








 |
|

|
Dr. Stephen P. Davis, Pastor
Bro. Stephen has been pastor of First Baptist Church since June 1984 after serving as pastor of three other churches since June of 1976. He is an Oklahoma native, growing up in Muskogee and Midwest City, OK. He is a graduate of the University of Oklahoma with a B.A. in Journalism, Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary with a Master of Divinity degree and Trinity Theological Seminary, Newburg, IN with a Doctor of Ministry degree. His wife, Jonya, is from Springfield, MO and Little Rock, AR. A graduate of Ouachita Baptist University, she is a homemaker and an active retreat and conference speaker while giving leadership to the Women’s Ministries of First Baptist Church. They have three children – Mrs. Marty (Stephanie) Collier (1-22-77), mother of 3 children, Anna-Kate, Cole and Davis, a pastor's wife and an Occupational Therapist; John-Paul (12-20-78), married to Breanne Riley, is finishing his degree at Arkansas Tech and is an assistant coach for the ATU baseball team while enjoying their first child, Riley Creek; and Caleb (5-22-81), an ATU graduate, is ranching and team roping. Both sons are involved in Christian ministries with athletes and cowboys.
Contact Stephen at spdavis@fbcruss.org |
 |
Tom Walker, Minister of Administration/Business Affairs & Senior Adults
Bro. Tom has been on staff at First Baptist Church since 1990. He is an Arkansas native growing up in Harmony Grove, a community outside of Camden, AR. He is a graduate of Arkansas Tech University and the University of Arkansas where he obtained an Accounting degree. After several years as a practicing C.P.A., Tom was called into the ministry and moved to Memphis, TN where he graduated with a Master of Divinity degree from Mid-America Baptist Theological Seminary. He recently received his Doctor of Ministry degree. Tom is a member of the C.P.A.’s of America Institute, the Arkansas State Society of CPA’s and the National Assn. Of Church Business Administrators. He is past President of the Russellville Chamber of Commerce. Peggy, his wife, is an Arkansas native also. They have two married sons, Brent and his wife, Katerina, who reside in Maumelle, AR, and Scott and his wife, April, who live in Tyler, Texas. |
 |
Tommy Havens, Minister of Music
Tommy has been on staff at First Baptist Church since August of 1985. A native Texan (Quanah and Lubbock), he is a graduate of Texas Tech University (B.Mus.Ed.) and Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary (MM). After three years as a public school music teacher, he has been in full-time ministry since 1978. His wife, Gloria, is from Wilson, Texas, a graduate of Texas Tech, and an elementary school teacher. Their three children are grown and married, and they have one grandson who they don't get to see often enough.
Contact Tommy at thavens@fbcruss.org |
 |
Greg Sykes, Associate Pastor/Minister of Education and Families
Greg joined the staff of First Baptist Church in July of 2001. He is an Arkansas native, growing up in Cabot. He is a graduate of the University of Arkansas where he obtained degrees in Journalism and Political Science. He recently completed work on his Master's Degree in Biblical Studies from Trinity Theological Seminary in Newburgh, IN. He has served as Media Director at Student Mobilization, a regional collegiate ministry based in Conway, Arkansas, as well as Associate and Youth Pastor at First Baptist Church in Dover, AR, before coming to Russellville. His wife, Jamie, is a Russellville native and taught high school in the area for six years. They have three children, a daughter, Grace, and two sons, Carter and Reed.
Contact Greg at greg@fbcruss.org |
| |
|
 |
Jay Ham, Minister of Church Recreation, Outreach, & Missions
Jay joined the First Baptist Church staff in January of 2005. He and his wife, Kristen, have two daughters, Sarah Beth and Meagan Grace, and two sons, Joshua and Caleb. He is a native of Gum Springs, AR, and obtained a B.S.E. in History from Ouachita Baptist University in Arkadelphia, AR. Jay surrendered to ministry in 1990 and began working as a bi-vocational youth minister that same year. He taught and coached for seven years in Camden, AR, before becoming the Minister to Students at Immanuel Baptist Church in El Dorado, AR for the four years prior to coming to Russellville. He is currently pursuing a Master's degree in Christian Education from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Ft. Worth, TX. Kristen is also a graduate of OBU and holds a Master's Degree in Technical Writing from Louisiana Tech in Ruston, LA. Kristen currently teaches Comp I and II as an adjunct professor at Arkansas Tech in Russellville.
Contact Jay at jay@fbcruss.org
Visit our Recreation and Outreach ministry here! |
 |
Mike Cloud, Minister to Children & Families
Mike joined the staff of First Baptist Church in May of 2007. He was born in Washington, D.C., and he was raised in Fort Smith, Arkansas. Mike graduated from Fort Smith Southside High School in 1993; Ouachita Baptist University in 1997 with a bachelor’s degree in biblical studies/languages; and Dallas Theological Seminary in 2005 with a master’s degree in theology (area of concentration in pastoral leadership/pastoral ministry). Mike surrendered to the ministry in 1990 and he has served on the pastoral staff of three other churches (Prattsville, AR; Sheridan, AR; and Dallas, TX). He has served in various roles including: Children’s Pastor, Youth Pastor, and Associate Pastor. Mike married his high school sweetheart, Ginger Cox, on May 31, 1997. Ginger graduated from the University of Central Arkansas in 1997 with a bachelor’s degree in business education. She has a combined 8 years of high school teaching experience at public school systems in Sheridan, AR, and Mesquite, TX. Mike and Ginger have one daughter, Macy, born on April 28, 2005.
Contact Mike at mcloud@fbcruss.org |
 |
Dustin Lindsey, Minister to Youth & Families
Dusty Lindsey joined the FBC staff in August 2007. He is a native of
Camden, Arkansas. Dusty graduated from Henderson State University with a
Bachelor's in Business Administration and is finishing his Master's of Arts
and Christian Education from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary.
Dusty has been in the youth ministry for seven years (Camden, AR and
Bastrop, LA). His wife, Kristen, also graduated from Henderson with a
Bachelor's in Business Administration. She has taught preschool gymnastics
for fifteen years and is currently at home with their daughter, Avery, who
was born in August of 2005.
Contact Dusty at dusty@fbcruss.org |
 |
Jeremy Aylett , Minister of Collegiate & International Students
Jeremy joined the FBC staff in summer of 2007. He was born in Nashville, AR and grew up in Arkansas and Louisiana, living in North Little Rock, Batesville, Lafayette, LA, Pine Bluff, and West Monroe, LA. He is a graduate of Arkansas Tech University, where he obtained a degree in Business Administration with an emphasis in Management/Marketing. Jeremy has served here as the student ministry intern since fall of 2004. Jeremy is pursuing a master of divinity from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary through the Little Rock extension center. His wife, Natalia, is from Montevideo, Uruguay and is a graduate of Arkansas Tech University with a degree in International Studies. She is currently working on a master in English.
Contact Jeremy at jeremy@fbcruss.org
For information of the college ministry, click here!
|
 |
Darlene Jernigan, Director of Preschool Ministries
Darlene joined the staff of First Baptist Church in September 2006. She and her husband, Jay, have five children and five grandchildren living in Arkansas and Pennsylvania. Julianna, 15 years of age, is still of the home. Darlene is originially from Newport News, VA and Jay is from Paragould, AR. Darlene comes to us from First Baptist Church of Rogers, AR after serving as Children's Choir Coordinator, Children's Ministry Director, and most recently, Director of Preschool Ministries.
Contact Darlene at darlene@fbcruss.org | |