Tom’s dream job would be to manage the Los Angeles Dodgers or coach the men’s basketball team at his beloved alma mater, Duke University. But for now, he serves as our pastor. He is a native of Valdese, North Carolina, the husband of Lara and the proud father of twins, Christian and Kaitlyn.
Tom earned his Master of Divinity degree from Duke and his doctorate from Reformed Theological Seminary. He enjoys reading, running, writing, the world of stock and mutual fund investing and following the Dallas Cowboys, the Dodgers and Duke. His heroes are Martin Luther, Dietrick Bonhoeffer, Jack Bogle, Tom Lasorda and Mike Krzyzewski. His favorite TV shows are Survivor and reruns of LA Law, Gilligan’s Island and The Andy Griffith Show.
Mark grew up in Kannapolis. The community, his family, his home church and the schools in Kannapolis provided so many opportunities for growth and education both musically and spiritually. Piano and voice lessons, church and community choirs and band were all part of Mark’s growing up years. Music has always been a huge part of his life and much of that was centered in church. It was at the North Carolina Baptist Assembly at Caswell that Mark answered God’s call to full time Christian service while still in high school, and he has joyfully been serving the Lord in churches since college days.
A graduate of UNC-Charlotte in music, Mark received his theological education at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary in Wake Forest, NC, graduating in 1983. It was there that he met the “cutest little girl” he had ever seen (she’s only 5 feet tall) and they married in October of 1982. Mark and Janet have three wonderful boys and a lovely daughter-in-law, Jonathan (and wife Trisha), Benjamin and Isaac. As a family the Hills enjoy traveling to the beach and the mountains, and spending time with people.
Serving God through the years has taken various twists and turns, all part of an incredible journey of faith and service. Mark has served churches since 1976 in Mooresville, Reidsville, Durham, Troy, Concord and now Kannapolis. He has served as Minister of Music in each church, but been able to combine that with ministry to Children, Youth, or Senior Adults over the years. It was in March of 2001 that he answered God’s call to First Baptist, Kannapolis. Serving God as Minister of Music/Sr. Adults at First Baptist is both a joy and a blessing. The smile on his face is reflective of the love in Mark’s heart that comes from knowing and serving the Lord.
“The Lord’s mercies never fail, they are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness.” Lamentations 3:22-23
Nate Leonard, Minister to Youth and College Students
Nate Leonard, a native of Salisbury, is the Minister to Youth and College Students at First Baptist. Nate joined the staff at First Baptist in April of 2008. Nate’s love of the Lord and passion to see young people come to know him has driven him to work in youth ministry for the past 10 years.
A lifelong learner, Nate graduated from North Carolina State University with a B. A. in Psychology (Magna Cum Laude); from Campbell University Divinity School with a Master of Divinity, and most recently earned the Doctor of Ministry degree from Beeson Divinity School with a Doctor with a concentration in Spiritual Leadership.
Nate’s passion for missions has taken him to 12 countries. He has preached on the streets of Ukraine, led youth camp in Wales, ministered to high school students in Indonesia, and built houses in Honduras and Haiti. He has also worked in a variety of ministry settings here within North Carolina and the US, including serving as a camp director for a missions-based summer camp in the mountains of North Carolina.
Among Nate’s many interests are camping, hiking, watching old kung fu movies, playing golf, visiting theme parks and playing crazy youth group games. On Nate’s iPod you might find U2, Switchfoot, Chris Tomlin, Kristian Stanfill, Third Day, Bruce Springsteen, Jars of Clay or a sermon from Louie Giglio, Andy Stanly, or Robert Smith, Jr. People are often surprised to find out that Nate doesn’t like chocolate.
Nate married Suellen in June of 2001. They met while in college at North Carolina State University. Together, they have two sons, Nathaniel “Pierce” Leonard, Jr who was born in February of 2006, and Creed Bennett Leonard who was born on June 1, 2010.
You can find Nate on Facebook or email him at the address shown. He would love to hang out with you and talk about Jesus!
Haven’s thing is discipleship. She’s constantly looking for opportunities to offer Biblical, practical assistance for making the invisible faith we believers walk by visible to those we walk with. Haven loves to be eyeball-deep in ministry to and fellowship with the Body of Christ, and she's crazy about her Savior, her husband, Mike, and their four sons: Dane, Drew, Dylan and Dalton. Haven hopes that someday, when she grows up, she’ll be just like her mom, Bettie Godwin.
