2018 Deacon Nominees. Elizabeth Hostetter. Randy Hicks

Transcription

1 Wes Blake Bob Broadway George Bugg Charles Clark Trip Ferguson Randy Hicks Katie HoppeMcQueen Elizabeth Hostetter Mindy Hyatt Ronald Jackson Andy Jones Allen McDavid Dennis O Dell Richard Steinberg Nancy Talley Chris Thompson Les Tillery Sabrina Wagnon Jeremy Del Greco Jonathan Boyd 2018 Deacon Nominees Will Weir Scott Whetzel Gary Willoughby The Deacon Election will be held Sunday, September 16. Absentee ballots will be available in the church office beginning Sunday, August 26.

2 WES BLAKE FBC Member 18 years. Presently Serving: First Fellowship Clerk, Student Retreat Activities Volunteer. Previously Served: RA Leader, Centri-Kid Chaperone, Student Retreat Leader, College Mission Trip Co-Leader, Trustees, Deacon, Fellowship Clerk, Bus Driver. Being a disciple of Christ to me is being someone that is willing to walk and talk with someone in all different places in life about how God s love of redemption can change their life. Being a disciple of Christ may be serving on a committee at church to working in a women s shelter or at your place of business. Because they all have one thing in common no matter how different the people s lives may be the one common thread is that God gave us Jesus as an example to live by and we all have the ability to share his love. Though we will never be able to fully understand the true gift God gave us until we meet him we do have the ability to show God s love in many ways. JONATHAN BOYD - FBC Member 8 years. Presently Serving: Board of Trustees ( ). Previously Served: RA Leader ( ), SS Teacher ( ), Youth Pastor Search Committee (Previous Church). I was raised in the Baptist Church and came to faith early on; I was baptized by my Great-Grandfather, who was a church Elder and Pastor when I was nine years old. Ever since then, I ve strived to live by Jesus saying that we should be in the world, but not of the world. My wife, Amy, and I have been married for sixteen years, and we have two children: Matthew who is 12, and Zadie who is 11. Amy and I are both active in the Children s, now Student, Young Adult, and Median Adult Ministries in FBC. BOB BROADWAY - FBC Member 18 years. Presently Serving: Church Treasurer, Leadership Council, Hospital Visitation Ministry Team. Previously Served: Deacon, Deacon Chair, Finance Committee, Finance Chair, Church Treasurer, Leadership Council, Nominating Committee. Served as Adult Leader for CentriKid, Centrifuge, MFuge, Spring Break Retreats, and for the NY, Chicago, Cincinnati, Texas, California, Canada, and Dominican Republic Mission Trips. I was born in Huntsville and began my early childhood in the WEE program at FBC. We moved to Gadsden when I was 4. While there, I was baptized at 12th Street Baptist Church when I was 7. We returned to FBC Huntsville when I was 9. My relationship with Christ continues to grow. He leads me to areas outside of my comfort zone. Jesus spent much of His life outside the walls of the church - meeting people where they are. This example continues to speak to me in different ways daily. We are all sinners and fall short. My sins are no better or worse than anyone else s. He challenges me to grow in Faith, Hope, and Love. He has taken me places that I never dreamed possible. He has provided me with a wonderful family. I owe everything I have to Him. GEORGE BUGG - FBC Member 48 years. Presently Serving: Young Professionals SS Teacher. Previously Served: Median Adult SS Teacher, Student Ministry Mission Trips to Alaska, Canada, and the Dominican Republic, World Changers, Deacon. I grew up here at FBC Huntsville. I accepted Christ and was baptized as a child, grew to a better understanding of the person of God and the Holy Spirit through the student ministry, and have been blessed with countless opportunities to continue in that growth as an adult. I met my wife, Kay, here while we were in high school. We were married here in 1988 and have raised our 3 children in this church. First Baptist Church has been, and continues to be, the foundation of my spiritual life and growth. I treasure the opportunities for service provided me through the ministries of FBC Huntsville. CHARLES CLARK - FBC Member 20 years. Presently Serving: Adult Sunday School Teacher BibleVisions. Special Student Events: Wednesday Kick-off, Fall Retreats, and Spring Camps. Photographer for Music Camp. Serve