Meet Rev. Linza Layman Coffee

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.