Who are these zany people who work with your kids each week? Here's a chance for you to get to know our team a little more. We want to get to know you, too, so if you see one of us roaming around, stop us and introduce yourself! We all love what we do!

John Sorrell

Children's Pastor

John is a native Austinite and serves as the Children’s and Family Ministry Pastor at the Ridge. He is married to Valerie and has a son named Colt --- yep, named after that Colt. John graduated from Howard Payne University with a BA in Christian Studies, received his Masters of Religious Education from Liberty Theological Seminary and has recently undertaken further study at Princeton Theological Seminary.

John has served on staff in the area of Children’s and Family Ministry since 1998 and came on staff at the Ridge in July of 2010. His passion and calling is for the church to partner with parents and to equip them to be the primary vehicles for the spiritual development of their children. He is an avid (or rabid) Longhorn fan, skier, golfer and sees the show Bizzare Foods as a challenge for his dietary endeavors. 

Amy Taylor

Director of Nursery & Preschool Ministries

Amy is originally from Texas and received her BBA from Baylor in Management Information Systems. She met her husband, Grant here in the youth group back when the Ridge was Westlake Bible Church.  They have been married for 12 years and have 3 amazing children ages 8, 6 and 3.  In between running a busy household, Amy enjoys dates with her husband, Bible Study, spending time with her girl friends, and doing just about anything with her kids when they are having fun.  She loves Mexican food, a quiet house before anyone wakes up in the morning, jeans, cowboy boots and college football.

Amy Smith

Ministry Facilitator

Amy is originally from Dallas but grew up always knowing she'd be a longhorn. She graduated from the University of Texas with a degree in Early Childhood Education and minor in psychology. She stuck around Austin for her husband, Austen, (yes, confusing having the same name) who she met while volunteering as a middle school leader here at Austin Ridge. Amy loves to spend time with her golden retriever puppy Butter who is her only child...for now. She enjoys anything on the lake, hours long coffee conversations, road trips, leading kids to Christ, shoes and movie nights with Austen.

Emily Lundquist

Director of Elementary Ministries

Born and raised in Lincoln, Nebraska, Emily never imagined herself living in Texas.  After 18 years of playing in the cornfields, she moved to Minnesota where she graduated with a bachelor's degree in Christian Education from Crown College.  One year later, she had this crazy notion to move to Texas.

In 2008 Emily moved to Fredericksburg, TX and worked at a church as the Director of Children's Ministry. She is excited to be part of the Children's Ministry team at Austin Ridge.  She has a passion to see kids come to know the Lord as their Savior and to help them grow in their relationship with Christ.

Emily enjoys hanging out with friends, laughing as much as possible, and cannot survive the day without her coffee.

Bobby Shaw

Children's Ministry Creative Director

Bobby and his amazing wife, Jamie, come from the beautiful land of Nelly, Imo's Pizza, the Cardinals, and the world famous St. Louis Arch. Having graduated from Southwest Baptist University with a degree in Church Ministry in '06, Bobby served as Student Minister at a couple of churches in Oklahoma, Missouri, and Illinois. With a wide-array of experiences from working in a church setting to being a Mad Scientist and also working at an oil well, God brought the two of them to Austin Ridge, where Bobby serves as the Children's Ministry Creative Director. He has a heart for God, kids, theater, music, art, and that people may truly know the love of Christ!

During his time outside of work, he enjoys being with Jamie, eating, sleeping, reading, speaking in the third person, drinking his milk with ice cubes (don't hate), watching too much tv, visiting family, and playing a mean air guitar/Rockband/instruments that aren't real. Bobby and Jamie are both very excited to be here and to see all the great things God has in store for The Ridge and Austin area!