Greg Sykes, Senior Pastor
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 completed work in 2007 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. He enjoys writing Christian fiction and has published three novels since 2008 while maintaining a regular blog from a Christian perspective. His wife, Jamie, is a Russellville native and taught high school in the area for six years. She currently directs FBCs Mothers Day Out ministry. They have three children, a daughter, Grace, born in 2000, and two sons, Carter and Reed, born in 2003 and 2004 respectively.
Contact Greg at greg@fbcruss.org
Mark Palfreeman, Minister to College Students
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 Palfreemans 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 1997 and have two boys; Caleb (born 2002) and Brennen (born 2005). Besides hanging out with his family, Mark enjoys hiking, Frisbee golf, triathlons, and Indian food.
Contact Mark at mark@fbcruss.org
Jay Ham, Minister of Church Recreation, Outreach, and 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. 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 7th and 8th grade reading at Pottsville Junior High.
Contact Jay at jay@fbcruss.org
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 bachelors degree in biblical studies/languages; and Dallas Theological Seminary in 2005 with a masters 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: Childrens 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 bachelors 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 two daughters, Macy, born on April 28, 2005, and Mallory, born June 2, 2008.
Contact Mike at mcloud@fbcruss.org
Dusty 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 three-year-old daughter, Avery, and newborn son, Andrew.
Contact Dusty at dusty@fbcruss.org
Larry Walker, Minister of Church Finances & Administration
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 have one son, Carson, born August 3, 2009..
Contact Larry at larry@fbcruss.org
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
Jamie Sykes, Director of Mother’s Day Out Director
Jamie joined the staff of Mother’s Day Out in 2002 and has served as the Director since 2007. She is the mother of three children, Grace, Carter, and Reed, and she is married to Greg Sykes, FBC’s Associate Pastor. She is a Russellville native, graduating from Russellville High School. She received her degree in Secondary Education from the University of Central Arkansas in 1996 and taught Biology and Physical Science at both Dardanelle and Dover High Schools before assuming her role with Mother’s Day Out. She has been a part of FBC Russellville since she was born.
Brandon Mistler, Minister to Middle School Students
Hey, my name is Brandon Mistler. My wife, Vicky, and I were married on July 10, 2010 and have a passion for students and especially middle school students. I graduated from ATU in 2007 with a Middle School Math/Science Degree. My wife is currently pursuing a Nursing Degree at ATU. We are extremely excited to be working at FBC and looking forward to helping to encourage and develop the spiritual growth of Middle School Students. We look forward to meeting you and your family.
Contact Brandon at brandon@fbcruss.org
Justin Myrick, Minister to Media, Technology, & International Students
Justin joined the staff of First Baptist Church in August of 2010. He is originally from Ellijay, Georgia, but was drawn to Arkansas by an opportunity to play football at Ouachita Baptist University. He graduated there in 2003 with a Bachelor’s degree in Mass Communication. In 2004, he came to FBC Russellville, and worked the next few years with youth, college, and recreation. It was during that time that God confirmed Justin’s call to ministry, and eventually led him to serve two years in North Africa. In 2006, he met his wife Brooke, a graduate of Arkansas Tech University. They were married in September of 2008, and have just recently had their first child, Hallie. Justin is currently pursuing his Master of Arts from Trinity Theological Seminary in Newburgh, IN.
Contact Justin at justin@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 CPAs 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.
Manuel Mendoza, Hispanic Church Mission
Manuel joined FBC in May of 2005. He was born in Zacatecoluca, La Paz, El Salvador. Moved to Danville, AR in October of 1995. He and his wife Claudia married in August of 2000 and have two sons, Josué & Samuel. Manuel graduated from Angel Martínez Theological Seminary in DeQueen, Ar in May 2001. He was ordained in August 2003 at Emanuel Baptist Church in DeQueen, AR. His wife Claudia was born in San Salvador, El Salvador and moved to Brownsville, Texas in 1989. She is a 1999 Danville HS graduate and currently works as our FBC receptionist. Manuel and Claudia are currently studying at Instituto Teológico Bautista de Arkansas in Little Rock. They have three sons: Josué, Samuel & Andres(not pictured)
Darren Richardson, Director of Church Facilities
Darren joined the staff of First Baptist Church in November of 2008. He was born in Rochester, MN. Darren graduated from Calvary Bible College of Kansas City, MO in 1992 with a Bachelors of Science in Pastoral Studies. He pastored a rural in Arkansas church for seven years. While attending college and pastoring, he worked in construction. After pastoring, he continued working in construction; eventually owning a construction company in the area. His wife, Jackie, was raised in Wisconsin and Minnesota. Jackie graduated from Calvary Bible College in 1994 with a Bachelors of Science in Elementary Education. Jackie homeschools four of their five children: Thomas, Kirsti, Leanna, and Rachel. Rebekah attends ATU.
Jerry Boriboun, Media and Web Master
Jerry volunteered for the position at First Baptist Church in August 2010. He is a native to Russellville and became involved back in 2005. Since then, he helped with many different ministries including the youth ministry and college ministry. He graduated from Russellville High School in 2007 and attended Arkansas Tech University for 2 years. Because of unforeseen circumstances, he was unable to continue. But God has opened doors that allows him to go into a field that uses his talents and gifts in computer electronics, graphic design and website design and support. He currently holds a full-time position at NEW Corporation as a Computer Technician and also help other churches and organizations with any website support and graphic/logo designs as a ministry.
Contact Jerry at jerry@fbcruss.org
Nan Nelson, First Baptist Librarian
Nan became librarian at First Baptist Church in 2001. She grew up in Atkins and has lived in Russellville for 28 years–from 1975-1989 and from 1996 through the present. She graduated from Ouachita Baptist University with a degree in elementary education and taught at Russellville Middle School for four years. Her husband, Greg, grew up in Batesville and is a Regional Human Resources Director for Tyson Foods. They have three children–David, an OB/GYN, and wife, Kristen, a Pediatrician, of Russellville; LeeAnne, a dental hygenist, of Dallas; and Lauren, a student at Southern College of Optometry in Memphis. Their first grandchild (a boy) is due in February 2011.