Meet our leaders.
Pastoral Leadership
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Senior Pastor
Aaron joined the staff at First Baptist as senior pastor in June of 2021. He has served churches in North Carolina and Texas, and also completed a two-year stint as a stay-at-home dad. Professionally, his passions include ecumenical and interfaith cooperation, robust and thoughtful patterns of Christian worship, and in-depth, contextually sensitive Bible study.
Aaron has a B.A. in Religion and Classics from Samford University, and an M.Div. from the Candler School of Theology at Emory University. He is married to Leanna, a minister, mother, and environmentalist; together they have one daughter, Henlee, who sometimes gleefully corrects his sermons from the front pew.
Aaron is a confessed nerd and can usually be found reading comic books or playing Dungeons and Dragons in his spare time. He also enjoys family hikes and splashing around in Cave Run Lake.
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Associate Pastor
Jackson was called to First Baptist in February of 2024. He is a native of Mount Sterling, KY, a graduate of Transylvania University, and is currently studying theology with a Biblical Studies concentration at Central Baptist Theological Seminary. Jackson has served congregations in Louisville, Frankfort, and Little Rock, Arkansas. He is passionate about church growth, NextGen ministry, and following Jesus into the most authentic Christian orthodoxy (and consequently orthopraxy!).
Pastor Jackson has spent a significant amount of his ministry working for a more just and generous expression of Christianity within himself and his faith community. He is the first gay-identifying Baptist pastor in Eastern Kentucky and is proud to be working for equity in the global and local church. More recently, Jackson has been involved in partnership with the Association of Welcoming & Affirming Baptists and their growing vision for an inclusive Baptist tradition.
Jackson and his partner Micah can usually be found cooking a meal at home or hanging out with their doggos, Earl Alexander and Augustus “Gus” Fitzerald.
Meet our staff.
We are all the church, and we all bring our gifts and talents to bear on our common life together, and there are some among us whose particular gifts are called out in full-time or vocational service to and for the congregation. Our dedicated church staff ensure that the day-to-day operations of FBC Morehead run smoothly in order to equip and empower the congregation for its vital work in our community.
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Rhelda and her family have been members of First Baptist since 1993. She raised her children here and now enjoys a semi-retirement that mainly involves attempting to keep up with her grandchildren.
After retiring from the Morehead Utility Plant Board in 2013, Rhelda agreed to join the FBC staff as our bookkeeper, and she works closely with ministers and committees to keep track of the financial health of the congregation.
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Heather came to Morehead from Iowa after marrying MSU professor and fellow Iowan Jason Holcomb. She continued to return to Iowa as a "suitcase farmer", raising corn and soybeans, for several years after after relocating. She also had the good fortune to work at the Fuzzy Duck and met all manner of fun and interesting co-workers and customers. Heather has one son, Ian, and more cats than are strictly necessary. In her spare time, she enjoys fabricating things - mostly through cooking, sewing, or woodworking.
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Risa Boyd joins First Baptist Church of Morehead as our incoming Nursery staff member! Risa is a mother of two, serves as the Executive Assistant to the Provost at Morehead State University, and is a longtime member of the Christian faith.
Meet Our Interns
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Alyssa Neuman
Ready-To-Work Intern
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Courtney Carroll
Ready-To-Work Intern
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P. F.
Ministry Intern
Meet our musicians.
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When he’s not leading the congregation in song, David can be found directing the Camden-Carroll Library at Morehead State University, and he brings his wealth of knowledge and experience as a librarian to his work as a music minister.
David is a native Kentuckian, and he has seen most of the state throughout his distinguished career. Prior to coming to Morehead, David was a music librarian and adjunct professor of music at the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville (where he also earned his Ph.D), and he has served several other churches as music minister.
David and his wife Kathy have been members of FBC since 2012. David also enjoys singing in community events and attempting to keep up with his grandchildren.
After years of serving as Minister of Music, David has recently decided to retire from that position though he remains active as one of our adult Sunday School teachers.
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Until very recently, Greg actually conducted two choirs, ours and Morehead State University’s!
During his more than thirty years as Director of Choral Activities at MSU Greg conducted the Chamber Singers and Concert Choir and taught conducting and voice. His choirs have toured and presented concerts in Austria, Hungary, Germany, the Czech Republic, Costa Rica, and Canada; and have appeared at regional and state conventions of the American Choral Directors Association and the Music Educators National Conference. Even in retirement he remains In demand as a clinician, guest conductor, and adjudicator, he has presented workshops in choral technique across the U.S. and Canada.
Greg is married to our accompanist, Tania Detweiler.
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Adrian’s FBC journey began during high school when he visited the church as a member of the Governor’s Scholars Program at MSU.
A public defender by day, Adrian is passionate about making music and also sings in our sanctuary choir. He lovingly tends our aging organ and has been known to make quick repairs in the middle of a worship service.
You can also find Adrian on a tennis court or relaxing at home with his cat Persephone.
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Tania came to Morehead from Ecuador as a piano student at MSU and we have been so blessed to watch her grow and flourish as a musician. Most Sundays she can be found playing the piano during the prelude, hymns, and choral performances, but she’s no slouch on the organ, either!
Tania also teaches private music lessons and often invites her students to perform at church. She is married to choral director Greg Detweiler.
Meet the deacons.
As Baptists, we believe that everyone is called to Christ’s service and that church leadership is a shared, democratic endeavor. To that end, the church regularly chooses members of the congregation to serve as deacons. These deacons (twelve total) model the way of Jesus for all of us as they serve food, visit the sick, support church staff, aid congregational decision-making, and generally make the world a better place.
July ‘24-July ‘25 chair: David Graham
Meet the committees.
Remember what we said about democratic leadership? We meant it! No one person, not even the senior pastor, makes decisions for the congregation as a whole.
Instead, following the guidance of the Holy Spirit, we elect church members to serve on various committees dedicated to specific tasks or ministry areas of the church.
These committees work together to make recommendations to the congregation, who then discern and vote together on important matters of church life at regular business meetings.
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Missions & Outreach
Chair: Melody Graham
The Missions and Outreach Committee works to involve our congregation in seeking the common good of Morehead and connects to the resources and projects of both CBF and CBF Kentucky.
See more about FBC on mission under What We Do. —>
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Stewardship
Chair: Janet Ratliff
Our committee oversees the financial processes of FBC, provides direction to leaders of programs and committees concerning finances, and sets policies for the management of church funds.
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Administrative Working Group
Chair: Adrian Jacob
The Administrative Work Group (AWG) helps the church to be more effective in planning programs, coordinating activities, and managing resources. AWG seeks to identify strengths and talents of individuals for nomination to the appropriate administrative and ministry work groups. It keeps the record of the membership of all committees and recommends appropriate replacements when vacancies occur in those committees as well as in the positions of trustee, moderator, clerk, and treasurer. AWG also updates the constitution, bylaws, and operations manual and presents updates to the church for adoption. We strive to use the talents and strengths of each and every one of our church members in the best way possible to represent the Holy Spirit’s workings in all of us.
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Human Resources
Chair: Robin Simpson
The Human Resources Committee works to meet the staffing needs for the church. We have assisted in the development human resource policies for the operations manual and developed the Sexual Misconduct Policy for the church. We conduct annual performance reviews with staff and assist with onboarding new employees.
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Christian Education for Children and Youth
Chair: Martha Perkins
This committee works with the Associate Pastor to oversee children’s programs and assure children’s safety from nursery through youth group ages.
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Hospitality
Chair: Martha Perkins
The hospitality committee organizes church potlucks and other special social events. (There are more of us, but we were too busy hosting to get a photo together!)
