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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 has three children: Pierce, Creed and Slewyn.


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 

fjarman@fbcmhc.org

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
lcoffee@fbcmhc.org

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

Deborah Lockey is Worship Leader here at FBC and leads worship along with our Worship Team for our 11am blended service. Deborah grew up in Burlington, NC and graduated from Campbell College with a Bachelors of Music Education degree. 
During her late high school and college summers she worked as a staffer at Camp Mundo Vista and at age 19 felt a call to serve God with her life. Following college she served on staff at Newport Baptist Church with youth and music ministries, while also serving as church pianist and part-time secretary. In 1985 this church planted a mission in Havelock which became McCotter Blvd. Baptist Church. Deborah and her husband, Tim went with the team to help begin this work. There Deborah served as church pianist and helped develop the music ministries, eventually serving on staff as Music Minister and volunteer director of youth ministries. In 2008 Deborah joined the staff here at First Baptist, working with our youth and senior adults, she retired from those places of ministry in August of 2022. She has now returned to lead our worship team.
Deborah has been joyfully married to Tim Lockey since 1979. They have three grown sons and two lovely daughter-in-laws. They reside in Newport and love life in the country. Deborah enjoys singing and  playing all kinds of music, riding her bike, sailing, reading, and spending time with Tim on their small farm.  

Sarah DeLuzio
Pianist

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

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.


Kristin Furr
Ministry Assistant
kfurr@fbcmhc.org

Hey y’all, I’m Kristin!  I’m 35, have been with my husband, Chris, for 14 years, and have a 17 year old daughter, Lorelei.  I have two cats, Cupcake (boy) and Sushi (girl).  I have four siblings (1 sister, 1 brother, 1 sister-in-law, & 1 brother-in-law).  My dad was in the Air Force so I was born in Austin, Tx and raised in Wichita, Ks but have lived in Carteret County for most of my life.  I’ve been raised in the church since I was two weeks old and was baptized as a teenager.  As an adult I have learned that no matter what happens, God’s got it and that is something I strive to share with everyone I meet. My favorite color is pink, my favorite season is summer, and my favorite movie is The Little Mermaid.  I plan a trip to Disney any chance I get and my favorite place I’ve been is Salzburg, Austria.  I want to go to Greece and Hawaii one day.  The beach brings me joy and social media brings me stress.  I was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis on my 29th birthday and a gluten allergy in my 30s. Want to know any thing else, just ask!

Emily Anne Graham
Youth & Children's Ministry Associate

egraham@fbcmhc.org

Born and raised in Virginia, my family (husband, John; and daughters, Charlotte (8) and Lucy (3)) and I relocated to MHC, NC in 2023.  Professionally, I have spent my 'day-jobs' (not to be confeused with my eternal job) serving God through leadership in the health and wellness profession as well as Christian Education.  My strong faith keeps God's fruitfulness in the hearts of the next generation.  I love to spend time outdoors with my family, play tennis, go for walks, travel, worship and go to concerts, curl up with a good book, and soak up every second with my children.  My favorite place is the Appalachain Mountains.  My favorite organization to fundraise for is St. Jude's!  I am beyond humbled and excited to be this new chapter serving the youth of Carteret County and beyond alongside the staff at FBCMHC! 


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

Lynn Jarman
Nursery Coordinator


I had a Bachelor's degree in Psycology with a minor in History.  Originally from West Virginia, I am the proud mother of three grown daughters.  For 30 years, I have served as a Work Adjustment and Training Liaison at the Op Shop in Marion County, West Virginia, where I have dedicated myself to training individuals in essential job and life skills.

My involvement in church activities goes beyond the professional realm.  I have actively volunteered for Mission trips and served in the nursery while attending church.  My service on Mission trips to Ecuador, Texas/Mexico, Puerto Rico, and Guatemala has been a testament to my commitment to our church community.  I facilitate Grief Share here at First Baptist Church with my husband, Rev. Frank Jarman.


Alexandrea DeBeasso
Nursery Worker

    Contact

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

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