Dr. Bruce Chesser
Senior Pastor
An Alabama native, Bruce Chesser attended the University of Mobile, then Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, where he earned a Masters degree and Doctor of Ministries degree. He and his wife Joy married during seminary years. They have two sons--Justin, who is married to Meredith, and Travis, a student at the University of Alabama. They all live in Alabama--Justin and Meredith in Montgomery, and Travis in Tuscaloosa. The Chessers have served the following churches: First Baptist, Spearman, Texas; First Baptist, Opp, Alabama; Fayette First Baptist, Fayette, Alabama; Calvary Baptist, Tuscaloosa, Alabama; Geyer Springs First Baptist, Little Rock, Arkansas; and First Baptist Church of Hendersonville since August 2009. Bruce enjoys all sports, especially involving the University of Alabama. He is also a fan of the Tennessee Titans and the Nashville Predators.
Dr. Ray Cleek
Administrator & Assistant Dir. of Counseling Ministries
Ray grew up in Union City, Tennessee and graduated from Union University in Jackson, Tennessee, where he met his wife, Gail. Ray graduated from Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky with the Master of Divinity, Master of Arts in Christian Education, and the Doctor of Ministry degrees. Following seminary graduation, he pastored churches in Virginia and Tennessee, the last being the First Baptist Church of Lebanon, Tennessee for 14 years. He also served on the administrative staff of Tennessee Christian Medical Center, coordinating services for community ministers, as well as developing and promoting the behavioral programs of the hospital. Ray served as a member of the Board of Trustees for Belmont University and Baptist Hospital. Ray and Gail have two sons. Gail is a retired Spanish teacher who enjoys rubber stamping and playing the harp.
Chad Conger
Director of Media and Communications
Born and raised in Florida, Chad Conger came to Hendersonville as a teenager in 1991. He is an alumna of Volunteer State Community College and Austin Peay State University, where he studied media technology and communications. After college he served at LifeWay Christian Resources and owned and operated a retail business. He served as a volunteer in the Media Ministry for several years, then recognized the call to ministry and joined the FBC staff in 2007. Chad and his wife Holli have two children - Walker and O'Hare. He enjoys spending time with his family and fishing as much as possible.
Troy Freeman
Minister of Worship
Born and raised in the Chicago suburbs, Troy Freeman holds a degree in Business Administration from Belmont University, with an emphasis in Music Business. He oversees the entire worship ministry at First Baptist and leads worship in our worship center services. Troy has served in the following churches during his ministry: Trinity Baptist – Southaven, MS; Plymouth Park Baptist – Irving, TX; Black Rock Congregational – Fairfield, CT; and Central Baptist – College Station, TX. Troy and his wife (Jennifer) met while in college, and they have two daughters – Emma Grace and Ella Kate. He enjoys sports, travel, music, and spending time with his family. Troy has served at First Baptist since 2007.
Richard Gaia
Minister of Education
Born and raised in Tennessee, Richard Gaia earned a Bachelors degree from Austin Peay State University and a Masters of Theology degree from Dallas Theological Seminary. He and his wife Beverly, who serves in the music ministry, have two married children, one granddaughter, and another grandchild on the way. Richard teaches whenever possible, whether Sunday School or PLACE (connecting people to service). He likes all sports, travel, movies, and the symphony, and enjoys playing golf and riding his waverunner. Richard has served at First Baptist since January 1989.
Jason Gibson
Director of Counseling Ministry
Jason grew up in Titusville, FL and has made central Kentucky his home for the past 7 years. Jason holds bachelor and master degrees from Appalachian State and Florida State and has completed graduate work at Southwestern Seminary. He is currently a doctoral candidate at the University of Kentucky writing his dissertation on the Efficacy of Online Professional Development to Increase Implementation of Stimulus Preference Assessments (some great reading to put you to sleep). He has a deep and abiding passion for the living and active truth in God's Word. It is in the scripture that true life transformation is promised to all believers.
Prior to coming to the BabbCenter, Jason served as a behavioral consultant, providing systems analysis, staff development, and crisis intervention for children and adolescents with emotional and behavioral needs throughout Kentucky and the surrounding states. He has been married to Julie, whom he met working together at Crosspoint, for 11 years. They have three children.
Mark Hayman
Minister to Children
Mark is from central Mississippi and was called into ministry at age 34 from a career in computer technology. He holds a Bachelor degree and a Master of Divinity in Christian Education from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. Mark served in the roles of Pastor, Minister to Children and Families, as well as Minister to Young Families before coming to First Baptist in 2007. Mark has been married to Peggy since 1981, and they have two children, Andrew and Erin. He loves teaching, hunting, fishing, doing yard work, and going ATV riding with Peggy.
