Meet Our Pastoral Staff

A charismatic motivational speaker, preacher and teacher, Pastor Israel Aaron Cowart has served as Senior Pastor at Live Oak Church of God in Hinesville, Georgia for 20 years.  Before his appointment as Senior Pastor, Pastor Aaron served as Media Ministries Director, then Associate Pastor to his father, James Michael Cowart for 7 years.  He has been apart of the ministry at Live Oak for the last 33 years.  Pastor Aaron considers it a high honor to follow his father in leading this great ministry. Pastor Aaron is an Ordained Bishop in the worldwide denomination of the Church of God, as well as an accomplished private pilot.  He is the product of a pastor’s home and has been heavily involved in ministry all of his life. 

First Lady Christi is also an accomplished speaker, licensed minister in the Church of God and serves alongside Pastor Aaron in the ministry of LOC.  First Lady Christi has a strong desire to impart wisdom and pour into the lives of the ladies of LOC and all who know her.  They have been married for 29 and have two children.  Luke, 24, is married to Ellie, and is also on staff at Live Oak Church as the Children’s Pastor.  Sydney, 22, is a law student at Liberty University.

His desire is to inspire and encourage every believer into the fullness of the whole man that God has called each of us to become.  You can encapsulate the ministry of Pastor Cowart through the words of the prophet Isaiah: “The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me, because the LORD has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor” (Isaiah 61:1,2).

Hinesville, GA born and raised, and an alumnus of Long County High School, Pastor Luke Cowart has been part of the Live Oak Church family since birth. Raised in a family of pastors, ministry has always been a central part of his life. Over the years, he has faithfully served Live Oak Church with a willing heart in media, live production, kids ministry, and beyond.

After graduating from Long County High School in Ludowici, GA, Luke attended Lee University, where he pursued a Bachelor of Science in Pastoral Ministry and met his wife, Ellie. Pastor Luke graduated in December 2022 and began serving full-time as Children’s Pastor for Treehouse Kids Ministries in January 2023. Luke and Ellie were married in April 2024 following Ellie’s graduation from Lee University. Ellie currently serves as the music teacher at Taylor’s Creek Elementary, and together they share a deep passion for investing in the children of Hinesville and teaching them what it truly means to live for God.

Since Pastor Luke stepped into leadership of Treehouse Kids Ministries in 2023, God has richly blessed the ministry with growth and new opportunities. In addition to his role with Treehouse, Pastor Luke has recently taken over The Branch Youth Ministries, further expanding his heart and vision for discipling the next generation. Together, Pastor Luke and Ellie serve Live Oak Church by teaching and leading both children and students toward a sound, theological understanding of Scripture and a well-grounded relationship with God. As they enter new seasons of ministry, God continues to bless and grow both Treehouse Kids Ministry and The Branch Youth Ministries.