the remainder of high school, college, and seminary, but through doors God and I opened and closed, He placed me in a position that totally stretched me and forced my reliance on Him-  becoming a teacher.  In that role, I spent the next 13 memorable years digging deeper into God’s Word in order to share it with many junior and senior high students.  

 

For years, Megan and I have said that life is about the journey, not the destination.  That was affirmed in 2021 when God led us on a new part of our journey, moving our family across the country to Three Rivers, where I now serve as the Associate Pastor/Pastor to Students and Families.  In this role, He has used me to minister to students and families in this congregation and city.  

 

The road God has taken me on to reach this moment in life has been an adventure, to say the least, but my family and I are thrilled to be part of the TRNaz family!  God is at work here, and it is a privilege and honor to be a part of what He's doing!  We’re on a journey with Jesus, and I invite you to come and see!

 

Trusting Him,

Pastor Nathan

Pastor of worship and connections

Tracey Saunders

Hi, I’m Tracey Saunders, Pastor of Worship and Connections. I, along with my husband/Lead Pastor, am passionate about serving the Lord in various ways, using my gifting, talents and abilities to serve TRNaz, serve our church family, and to further the Kingdom of God. In both Worship and Connections, my responsibilities center around creating meaningful spaces for people to encounter God. The purpose of the worship ministry here at our church is to exalt the name of Jesus Christ, and to reach out to the lost with a message of hope by sharing the Gospel through Word and song, ensuring each service reflects theological integrity, through solid biblical truth in the songs that are chosen and prepared, and the sharing of the Word.


Passionate about servanthood leadership, discipleship, and Spirit-led worship, I strive (*strive, in the Lord’s strength and leading) to cultivate holy worship that flows from deep surrender and identity in Christ. My personal journey—meet me for coffee, I’d love to share my story, and hear your story!—has shaped my conviction that worship leadership begins with a servant mindset & heart, along with wholehearted trust in God. I believe God is calling me to empower both individuals and the collective body of Christ to encounter Him through worship, and experience the freedom that comes through knowing Christ Jesus as Lord and Savior. Whenever someone discovers more of who they are in Christ, and who God is, I rejoice!

 

Here at TRNaz, I’ve served as the Worship Leader since 2013, and transitioned into the ‘pastoral’ role in 2025 - as God called me into His service through Ordination into the Church of the Nazarene. Through His leading, a time of wrestling through my doubting and questioning of this call, and my eventual obedience (another story I’d love to share with you!), I finally and wholeheartedly embraced the call to Ordination.  Enrolling at Nazarene Bible College in 2023, The Ministry Preparation Program has allowed me the educational, spiritual, and biblical training and equipping through studying Pastoral Leadership, Theology, & Biblical Studies needed to answer this call. I reflect on this current lengthy, but wonderful experience, this ordination process and higher education, as a testimony to God’s grace in my life, a testimony to His calling on my life, a growing and holy stretching of my faith, and a testament to our Nazarene denomination, as it has and continues to tremendously shape and mold me in ways that I cannot describe. The Holy Spirit lives and dwells within me and my life’s charge is to love Him and make Him known. 


On a personal note, my husband and I lead a very full life, as we have been raising a family, serving the Lord, higher education for both of us at different times, and with the added bonus of the last TEN years, grandparenthood! All of our now, recently-grown children, (and two lovely daughters-in-love!) are members and serve in various ways at TRNaz, and our five grandchildren can be seen every Sunday in worship, with laughter, singing, and crayons! What a blessing it is to raise our family here and have them now serving each Sunday alongside us! Aside from all these things that we love and adore, that keep us very busy, I enjoy a cup of good coffee (or five!), summer kayaking, unique coffee and/or sushi dates with my hubby, the salty, crisp air of the beach, quaint, unique bookstores, cozy winter nights, and I enjoy space to create, whether that’s writing, crocheting, or worship-centered creativity.


For additional  information about our  life, please read Pastor Rich Saunders’ bio! It’s a beautiful testament to God’s unfailing love and grace! Rich and I count every day as an opportunity to bring glory to God through our ministry, through our love for our church family, our love for one another, and our love for our family. But most importantly, our desire to bring glory to God in however He is asking us. As my husband shares every Sunday, these words: “Lord, we want nothing more than You can give, but Lord, we want nothing less than You can give.” That’s it.  I want all of God, as I give all of myself to Him!


Please reach out to me anytime, I’d love to hear your story and come alongside you in your faith journey!                                               


Serving In Christ,

Pastor Tracey

"Let everything that has breath praise the LORD."  Psalm 150v6

OFFICE MANAGER

lisa vaillancourt

Lisa was born into a Christian home and has lived in relationship with Jesus since an early age, attending Temple Baptist throughout her youth, where she was baptized.  Happily married to Nate Vaillancourt, they have three children, Ashton, Jamison, and Atty.  After serving various organizations and businesses in different secretarial roles, Lisa joined the TRNaz team as Office Manager in July, 2023, and “absolutely loves it!”  She desires to use her position to serve God well, in whatever capacity is needed!  A few last details about Lisa- she has a passion for Bible prophecy, loves her coffee black, and her favorite food is ‘anything that’s not healthy.’  


CUSTODIAL CREW

Allyson Hull and Tammy Hughes

Allyson and Tammy are the two senior members of our custodial team, which is rounded out with Allyson's boys, who are custodians-in-training! Each week they work together, giving their time to the church to clean and reset, prepping the facilities for another week of ministry.  Thank you, ladies, for all you do!