with Baptist Builders, Perry County Missions, and PET Mission Projects. Previously Served: SS Teacher, RA Leader, Nursery Worker, World Changers Mission Trip to Alaska. I have been a Christian since age 11. God blessed me with Christian parents and grandparents who provided examples for living for Christ. I love Jesus and have enjoyed doing His work throughout my adult life. That work has included serving in my military chapel while in the Army, serving as an adult helper in my church as a young married couple, and serving at FBC Huntsville in RA s, nursery, college teacher, and adult teacher. JEREMY DEL GRECO - FBC Member 2 years. Presently Serving: Preschool and Children s Ministry Architects Renovation Team, Sanctuary Choir, RA Missions Leader, Baptismal Committee. Previously Served: Mission and Music Study Group, LEGO Bible Study Leader, Night to Shine volunteer, Previous Church - Young Adult Bible Study Leader, SS Class Director, Multimedia Team, Preschool SS Teacher. I grew up in a church that did not develop its members to know or grow in Christ. As a teenager, I began going to church with a friend and noticed that many people there were significantly different and had a richness in their life that I did not have. After developing relationships with many of them, I enquired what the difference between their life and mine was and the repetitive answer was a relationship with Christ. Not knowing what that meant, I researched that statement and joined their Bible studies. Through those relationships and time, I learned what I was missing and asked Christ to be my Savior. Through following Him, He has reshaped my goals and my life to be more aligned with His way over the past couple of decades.

3 TRIP FERGUSON FBC Member 4 years. Previously Served: Young Adult Renovation Team, Greeter. I am grateful for the opportunity to serve First Baptist Huntsville. I have been blessed with many challenges and opportunities in my adult life. Through my experiences as a combat leader in the Marine Corps and a business leader, I have learned that Christ is in control of every facet of our lives. I strive to exemplify my faith through my actions and treat everyone with respect and dignity. I believe in absolute truth and feel that my generation has a call to action to serve. It is my goal to be a servant leader who is there for our church family and community. RANDY HICKS - FBC Member 5 years. Presently Serving: Langley Class SS Teacher, Chairman of Fresh Expressions Committee. Previously Served (to include other churches): SS Teacher, Discipleship Training Leader, Master Life Facilitator, Pastor, Church Planter, Interim Pastor, Japan Baptist Mission Committee, Business Manager for Japan Baptist Mission of SBC (12 years). I had the privilege of growing up in a Christian family. My father was a Baptist deacon and one of my RA leaders. My mother was a Sunday School teacher. At the age of ten, through their teaching, I came to realize my need of a Saviour and I gave my life to the Lord Jesus Christ. I worked two summers in my youth at Shocco Springs Baptist Assembly; the second summer I was there I met my wife Janice who was working there, as well. When she and I married I was in business and continued that for about seven years. It was at that time I felt God s call into the ministry. We had the privilege of serving churches in Alabama and Louisiana for about seven years. We then served for twenty-five years as SBC missionaries to Japan. KATIE HOPPE-MCQUEEN - FBC Member 9 years. Presently Serving: Missions Committee, Nominating Committee, Young Adult Ministry Architects Renovation Team, Children s Choir, FBC Orchestra, Worship Care Volunteer, Subcommittees with Children s Renovation Team, VBS, Music Camp. Previously Served: Service Coordinator of MOPS, Aviva Children s Church Teacher, Children s SS Teacher, Foundations for Life Teacher, Sanctuary Choir, Family Event Planning Teams, including Easter and VBS, Children s Music Intern at Mountain Brook Baptist and Baptist Church of the Covenant. I was born into a Christ following and loving family and was dedicated and baptized in First Baptist Churches. Continual growth from my beginning strong foundation has always been important to me through personal and community Bible study, service in church and community, and worship both at home and in church. I am now seeking to provide that same strong foundation