“One of the best ways for us to honor the past, ground ourselves in the present, and move together into the future is simple: tell good stories.”

Rev. Jay Locklear is a pastor, musician, songwriter, and storyteller, currently living in Roxboro, NC, where he serves as the pastor at New Brook UMC. He and his wife Heather (also a pastor in the UMC) are the parents to two adult children and grandparents (Pop-Pop and Meemaw) to four.  

In addition to pastoring and serving in the local church, Jay is active as a worship leader, guest musician, and songwriter. He is a graduate of Duke Divinity School (May 2026), graduating with a Master of Divinity degree, along with certificates in Worship Studies, Theology and the Arts, and Nonprofit Management.

He believes in the inherent value and usefulness of technology for all areas of life, while also believing in the need for healthy guardrails for the ways we engage with technology as individuals and as a society. We can use all the amazing tools to enhance our lives without giving ourselves away in the process.