We have a great Staff Team at Wright. They have years of experience and training to help you in your walk with the Lord Jesus. Below you can find an introduction to our key Church Staff. Also, we have lay shepherds who assist, called elders, 1 Corinthians 12-13; Acts 20; 1 Timothy 3.
We're glad to partner with you to serve the Lord together! See you Sundays at 10:15 am for Service.
Senior Pastor - Dr. Dave Keuss
Dr. Dave is passionate about helping you grow in the Lord and know the Lord. He leads in a Bible-based focus. But he is also a practical preacher, teacher, & counselor. Dave is married to Nicole and they have three wonderful kids who love to play local sports. He has a doctorate from Liberty University's Rawlings School of Divinity in Virginia, a theological masters degree from Southwestern Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas, and Masters of Divinity (M.Div.) from Southern Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky.
He's active at Hurlburt Airfield as an Honorary Commander there as well as in the community. He was previously a Senior Pastor at other churches, as well as a North American missionary with NAMB doing church planting years ago. Both Dave and Nicole have extensive experience in both established church life and new church starts as well. Dave also is a college football fan.
Worship Pastor - 'Kev' Kevin Tillman
Worship Pastor Kevin leads the congregation in songs of praise and some hymns to our Savior and Lord. You'll find him Sundays and Wednesdays with the praise team, band, or even choir. Kevin is an experienced Worship Pastor at various Emerald Coast area churches. He is an active part of training up new musicians in our communities as well. You're invited to join in our Praise Team, Band, or Choir, just see Kevin. He grew up in church life. He was raised in a US Navy family. In God's timing, Kevin found a calling to Worship ministry for the Lord, bringing the richness of God's truth and love together into songs.
Kevin's favorite Bible verse is Ephesians 3:20, which is a good encouraging verse to you as well. His wife Shannon is also a key part of church ministry at Wright. We're glad she is with us as well! Kevin also is a talented Audio / Video team leader and skilled at leading praise, band, choir teams.
Office Reception and Small Group Materials - Taylor Evans
Taylor is our front reception point person for the office area at Wright Baptist Church. Taylor has church experience and she joins us with in assisting and helping members with connections to ministries, small group info, general church info, and upcoming events and calendaring at Wright. Taylor is married to Alex and both are active in our community and area.
Her favorite book of the Bible is Psalms. Taylor enjoys helping you be connected to a ministry, so just ask! If there are ministry area materials needed, you will perhaps often be connecting with Taylor.
Youth Ministry Leader: Marcus Carroll
Students have a great life coach, and leader, in Marcus. He and his wife Chloe are there for the Youth. Both relocated from Alabama to the Fort Walton Beach. Marcus is active in teaching and leading Youth to saving and growing knowledge of Jesus. Marcus loves sports, including football, and cares about the community, being active with a few Christian groups.
Also, Marcus has experience in leading Youth. He is relatable and on point with the Bible, so Students can easily get connected to a great youth ministry at Wright any week Sundays at 9 am or Wednesdays at 6:15 am. Also, see Marcus for questions about any upcoming Youth events or camps.
Children's Ministry Director - Donna Pearson
Donna is our great Children's Ministry Director at Wright. She loves helping kids to know more about Jesus as Savior. Donna has years of experience in Kids Ministry that she uses to bring a fun, safe, excellent kids zone experience along with the Kids Ministry volunteer teams.
Donna helps guide our Kids Ministry Team members in lessons, training, and more. She is experienced in various church & education team roles, working with a variety of folks. Kids Sunday 9 am and Sunday 10:15 am Children's Church are a place you may find Donna on Sunday. Let her know if you may have any questions or want to connect on an event, such as VBS, etc.
Facilities and Facility Impressions - Rick Kalla
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Rick is a part of our impressions team by involvement in facility upkeep and maintenance at Wright Baptist Church. He is also active in various ministries of the church as a valuable contributor to those. Rick served for 20 years in the USAF, and he and Sue have three adult children.
Rick brings experience in construction techniques, maintenance tech, building interior systems, signage, and repair knowledge to facilities, to high touch connection points in the church, and operational facility systems to Wright.
If you need to contact Wright about repair work or improvement works, often you'll be in touch with Rick.
Elders (Lay Pastors) Team - a Bible-based Lay Shepherd Team
This Bible-based idea is found in key New Testament Scriptures. This volunteer team (elders/shepherds) helps with leadership at Wright Baptist Church. In the Bible, that term, "elders," is interchangeable with shepherds or pastors, is used over and over in the Book of Acts chapter 20 by Luke or Paul's Letter of 1 Timothy 3, or Paul's Letter of Titus chapter 1, etc. So the elder team helps with shepherding at Wright.
Wright Baptist Church is blessed to have a lay elder team that works with the Senior Pastor (also an Elder) to assist in general prayers, caring for members, praying for the sick (James 5), and ministry and operations as needed. Each elder has unique spiritual gifts from the Lord to help care for people, some excel at certain areas, and others at other areas, to make up a team approach. The elders team up with staff Pastors to form a Pastoral team together.