MEET OUR STAFF
Brad Ball, Senior Pastor
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Dr. Brad Ball (D. Min in Expository Preaching, Union University, Jackson, TN) became the Senior Pastor at Bethsaida Baptist Church on August 3, 2014. Brad was a lost church member when he received the Lord Jesus Christ as his personal Lord and Savior at the age of 24. In the next year, God called him to the gospel ministry and to preach His Word. Then God led him to his wife Janice and they were married in 1991. Six months later they moved to Memphis, TN and Brad enrolled in Mid-America Baptist Theological Seminary in Memphis, TN and in 1995 received his Masters of Divinity.
Brad is the founder of Triple-Threat Discipleship. This is a ministry that he started after his dissertation at Union. He did his dissertation project on creating a reproducible discipleship model. He wrote a book "Triple Threat Discipleship" which you can purchase from Amazon or any book store. Brad has served at churches in TN, MS and FL as Associate Pastor, Church Planter and Senior Pastor since 1992. He is originally from Chattanooga, TN and Janice is from Huntsville, AL. Brad enjoys spending time with Janice, reading, golf, watching ESPN, playing with their dogs, Pepper & Zoe, and working out in the yard. He is somewhat of a sports nut since he grew up with a father who coached for 30 years in the public school system in Chattanooga. He coached for three years at Christian Collegiate Academy in Gulfport, MS. Because of his background in sports he uses parallels from sports that apply to our walk as Christ followers. Brad is leading Bethsaida Baptist Church to value: * Expository preaching and the importance of the Word of God in our lives * Authentic Worship and the need to worship the Lord Jesus Christ passionately * Intentional Disciple-making * Evangelism and Missions You can contact Dr. Ball through email and you can follow him on Facebook and Twitter @Triple_ThreatD. |
Darren Talley, Associate Pastor of Children & Students
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Darren became the Associate Pastor of Children and Students on July 16, 2023. Born in Valdosta, Ga, Darren grew up at Ousley Baptist Church where, the day before his 13th birthday, he surrendered his life to Christ as his Lord and Savior. Darren moved to Wilcox County in 1997 and graduated from from Wilcox County High School in 1999. He went to Middle Georgia College and earned an Associates Degree in Business in 2002. While at Middle Georgia College, Darren met his wife April where they were both active in the Baptist Student Union. In February 2003, after their engagement, Darren moved to Rentz, GA and began working at Flexsteel in Dublin. In June 2003, Daren and April got married, and they began serving as faithful church members at Pleasant Hill Baptist Church in Cadwell, GA
In the spring of 2005 Darren began feeling God’s call on his life into Gospel ministry, and by that summer he surrendered to God’s call upon his life. In late August of that year, he began serving as the student minister at Bethlehem Baptist Church in Eastman, GA. While serving at Bethlehem, Darren began attending Brewton Parker College in Mount Vernon, GA, and graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Christian Studies in May 2011. In addition to serving at Bethlehem, Darren has filled the pulpit for numerous local churches in Laurens, Dodge, Bleckley, and Telfair Counties, and he has pastored Jefferson Street Baptist Church in Dublin, GA and Southside Baptist Church in McRae, GA. Darren and April have been married for over 20 years, and in 2019, they adopted their son, Josiah. They live in Rentz where they enjoy spending time together as a family watching Braves baseball, singing, and gardening. Darren is an avid baseball fan, and he enjoys playing guitar, and collecting Star Wars memorabilia. |
Sam Wilson, Music Minister
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Sam was born in Petersburg, VA and moved with his family in 1976 to Macon, GA. He joined the Army Reserves after high school and soon thereafter met his future wife, Kim. They were married in 1981. In 1987, Sam received his state license in heating & air conditioning. In 2002, he received his degree in Church Music from Toccoa Falls College. Sam has begun work on his Masters in Divinity through Luther
Rice Seminary. Sam currently serves as an instructor in Air Conditioning Technology at Middle GA Technical College in Warner Robins. He has served as Minister of Music at Bethsaida since 2005. Sam and Kim have two wonderful children, Caleb and Hannah. |
Dave Wilkes, Care Pastor
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Kristen Price, Church Secretary
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Active Deacons:
Brad Bullard
Greg Hudgins
Scott Knight
Matt Lybrand
Philip Thomas
Caleb Wilson
Brad Bullard
Greg Hudgins
Scott Knight
Matt Lybrand
Philip Thomas
Caleb Wilson