to my own children at home in hopes of raising a family committed to loving God and loving others. ELIZABETH HOSTETTER - FBC Member 10 years. Presently Serving: Chair Baptist History and Connections, First Impression Team, Hospital Visitation Ministry, Greeter for Journey Class, Substitute Organist Worship, and Sanctuary Worship Service Pianists Team. Previously Served: FBC Deacon, Home Visitation, Benevolence Committee, Deacon Election Vice Chair, FBC Sexuality Statement Team. I accepted Jesus Christ as my Savior at age 8 and joined a Baptist church. My parents and grandparents were all godly influences all my life. As a disciple, I have remained faithful to the church and grown in my relationship with Christ through regular prayer, Bible study, worship, fellowship with other believers, tithing, giving and serving Christ through serving others and my church. I have been blessed to be able to serve as church organist/pianist more than 50 years. I believe our call as a disciple is lifelong and that we can always continue to grow in our faith and find ways to serve. As a wife, mother and grandmother, I pray that my life as a disciple continues to bear witness to my spouse and family. MINDY HYATT - FBC Member 5 years. Presently Serving: FBC Orchestra, Choir, MusiCare Outreach Ministry, Young Adult SS Leadership, Short-Term Mission Trips, Led Young Adult Bible Studies, SS Teacher, Living Christmas Tree Singer, Salvation Army Canteen Volunteer. Previously Served (to include other churches): FBC Huntsville Youth Intern, Youth Discipleship Group Leader, ESL Volunteer, Small Group Study Leader, Discipleship School Leader, Orchestra/Worship Team, Kids Camp Staff and Administrator, Prayer Ministry, Inner City/Homeless Outreach, Children s Missions Director, Nursery/Childcare Volunteer, International Missions, Safe Keeping Instructor, Children s Ministry Assistant, IT Support. As a child, I learned of Jesus & my parents led me to understand my need for Him. I became a believer very young, but continued to grow in faith & knowledge over the years. I have been through seasons of deep discipleship & seasons of dryness & have found God to be faithful. Each day is a conversation as I read the Bible, pray, & listen. I don t always get it right, but the Holy Spirit is quick to pull me back on track when I need it. I have a passion for missions, teaching, discipleship, & serving that are not only part of my roles at FBC, but are part of my daily role as a physical therapist. These interests/gifts have led me to join several local & international outreach adventures through which the Lord continues to stretch & grow me. RONALD JACKSON - FBC Member 2 years. Presently Serving: Choir Member. Living Christmas Tree Singer. Preschool and Children s Ministry Renovations Team. Personnel Committee. Previously Served: Melbourne, FL First Baptist Melbourne member. Worship Choir, Young Adult Community Outreach Ministry and Missions Activities. Ordained Deacon, Personnel Committee, Prayer Ministry for Widows and Widowers.

4 I came to know Jesus as my Lord and savior one day before my tenth birthday at children s camp. l qrew up hearing stories and teachings from the Bible, but it was at children s camp that year that I finally understood selfishness and sin had caused me to be separated from God. A few years later, I fully came to know the difference between knowledge of a savior and a relationship with Jesus. Through my remaining school and college years I grew to love reading God s word and valued the gift of prayer. God lead me to my wife. Kristen, who is an example of Jesus compassion and love. He has led me to serve His church in many ways and has taught me the value of listening and trusting Him in all things. ANDY JONES - FBC Member 6 years. Presently Serving: Sanctuary Choir Member, Living Christmas Tree, and Young Adult SS Teacher. Music Care Program that Erin Jones Founded. Serve in the Salvation Army Canteen. Previously Served: I previously served the Mississippi State University community as a member and leader of Beta Uplison Chi (Brothers Under Christ) fraternity through leading and participating in our campus ministry concert and volunteer cleanup projects. I also served in the youth choir. To me, being a disciple of Jesus Christ should extend beyond just belief to an inspiration that all my actions and thoughts should be focused to bring glory to God