Our Staff
Reverend Dr. Earl Davis
Interim Pastor
Dr. Earl Davis began his ministry at First Baptist Church as Interim Pastor in May of 2011. A few words about his background: he is a native of Florida, a graduate of Stetson University, Southeastern Baptist Seminary, and Southern Baptist Seminary (PhD). He has served, since seminary, as pastor of the First Baptist Churches of Marianna, Florida; Dalton, Georgia; and Memphis, Tennessee. He is also the founding pastor of Trinity Baptist Church in Cordova, Tennessee. Since shifting his ministry focus in 2001, he has served as Interim Pastor of 10 churches in western North Carolina, including such churches as First Baptist Church, Boone; First Baptist Church, West Jefferson; and College Avenue Baptist Church in Lenoir.
Earl and Pegeen make their residence at Rocky Comfort near Blowing Rock, North Carolina, just off the Blue Ridge Parkway. Any time you are in that area, do drop in!
They have two married children, Deryl, who is associated with the National Cathedral in Washington, D.C. and is a professor at the Wesley Theological Seminary in Washington; and their daughter Dawn, who is a realtor living near Raleigh, North Carolina. Earl and Pegeen have six grandchildren.
For more information about the Davises, please visit http://raccoontheology.blogspot.com or check him out on www.facebook.com.
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Reverend Beth Heffner
Minister of Music and Families
Our Minister of Music and Families, Beth Heffner, grew up in Indiana and Illinois, but considers North Carolina, and especially Rutherfordton, home. Beth's parents are Christian musicians who raised her to love the Lord and music. She was given the call for ministry while in college and now holds a graduate Divinity degree where her concentration was in church music. Beth has been in church ministry for 30 years and considers it a humbling, yet joyful vocation. She is a professionally trained soprano soloist who has sung solos with orchestras in large auditoriums to singing a cappella in the slums of South Africa. Playing the saxophone and dramatically participating in worship are other talents in which Beth shares the gospel. She is married to Dale Heffner and has two adult children, Aimee and Adam.
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Reverend Josh Powers
Minister of Youth and Education
Josh grew up in Kentucky in a great Christian family and in a wonderful church that taught him the importance of youth ministry. He attended Georgetown College in Georgetown, KY, and while attending college was able to explore many different ministerial options while receiving his B.A. in Religion. Shortly after college, Josh began attending the Baptist Seminary of Kentucky for his M. Div. After transferring to the M. Christopher White School of Divinty at Gardner-Webb University, he received his M. Div. in Biblical Studies in December, 2009. Josh began working for First Baptist in September of 2009. Josh enjoys sports of all kinds, especially any with the University of Kentucky Wildcats. He is married to Brandi Powers, who is the Minister of Youth, Children, and Missions at FBC Forest City and also the very proud father of Joel Aiden, his infant son!
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Reverend Terry Honeycutt
Organist
Terry began serving as organist at First Baptist Church in 1998. A native of Asheville, NC, Terry's first piano teacher was her own grandmother. Her motivation to begin organ lessons came from the inspiring sounds of the pipe organ in her home church of First Baptist Church, Asheville. She received a BA in Music Education from Gardner Webb College in 1974, and has taught piano and organ for 25 years. Responding to a call to ministry, Terry returned to Gardner-Webb University and received a Master of Divinity degree in 2007. In addition to her music duties at FBC, she currently serves as a chaplain for Hospice of Rutherford County.
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Jesse Roberts
Pianist
Jesse has been at First Baptist since February, 2010. He is currently a graduate student at Gardner-Webb University where he is pursuing a Masters and Ed.S in Mental Health Counseling. In addition to his duties at First Baptist, he serves as a Graduate Residence Director and Graduate Assistant at GWU. Jesse began playing the piano at the age of 13 and has since studied with Lamon Records recording artist David Roach and Gardner-Webb piano professor Dr. Carolyn Billings. "My goal through music is first and foremost to bring glory to Jesus Christ, my Lord and Savior, in an attempt to give back to Him a very small portion of everything with which He has so richly blessed me. I pray that my music is a blessing to those who hear it, and that they recognize not what I am doing - but what God is doing through me."
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Debbie Turner
Secretary
Debbie lives in the "big community" of Hollis, NC. This country girl at heart is married and has two grown sons. She is a member at Big Springs Baptist Church where she also serves on their church staff in a part-time position. The church staff at First Baptist Church are in awe of her skills as she does so many things at one time and does them all well. People can count on her friendship, her listening ear, her professionalism, and her sense of humor. In her down time, Debbie enjoys reading, quilting, camping, and spending time with family and friends.
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Garry Cuthbertson
Custodian
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George Hughes
Grounds Maintenance
George is a native of Rutherford County, born in Rutherford Hospital forty years ago. He is the son of retired obstetrician Dr. Joe Don and wife Easter Hughes. He and his brother Joe and sister Donna lived on Possum Hollow Farms where they raised cattle and other livestock until he attended Spartanburg Day School and Asheville School. In 1990 he earned an Associate’s degree in Science from Isothermal Community College. George jokes that his career actually began at the age of 5 when he began cutting grass on the farm, clearing land for pasture, and building fence. His landscape business, “Call George,” became official in 1990 and has grown into a multi-faceted company specializing in lawn maintenance, grading, hauling, and installing hard scapes. He married Janet Mull, also a native of Rutherfordton, and has twin girls, Madalyn and Mackenzie. He is a member of First Baptist Church, Rutherfordton, and attends regularly. In his spare time, he enjoys dining at fine restaurants and traveling with his family and friends.