Dr Mark Kemp - Pastor
Mark Kemp grew up in Belton, Texas where his father
served for many years as a Pastor. He is a graduate of the University of
Mary-Hardin Baylor, Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, and New Orleans
Baptist Theological Seminary. His wife, Annette, grew up as a minister's
daughter near Houston. She also graduated from the University of Mary-Hardin
Baylor where she and Mark met and married.
Before coming to Copperas Cove Mark served as a Youth Minister in Temple, Texas
and then as Pastor of the First Baptist Church of Flat, Texas. Annette serves as
the director of the Copperas Cove Hope Pregnancy Center along with devoting her
time to her family and the ministries of the church. Her personal passion is
leading in women's ministries.
Pastor Mark and Annette have two daughters. Kara, born in 1990, and Kayla, born
in 1997. Outside the church Mark's interests include bicycling, camping, and
time with his family. Mark's vision is to communicate God's Word clearly and
practically in order to help people experience a growing relationship with Jesus
Christ that produces the fruit of joy, obedience, and service.
You can email Pastor Mark at: pastor@fbccove.net
Jim Barker - Minister of Worship &
Single Adults
Jim
Barker came to First Baptist at the beginning of 1997. He grew up in
Taiwan, where his parents served as Southern Baptist missionaries.
Jim attended Hardin-Simmons University, in Abilene, Texas, completing his Bachelor
of Music and Master of Music degrees. At Hardin-Simmons, he met his wife
to be, Nancy Martin; they were married in 1980. They have a son, Kelsey
Wyatt, who was born in 1992. Jim has also completed additional studies at
Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, in Ft. Worth, Texas. He has served
churches in Abilene and Justin, Texas. Ordained in 1989, Jim's desire is
to enable people to worship God.
You can
email Jim at: music@fbccove.net
Judy Abell - Minister for Children and
Pre-school
Judy Abell grew up in Austin, Texas. In 1977,
she married her husband, KC and they moved to San Antonio, where they lived for
almost 30 years. In May of 1991, the Lord called Judy into the Children's
Ministry and she served at Castle Hills First Baptist Church for 15 1/2 years.
She was the Children's Ministry Resource Coordinator and Elementary Sunday
School Director during that time. In October of 2006, the Lord moved Judy and
KC to Copperas Cove. They joined First Baptist Church, Copperas Cove in
December. In April, Judy became the Elementary Sunday School Director. In
August, she was called to be the Preschool and Children's Ministry Coordinator.
Judy and KC have two grown married children. Derrick (their son) and his wife,
Anna live in Kansas City. Candace (their daughter) and her husband, Justin also
live in Kansas City. Derrick is the Children's Pastor and Justin is the Worship
Pastor at Fellowship of Grace. Judy has a passion to see children come to
a personal relationship with Christ and to grow in that relationship to become a
fully devoted follower of Christ. She has seen first-hand what God can do in any
individual that will surrender themselves to the Lord.
Her life verse is Isaiah 26:3 -
"You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is
steadfast, because he trusts in you."
Chris Williams- Minister for Youth
Chris was born in
Abilene, Texas and graduated high school from Tolar, which is just outside
of Granbury, Texas. After high school, Chris joined the military and was
stationed at Fort Hood from 1998 to 2002. While in the military, Chris taught
and led Wednesday night Bible studies for the youth. After leaving the
military, Chris surrendered into full time ministry and began attending
Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary where he earned a Diploma in
Theological Studies. Chris is currently attending Southwestern working
toward a Masters degree in Christian Education. Chris has served in various
volunteer and staff positions, most recently as the Youth minister at Mambrino Baptist Church.
His wife, Amber, grew up
in Granbury and graduated from Tarleton State in Stephenville with a degree
in Human Resources. Together, they have one daughter named Ally, who was
born in 2003.
"My desire
is to lead students to a real and authentic relationship with Jesus Christ
through solid biblical teaching, thus teaching them to become fully devoted
followers of Christ."
-Chris