Chip Stevens, Senior Pastor

Chip has served as Senior Pastor at FBC since August 2006. He holds a Master of Arts in Christian Education from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. Chip earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Mississippi College and worked for a financial company in Jackson before answering the call to the ministry.

Chip's father, uncle, and grandfather were all pastors and his great-grandfather was President of Mississippi College. Before moving to FBC Starkville in 2006, Chip served in the ministry for 10 years at First Baptist Church, Biloxi, Mississippi, where he started as the Minister to Students. After serving in that capacity for three years, he went on to serve as the associate pastor and senior pastor.

Chip, a native to Heflin, Alabama, is married to Sandra Channell Stevens. They have three children, Reid, 11, Emory, 9, and Graham, 6.

Email Chip: cstevens@fbcstark.org

Tom Jenkins, Minister of Music

Dr. Tom Jenkins became the First Baptist Minister of Music in 2006. He received his Doctor of Musical Arts from the University of Southern Mississippi in Choral Conducting and Pedagogy. Tom also holds a Master of Music from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary and a Bachelor of Music from the University of Southern Mississippi. Tom has well over 20 years experience in music ministry since his first college position as Minister of Music at Trinity Baptist Church in Petal, MS.

Tom and his wife, Dinah, have two daughters, Danley, 20, and Allana, 16.

Email Tom: tjenkins@fbcstark.org

Clifton Curtis, Minister of Education and Senior Adults

Clifton has served on staff at First Baptist for the last eight years. Clifton earned a Master of Arts in Christian Education from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. He is also a graduate of Mississippi State University with both a Bachelor of Science in Animal Science and a Master of Arts in Agricultural Education.

Clifton and his wife Cathy were newlyweds attending First Baptist when they sensed God's call to West Africa, where they served with the International Mission Board for 14 years. During their mission work, God blessed them with three sons, John Mark, 18, Christopher, 16, and Bradley, 11.

Email Clifton: ccurtis@fbcstark.org

Nathan Taylor, Director of University Ministries

Nathan began serving FBC Starkville as the Director of University Ministries in June 2008. A native of Laurel, Mississippi, Nathan received his Bachelor of Business Administration in Marketing from Mississippi State University as well as his Masters of Science Degree in Sport Administration.

Nathan and his wife, Ashley, moved to Starkville in 2006. Prior to serving on staff, Nathan was a Starkville small business owner.

Email Nathan: ntaylor@fbcstark.org

Jim Yates, Minister of Youth

Jim joined First Baptist in April 2006 as Minister of Youth. Originally from Yazoo City, MS, Jim received a Master of Arts in Religious Education from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary and a Bachelor of Arts in Recreation Administration from the University of Missisippi. Prior to joining FBC Starkville, Jim worked at First Baptist, Kosciusko, MS, and First Baptist, Corinth, MS.

Jim is marred to the former Paula Powers of Kosciusko. They have two sons, Foster, 9, and Jon Paul, 6. Jim's hobbies include participating in and watching sports and jogging.

Email Jim: jyates@fbcstark.org

Charity Gwaltney, Director of Children's Ministry

Charity currently serves as the Directory of Children's Ministry at First Baptist. For the past six years, she has worked in serveral areas of preschool and children's ministry. Charity has completed both a Master of Arts in Christian Education and a Master of Divinity from Golden Gate Baptist Theological Seminary. She has additional experience in church planting, educational ministry, and she was an active layperson before she feeling God's call on her life.

Charity and her family moved to Starkville in 2002 so that her husband, Steven, could take a position with Mississippi State University. They have two energetic boys, Caleb, 12, and Joshua, 9.

Email Charity: cgwaltney@fbcstark.org

Dewayne Jeffries, Church Administrator

Email Dewayne: djeffries@fbcstark.org