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First Baptist Church
FBC Morehead City - New Beginnings
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Dr. Nate Leonard    
Senior Pastor

nleonard@fbcmhc.org

Nate grew up in Salisbury, NC prior to attending North Carolina State University where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in psychology, graduating magna cum laude.  In 2004 he received a Master of Divinity degree from Campbell University Divinity School and in 2011 a Doctor of Ministry degree from Beeson Divinity School in Birmingham, Alabama.  Nate spent 10 years in student ministry prior to his call to serve as senior pastor at First Baptist Church of Morehead City in January of 2013.

Nate has a true love for Christ, his church, and the lost.  He has spent time preaching and serving the least of these in places as far away as Indonesia and Ukraine as well as rural Appalachia and his own backyard.  Nate is passionate about preaching and teaching the Word.    

Nate and his wife Suellen have three children: Pierce, Creed, and Selwyn. Nate loves the beauty of Carteret County, spending time with his family, and powered paragliding.  (If, like most folks, you have no idea what that is, click here to watch a short video) 


Rev. Amanda Monroe
Associate Pastor of Next Generation & Online Ministry

amonroe@fbcmhc.org

Amanda joined our team as the Associate Pastor for Children and Youth in September 2019.  She graduated from University of North Carolina at Pembroke in 2005 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Studio Art.  In 2009 she received her Master of Divinity Degree from Campbell University Divinity School.  Amanda has spent over 15 years in children and youth ministries prior to her call to come serve the people in Morehead City.

Amanda is passionate about missions and outreach.  She has been able to serve in Belize, Cuba, and to the ends of the earth - The Philippines, along with many different places in the United States.

Amanda and her husband Dale have two girls, Mae Joy and Ivy Grace.  She loves spending time with the girls and you can find them most afternoons at the local park.  Amanda also loves a "good deal"!  She enjoys Facebook Marketplace, yard sales, and thrift stores her favorite being Salavation Army (She might go there almost every weekeday) & Loaves and Fishes.  More than those things, Amanda loves people.  She loves to TALK as she understands that in order to grow the Kingdom of God relationships have to be formed.


Rev. Frank Jarman
Associate Pastor Spiritual Formation 

Frank Jarman came to First Baptist Church after 30 years of helping the poor, homeless, and addicted of North Central West Virginia. He has served as Pastor of two missions and Executive Director of a small nonprofit that focused on helping people out of poverty and drug addiction.

Frank and his wife, Lynn, have served together with Operation Christmas Child, with Frank as Area Coordinator and Lynn as Site Coordinator. They also served on Mission in Puerto Rico, putting roofs on houses after hurricanes left many in Puerto Rico homeless.

Frank and Lynn also serve at First Baptist Church as facilitators of Grief Share, a weekly group helping folks walk through the loss of their loved ones.


Rev. Linza Layman Coffee
Associate Pastor of Traditional Worship

God does not seem ready for me to join in on retirement quite yet, and I am so grateful for the opportunity to continue to serve Him here at First Baptist Church Morehead City.  After many years of serving Him in Burlington and Mocksville, NC, Johnny and I moved to Morehead City in 2020 from Burlington, where we made our home and where all 7 of our children grew up.  We now share 9 grandchildren whom we adore and who keep us busy. 

I grew up in Whiteville, NC and graduated from Meredith College with a Bachelor of Music Degree.  I began my career at Boys Homes of North Carolina in nearby Lake Waccamaw, where I received several years of my own training for the 4 boys and 1 girl that I would one day parent alone.  While I knew most of my life that I had been called to ministry, this life of vocational ministry was realized in the early 2000’s when God called me from the pew to the staff to serve the congregation at First Baptist Church, Burlington.  It did not take long then to realize that I needed more education and I completed the certification in Children and Family Ministry from Campbell University Divinity School in 2008.  I was ordained by First Baptist Church Burlington in 2007 after years of both volunteer and vocational service and the needed time in becoming secure in the absolute call of God.  Along the way I have served as Chaplain at Loaves and Fishes, been chairperson of the faith-based committee of the Juvenile Crime Prevention Council, and served as volunteer liaison to nursing homes in Alamance County.  I have also served on the board of Christian Women’s Job Corps of NC.   It has also been a joy to continuously have a piano studio in my home for more than 40 years! 

Please feel free to ask me about my love of “brown signs” when traveling and also why I view my ministry as my lifestyle.  I would love to share my story and I would love to hear yours as well. 


Rev. Darrell Williams
Senior Adult Ministries

Darrell has been our Minister for Senior Adults since June 2022.  He first joined the ministry team in May 2008 as the Associate Pastor for Education and Discipleship and retired from full time ministry in May 2021.  Prior to coming to First Baptist Church of Morehead City, he served at several other North Carolina churches. 

Darrell graduated from East Carolina University in 1978 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration.  In 1999 he received his Master of Divinity Degree in Christian Education from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary. 

Darrell has been happily married to his wonderful wife BJ since November 6, 1982.  They have one daughter, Amanda Roberson, son-in-law Brad, and two precious grandsons, Isaac and Robert.  In his free time, you will find him spoiling his grandsons, attending ECU sporting events, and occasionally walking on the beach.   


Deborah Lockey
Worship Leader
dlockey@fbcmhc.org

Sarah DeLuzio
Pianist

Diane Hawkins
Organist/Interim Director of Music Arts Academy
dhawkins@fbcmhc.org

Vonne Lewis
Ministry Assistant

vlewis@fbcmhc.org

Vonne joined the FBC staff on June 21, 2010 as Receptionist/Ministry Assistant.   
Vonne attended Carteret Community College and became interested in Data Processing and Computers.  She moved to Raleigh and went to the Raleigh School of Data Processing and Computer Programming and was employed by North Carolina State University.  She moved back home and was employed by the County Tax Department for two years, then worked in the office at Atlantic Veneer for 20+ years.  Wanting a change, she left AVC and has had an eclectic group of jobs since then that include substitute teaching, driving a school bus, working for a car dealership and managing a Christian Bookstore for six years.  
Vonne and her husband of 43 years, Gray, make their home in Bettie, NC.  Their family includes two sons (one deceased), their wives, and one granddaughter.  A cancer survivor, Vonne values her family and is most happy when she is with them.  She enjoys sports, reading, cooking, being with friends, doing 1000 piece jigsaw puzzles, working on the computer, and swimming.  Her favorite scripture is Philippians 4:13 because she says, “I can do absolutely nothing without Him and anything is possible with Him."

Carol Reed
Financial Secretary

creed@fbcmhc.org

Carol has been working 11 years as the Financial Secretary. She passionate about maintaining the church financial records and membership contributions accurately. Carol has always been known for her organizational skills and she enjoys being creative and generating new ideas and ways of completing the job more skillfully and effectively.

Carol has been married to her high school sweetheart Dick for 54 years, they have one daughter, a son-in-law and two grandchildren.


Fran Welch
Custodian

Fran has worked at First Baptist as a custodian for twelve years and counting. She loves working and serving at First Baptist. When Fran isn't at the church she enjoys time at home with her pups and in her yard with her beautiful roses. 

George Shelor 
Custodian

    Contact

    First Baptist Church
    810 Bridges Street
    Morehead City, NC  28557
    Phone:  252.726.4142
    Fax: 252.726.4784
    Email: fbcmail@fbcmhc.org

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