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), John-Paul (12-20-78), and Caleb (5-22-81). Stephanie and Marty live in Texas with their three children, Anna-Kate, Cole and Davis. Stephanie is a pastor's wife and an Occupational Therapist. John-Paul, who is married to Breanne Riley, works as an independent financial consultant in Russellville. They have one son, Riley Creek. Caleb is an ATU graduate and is involved in business and team roping. Both sons are involved in men's ministries and other ministries with athletes and cowboys.

Contact Stephen at spdavis@fbcruss.org

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

Tom Walker, Minister of Senior Adults

Bro. Tom has been on full-time staff at First Baptist Church since 1990. As of October 2008, Tom changed his responsibilities to part-time staff serving as Minister of Senior Adults. 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 Russellville, AR.

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. She is a graduate of Texas Tech with a degree in Elementary Education. She is an elementary school teacher in the Russellville School District. He and Gloria have three married children: Toby, married to Amber, is a youth minister at First Baptist Church of Sherwood, AR; Jeff, married to Rebekah, is a graduate student at the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville; and Lisa, married to Andy Whilhite, is a school teacher in West Monroe, La. Tommy and Gloria have four grandchildren who live too far away!

Contact Tommy at thavens@fbcruss.org

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

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 tow daughters, Macy, born on April 28, 2005, and Mallory, born June 2, 2008.

Contact Mike at mcloud@fbcruss.org

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 three-year-old daughter, Avery, and newborn son, Andrew.

Contact Dusty at dusty@fbcruss.org

Mark serves as minister to college students and young adults at FBC. It was in college that he was introduced to the Biblical Jesus and has spent the time since then discovering what it looks like to follow Him. After graduation, Mark served in full time collegiate ministry on several Arkansas campuses before moving to Russellville. He was a member of the FBC staff for four consecutive years before moving with his family to India. After two and a half years God has drawn the Palfreeman’s back to FBC and to the college campus with a desire to help students wrap their lives around the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Mark and his wife, Terri, were married in 1977 and have two boys; Caleb (born 2002) and Brennen (born 2005). Besides hanging our with his family, Mark enjoys hiking, Frisbee golf, white water kayaking, and Indian food.

Contact Mark at mark@fbcruss.org

For information of the college ministry, click here!

Larry joined the staff of First Baptist Church in August of 2008. He was born and raised in Russellville, AR. Larry graduated from Oklahoma Baptist University in 2004 with a Bachelors degree in Business Administration with an emphasis in Finance/Accounting. Upon graduation he obtained his license as a CPA. In his four years prior to returning to Russellville, Larry worked in Houston, TX, as an auditor (KPMG LLP) and as an accounting supervisor (Southwestern Energy Company). His wife, Bethany, was raised primarily in Russellville, AR. Bethany also attended Oklahoma Baptist University and graduated in 2003 with a Bachelors of Science with an emphasis in Exercise Science. In 2007, she completed a Masters of Science as a Physician Assistant from Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, TX. Larry and Bethany are excited about the opportunity to work in ministry at FBC Russellville and look forward to what the Lord has planned for their future here.

Contact Larry at larry@fbcruss.org

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