and be a living example of his presence. I was challenged my senior year of high school to what it meant to be a Christian. Several of my peers chose to focus on forgiveness and thought as long as they believe and ask for forgiveness, they could do whatever they desired in the meantime. This belief drove me to really evaluate my life in God as a Christian. Through much prayer, meditation, and spiritual growth from the Bible, I committed my life as written in 1 John 2:3-6 in order to aid others on their journey to what it means to truly be a servant of God. ALLEN MCDAVID - FBC Member 15 years. Presently Serving: Lifespring SS Teacher, Month-a-Quarter Team for Student Ministry, Liftoff Student Worker. Previously Served: Deacon, Finance Committee, Leadership Council, Children s SS Teacher, Fall and Spring Student Retreat Volunteer, Student Ministry Mission Trip to Canada (2012). My faith journey began with a children s Bible study where I accepted Jesus as my Savior at age 10. After enjoying youth group activities through high school and Bible study in college, my faith was emboldened during a mission trip to Eastern Europe in the summer of 1990, where I met Christians who had survived both the Nazis and the Communists. I also personally experienced the hostility that many of these people faced daily in their Christian walk. I met my wife Hallie at a church singles group - we married and remain friends in Christ with many of those people today. We moved to North Alabama in late 2002 due to a job transfer and met a community of Christian parents who started a classical Christian school and joined First Baptist. DENNIS O DELL - FBC Member 33 years. Presently Serving: Renaissance SS Teacher, Sanctuary Choir Member, FBC Men s Ensemble, Hospital Visitation. Previously Served: Deacon; Adult SS Teacher, Personnel Committee Member and Chair, Leadership Council, Sanctuary Choir Member and President, Living Christmas Tree Member for 25 years, Hospital Visitation, Legal Committee, Organist and Associate Minister Search Committee, Interim Pastor Search Committee Chair, Minister to Young Adults Search Committee, Vision Team Member, FBC Men s Ensemble, RA Leader, and FBC Real Estate Vision Committee. Served as a Yokefellow and Trustee at previous church. I became a Christian as an adult in 1980 after spending several years playing the role as a choir member, Sunday School teacher and regular church attendee. lt was during a revival week at Highland Baptist Church and I became convicted that, while I knew who Jesus was and is, I had never had a personal relationship with Him. I was convicted by the Holy Spirit, prayed and asked Jesus to be my personal savior. I went from being just a good ol boy to establishing an eternal life with Christ as Lord and Savior! RICHARD STEINBERG - FBC Member 4 years. Presently Serving: Young Professionals SS Teacher. Previously Served: Children, Youth, and College Ministry SS Teacher, Minister to Students, Student Retreat Speaker, Small Group Student Discipleship Leader, Vision Committee, Pastor Search Committee, Church Authority Structure Committee, Prayer Committee, Deacon. I was introduced to Christianity through the ministry of First Baptist Church. As a teenager, I was invited to attend a trip to Laguna Beach with the youth group. It was there I decided to become a follower of Christ, was set free, and experienced the transforming power of the Holy Spirit. Thanks to the ministry of FBC and in particular the student ministry. NANCY TALLEY - FBC Member 14 years. Presently Serving: Living Christmas Tree Parking Staff, WMU Group Leader. Previously Served: Perry County Mission Trips, Night to Shine, Serving the City. I accepted Christ during my early teenage years and rededicated my life to Christ the summer before my Sophomore year in college. The journey until today has not always been a smooth one. There were lots of detours which I am pretty sure did not follow the path God would have chosen for me. Over the past few years I have begun to work on my relationship with Christ. This discovery effort is still a work in progress and one I must work on every day. CHRIS THOMPSON - FBC Member 22 years. Presently Serving: 8th Grade SS Teacher, Liftoff Student Leader. Fall Student Camp Cooking Team. Worship Care Helper. Previously Served: RA Leader, Orchestra Member, Computer Committee, Christ Covenant Church Praise Band Member.

