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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.
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| 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 Salvation 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.
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| 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.
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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.
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| 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.
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| 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.
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| Sarah DeLuzio
Pianist
Sarah Granger DeLuzio of Newport News VA, and her husband Tony of Hampton VA, both retired US Air Force Band Master Sergeants, moved to Morehead City and began serving at First Baptist Church in 2019. They have two children: Martha of Lubbock TX, and Andrew of Newport NC. Tony is the drummer on the FBC worship team and Sarah is staff pianist, playing for choir and worship team, as well as serving as vocal soloist and soprano with small ensembles.
Sarah studied piano performance at Catawba College in Salisbury NC before winning a position with the Air Force Band as vocalist and pianist in 1986. She served at the USAF Academy CO; Langley AFB VA, where she and Tony met; Yokota AB Japan; and Lackland AFB TX, retiring in 2009. The Air Force took her all over the world, performing all styles of music, for our military troops, world leaders, and at major civilian events and arenas. Some of MSgt DeLuzio’s highlights include: singing for President George H. W. Bush; opening for Ray Charles; singing the National Anthem at major sporting events; and most importantly, entertaining troops on the front lines in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Throughout her life and career, Sarah has had the great privilege of serving at numerous churches of various denominations. She felt led to join First Baptist Morehead City and receive the ordinance of baptism in 2020. She credits Jesus for her many blessings and for directing her life every step of the way.
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| Diane Hawkins
Organist/Director of Music & Arts Academy
dhawkins@fbcmhc.org
Diane and her husband, Jess, became members of First Baptist in 1997 after moving to Morehead City from Greenville, NC. After serving at several churches since the age of 16, Diane joined the ministry staff at FBC as organist and soon after as Director of Music Ministries, recently retiring from FBC after 22 years.
Diane currently serves as part-time organist and the Director of the Music and Arts Academy. She graduated from East Carolina University School of Music (GO PIRATES!) with degrees in Sacred Music and Organ Performance. God has provided many blessings during her career in music ministry. Leading in worship and teaching music to toddlers through adults has been a privilege and brought her so much joy.
Over the years Diane has enjoyed teaching group fitness classes at several athletic facilities, teaching piano in her home studio, taking on DIY projects and spending time boating with family and friends along our beautiful Crystal Coast. Her greatest pleasure in life is her family, daughters, Leigh, Mari, and son-in-law Logan, and two beautiful grandchildren, Harry and Audrey.
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| 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.
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| 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 anything else, just ask!
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| 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.
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| 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.
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| Alexandrea DeBeasso
Nursery Worker
adebeassofbc@gmail.com
Alexandrea moved from a small town to the Newport area as a toddler and has continued to remain in Carteret County since. She married her husband, Sean DeBeasso, in 2015 who was a member of First Baptist Church during his youth. Together with their two sons, Sean Michael and Oliver, Sean and Alexandrea have made First Baptist Church their church home. She first began serving through Vacation Bible School in 2019. As time moved on, Alexandrea has continued to enjoy being involved with the children of FBC, primarily through volunteering as a helper in the nursery. She began working in the nursery on an official capacity towards the end of August, 2024. Outside of church, Alexandrea enjoys all things artsy and loves working in her family’s garden.
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| Robin Parker
Director of Upward Sports
robinparker2@mac.com
Robin came to be Director of Upward Basketball after volunteering with the program for several years. Robin has a 30 year career in sales and marketing after graduating from East Carolina University with a Bachelor of Science in Business Management. She has been attending First Baptist Church in Morehead City since she was in high school. She is passionate about giving back and loves staying involved in the community by serving on several non-profit boards. You can usually find Robin out on the water, fishing with her husband, cheering her favorite family members on the field, or spending quality time with family.
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