Jeff Henry
Middle School Minister
Bio coming soon.
Phil Hoyt
Minister to Preschool
Florida born, Phil Hoyt spent his formative years in Florida, Alabama, and Tennessee. He earned a Bachelors degree in education from the University of Memphis and a Masters degree from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. Before coming to First Baptist in 1999, he served churches in Memphis, Cleveland, and Nashville, Tennessee, as well as Arlington, Texas. Phil and his wife Cyndie have three adult children: Andy, Sarah, and Melanie. They enjoy family times at their country home in Sumner County and on trips to Gulf Shores, Alabama.
Cheryle Jaggers
Coordinator of Women's Ministry
A native of a small country town in Indiana, Cheryle Jaggers came to First Baptist in 2006 to serve as the Women's Ministry Coordinator. A graduate of Oakland City University in Indiana, she earned a degree in Business Administration. She came to Nashville to work as a business trainer and consultant, and also served with her husband Rick in various ministry positions at Centerpoint Baptist Church in Hendersonville. She and Rick have one daughter. Cheryle enjoys singing, chocolate, and the beach, and is working on a Masters degree from Union University.
Brandon James
High School Minister
Brandon grew up in Bolivar, TN and during Summer Camp his junior year of high school sensed God's call to full time ministry. His passion for Christ and ministry only grew from the influence of key individuals during his time at Union University. After graduating in 2003, Brandon moved to Hendersonville to serve as a youth intern. In January 2006 he became the Middle School Pastor at FBC Hendersonville. Four years later he and his wife moved to the Dominican Republic to serve as missionaries. In January 2012 God called Brandon, his wife Nikki, and their 6 month old baby Avery back to Hendersonville to serve as the Team Leader for the Student Ministry and High School Pastor. Brandon holds a Bachelor degree in Christian Studies from Union University and a Masters of Divinity from Southern Seminary in Louisville, KY. Brandon loves spending time with his incredible wife and daughter and in his free time loves tennis, wakeboarding, and snow skiing.
Jeff Lake
Family Ministry Center Director
Born in Georgia and raised in North Carolina, Jeff Lake earned a degree in recreation administration from Arkansas Tech University. He and his wife Kim met while in college and married soon after his graduation. Jeff earned a Masters degree in religious education from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, served as a youth minister in Hot Springs, Arkansas, and spent five years serving in Christian camp ministry. He joined the staff of First Baptist in 1990. Jeff and Kim have two grown daughters, Amanda and Elizabeth, and he enjoys most sports and spending time with family.
Roger Luther
Minister to Mature Adults
A Bon Aqua, Tennessee native, Roger Luther earned degrees from Austin Peay State University, Free Will Baptist Bible College, Trevecca Nazarene University, and Temple Baptist Seminary. He worked for the Tennessee Department of Correction and Youth Development for 13 years, and has served churches in Tennessee and Georgia before coming to First Baptist. He helped establish the Counseling Ministry at First Baptist in 1997. In 2004 he became Minister to Mature Adults and created the Ventures Ministry network to mature adults. Roger and his wife Lynne have one son, Chandler.
Mike McClanahan
Minister to Men and Single Adults
Mike McClanahan is a Hendersonville native who spent much of his adult life in the Sumner County area. He earned a Bachelor's degree in journalism from Tennessee Tech University and a Master of Divinity degree in Christian Education from Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. Before assuming his ministry role here at First Baptist in 2005, he served in the public sector as a newspaper reporter and editor, as well as the director of the local United Way agency. Mike and his wife Jennifer have one son, Cody.
Mark Satterfield
Minister to Young Adults and Missions
Mark Satterfield is a Nashville native. Before assuming his role here at First Baptist in September 2010, he served at LifeWay Christian Resources in the Adult Training & Events area. His focus was planning, training, and consulting churches in marriage and family ministry across the country. Mark also served on the research and development team at LifeWay for the Young Adult Initiative now known as Threads. Mark is a graduate of Union University and is currently enrolled at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary where he is working towards a Masters degree in divinity with a focus in Leadership. Mark and his wife Christine have two sons, Eli Jett and Jonah Brock.
Jason Smith
Business Administrator
Jason is a native of Chattanooga, Tennessee where he earned his Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from UTC. Jason has served in multiple lay leadership capacities in Southern Baptist Churches and has also served on the leadership team of a local Southern Baptist church plant. Before coming to First Baptist in 2011 Jason worked at LifeWay Christian Resources in the Church Resources division for nine years where his last role was Manager of Performance Analysis. Prior to Lifeway he worked in several industries in the finance field including manufacturing, oil & gas, and insurance. Jason has been married to Ashley since 2000, and they have two children, Adeline and Selah. He loves teaching, boating, music, and any activities with his family.