5 I grew up in a Christian family with the blessing of parents that taught and demonstrated what it meant to be a follower of Christ. I finally accepted Christ in 1984 while attending a summer camp in Florida. I knew what it was to be a Christian but until that point I hadn t chosen to make Christ my personal Lord and Savior. I was baptized shortly after that and joined Park Avenue Baptist Church in Titusville, FL. My walk and my growth as a Christian continues daily. The older I get, the more I realize just how much more I have to learn and how grateful I am for a Savior that I don t deserve. LES TILLERY - FBC Member 15 years. Presently Serving: Student Quarter-Month Team. Previously Served: 11th Grade SS Teacher. FBC Pontotoc Student Drama group director FBC Pontotoc, MS. RA Teacher, Sanctuary Choir member, and Living Christmas Tree choir member. Co-Founder of Causeway Huntsville. I accepted Jesus as my Savior at the age of 10 in First Baptist Church, Marks, Mississippi. My father was the Minister of Music, my mother played the organ, and I cannot remember a time when I was not in church. Growing up in Sunday school, church training, choirs, and vacation bible school certainly laid the foundation for my salvation. When Becky and I were married we made a covenant together to always strive to deepen our relationship with Him and in so doing we would deepen our relationship with each other. We ve had many challenges placed along our path, and while difficult to understand at first, we find strength in each other and in the hope that God has something bigger in store for us. God has blessed my family. SABRINA WAGNON - FBC Member 4 years. Presently Serving: Everyday Discipleship Leader for Median Adult SS, Health and Wellness Ministry Previously Served: (other Baptist churches) Preschool, Children, and Youth Ministries, Sanctuary Choir, Vocal Ensemble, Nursery Worker, Children s Choir Choreographer for Productions, Praise and Worship Dance Team, Preschool SS Teacher, VBS, Hurricane Katrina Relief Team, Interim Director of McElwain Baptist Church School for Performing Arts where I established a ballet program and taught Classical Ballet. It is through the faithful example of a childhood friend and her family that I was introduced to Christ, His teachings, and His Church. It was, however, not until the age of 20 that I made a public profession of faith and began my own personal journey in true fellowship with the Lord. As I reflect on the years since that initial decision to trust in and follow the Lord, I am able to see His hand guiding my life, pulling me back onto His course the many times I wandered (sometimes quite far) off-track. I am thankful for His faithfulness to continue His work in me, and I pray that I will forever remain open and obedient to His calling. WILL WEIR - FBC Member 4 years. Presently Serving: Sanctuary Choir President, Living Christmas Tree, FBC Chamber Singers, Publicity Chairman Living. Christmas Tree Ministry, Ordained Minister, Occasionally substitute for Billy Orton to lead worship, choir anthem and Congregational Singing. Previously Served: Former Minister of Music at FBC Falkville, AL, Cornerstone Community Church, Huntsville, AL, and FBC, Anderson, AL. Faith in God was instilled into me from my parents and I am thankful for Godly parents who raised me right. I committed my life to Jesus Christ on my 15th birthday and was baptized that same day. Later in life, I was ordained into the Gospel Ministry and I served 3 churches as Minister of Music. I have always been interested in church-related things and matters of faith. While I have failed miserably at times in my service to God, my faith and commitment to Christ have never wavered. I believe that Christians are the hands and feet of Jesus, and I try to live up to that commitment. I have had the privilege of ministering to the dying and to the living, and I thank God that He has called me to be His disciple. SCOTT WHETZEL - FBC Member 26 years. Presently Serving: Stephen Ministry, Deacon Hospital Ministry, Fresh Expressions Dinner Church. Previously Served: Lord s Supper Committee, Living Christmas Tree Construction. Willing is the most important attribute. Willing to be led, willing to be a leader, willing to take a stand, willing to admit when l m wrong, willing to take a chance, willing to trust the Lord, wiling to find a place in His service, willing to do the work and study, willing to serve others, and willing to be a follower. That s a lot of willingness. I strive for that and fall short most of the time. Loving the Lord is the reason to be willing. Grace and forgiveness are actions we are called to give and share. The Lord s prayer asks that we be forgiven as we forgive others; that puts the conviction on me to take action. Maybe the best summary is: Strive to walk more closely with the Lord each day. GARY WILLOUGHBY - FBC Member 25 years. Presently Serving: Music and Missions Teacher, Audio/Visual Team. Previously Served: RA Teacher (6 years). I grew up across the road from Rocky Head Baptist church near Ariton, Alabama and my family attended church there regularly. I accepted Christ as a youth around the age of 13 at Rocky Head Baptist Church. I moved to Huntsville in 1992 and started going to church at FBC-Huntsville after I started dating Jennifer Merrifield and I joined FBC-Huntsville sometime in 1993 I believe. Jennifer and I were married at FBC-Huntsville in L have continued to attend FBC-Huntsville regularly with my family. I have been involved with different ministries of our church including RAs, Mission Friends, and the Audio/Visual crew.