John is originally from Birmingham, AL. He met his wife, Tanya, while they were students at Samford University and they married in 2006. They both went to graduate school at Mercer University-Atlanta. While John was in seminary in Atlanta and seeking God’s call to congregational ministry, he spent over five years working for The Home Depot. Tanya is currently a high school biology teacher.

John received his B.A. degree from Samford University in 2004 and his Master of Divinity degree McAfee School of Theology at Mercer in December 2010.

He spent over five years at Johns Creek Baptist Church in metro-Atlanta working as a youth ministry intern, volunteer, and supervised ministry participant in the youth and children’s ministry.

John (Roll Tide!) and Tanya (Go Dawgs!) are both college football fans! They enjoy running, working out, playing with their dog “The Brie,” and watching TV shows.

John enjoys cooking and baking cheesecakes, key lime pies, and his grandmother’s homemade fudge recipe. To combat the results of the previous statement, he and his wife have completed four half marathons and hope to run in more.

Together, John and Tanya are passionate about mission work in the South American country of Peru. They have been there three times on medical mission and church planting trips, and hope to go back again soon.

John is passionate about building relationships with students and looks forward to getting to know all the youth at FBC Fort Payne!