Facilitator Biographies
Ed Baber, Lay leader – Samaria Baptist Church
Christian for 60 years, Husband for 51, Father for 50, and GRAMPS for 25. Community volunteer, home handyman, and A/V DIYer. I enjoy the challenge of learning new things and that certainly applies to installing and upgrading WiFi, Internet, sound mixing, video cameras, recording, live streaming and social media for our small rural church, Samaria Baptist, in Charles City County – and doing so to the pleasure of our Savior, Jesus Christ.
Jim Barbour, A/V and Communications Committee, Chairman – First Baptist Church West Point
Jim Barbour is the chairman of the A/V and Communications committees at First Baptist Church in West Point, Virginia. Jim spent more than 25 years in Information Systems and Technology. He also, studied Theater at VCU and has spent many years in various aspects of stage productions, board of Directors and President of Chamberlayne Actors Theater in Richmond, VA. He has appeared on numerous crime reenactment dramas, such as Forensic Files, Wicked Attractions, and Panic 911. A lifelong “Gadget Geek” he brings his technological and production experience to serve the Lord and bring First Baptist’s weekly worship services online.
Kristen Curtis, Training and Crisis Care Team Coordinator – Virginia Baptist Disaster Response
Kristen Curtis serves as the Training and Crisis Care Team Coordinator for Virginia Baptist Disaster Response. Primarily, she works to train BGAV volunteers to support disaster survivors through a hot meal, through spiritual and emotional care, and through the cleanup and rebuilding process in areas devastated by natural and man-made disasters. This is more than a job to Kristen, as she lives just a few miles from where tornadoes touched down in Appomattox County in February of 2016 and she began her career with disaster response coordinating volunteers locally. Making connections between Virginia Baptists and her neighbors in need and helping them find a “new normal” while experiencing the love of God in a very tangible way through the efforts of his people created a passion for continuing this work on a larger scale, responding to other localities touched by disaster. As a pastor’s wife, she also loves helping churches connect disaster response skills and principles with local church ministry. In addition to her work with Disaster Response, Kristen’s primary ministry is as a mother of 3 children (Morgan, 17; Cate, 15; and John, 12) and wife to Scott (pastor of Heritage Baptist Church in Farmville, VA).
Alison Fallecker, Founder + Creative Director – Novus Creative
Alison Fallecker began her career in the marketing department at a Christian-based credit union, where she designed campaigns and built a brand to reach both missionaries and local churches. She accidently started Novus Creative in 2008 (ask her for the full story some day), and since then has helped hundreds of clients – from public universities to non-profits to small businesses – with developing meaningful and effective brands. Alison has nearly two decades of experience in corporate marketing, agency work, and freelancing, and has built her business around the motto, “It’s not business. It’s personal.” She’s been featured on podcasts, blogs, and JMU’s news network, and has won national awards for her creative campaigns. Alison currently lives in Ashland with her husband of nearly 16 years, two little boys, and Gunner the Goldendoodle.
Josh Hayden, Senior Pastor, First Baptist Church Ashland
Josh Hayden is the Senior Pastor at First Baptist Church in Ashland, VA. Josh studied leadership and organizational change while writing Creative Destruction: Towards a Theology of Institutions to receive his Doctor of Ministry at Duke Divinity School. He’s also the author of Sacred Hope, a book designed to foster conversation about the role of hope in our lives. Josh is the Director of Re-missioning with the V3 Movement.
Tom Lewis, Owner, Online Ministry Consulting of Virginia
After 5 years as the Online Campus Pastor and Director of IT of a local midsize church, I decided to follow God in a new direction. I share my passion and my experiences by helping churches develop and improve their online experience! I want to help spread the message of Jesus Christ and expand the reach of the Church through online ministries.
Lindsay Ray, Student Minister – Ridge Baptist Church
Lindsay Ray has been serving as the Student Minister at Ridge Baptist Church in Richmond, Virginia since June 2013. She graduated from Christopher Newport University in 2009 with a Bachelor’s Degree in History. In 2014, she completed her Master of Theological Studies Degree for the John Leland Center for Theological Studies in Arlington, Virginia. Most recently, Lindsay earned a Graduate Certificate in Cyber Theology from Regent University.
John Upton, Jr., Executive Director – Baptist General Association of Virginia
John V. Upton, Jr. was elected Executive Director of the Baptist General Association of Virginia during the annual meeting of the General Association in November 2001. John had been group leader of the Mission Mobilization Group since 1995. Earlier he was pastor of Urbanna Baptist Church in Urbanna and he and his wife, Deborah, served as missionaries in Taiwan through the Southern Baptist Convention’s Foreign Mission Board (now International Mission Board). In July 2015 he completed a five-year term as President of the Baptist World Alliance that began July 31, 2010. John, a Norfolk-born Virginia native, is a graduate of Averett College (now University) in Danville, VA, and Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, KY. The Uptons have two sons, Christopher and Richard; a daughter, Emily; and eight grandchildren. Education
Randell Williams, Pastor – Shiloh Baptist Church
Rev. M. Randell Williams was raised in Albany, NY. He is one of two children born to Mr. Kenneth and Joyce Williams. He attended school in the Albany and Troy school districts. He received his diploma in June of 2000. In spring of 2008, Rev. Williams became an Associate Minister at the New Union Baptist Church in Oklahoma City, OK. It was there Rev. Williams worked with the homeless, aided in the seniors’ ministry, sick and shut-in visitation and preached the early morning services. In 2012, he relocated to Richmond, VA to attend the Samuel Dewitt Proctor school of Theology at Virginia Union University. He served as a student intern at the Fifth Baptist Church. In June of 2013, he was called to Pastor the Ebenezer Baptist Church of Goochland, VA. He worked with local political leaders and school districts to advocate for minority youth. In September of 2016 Rev. Williams was called to Pastor the Shiloh Baptist Church in Ashland Virginia. He is very active in his community continuing efforts for diversity and inclusion.
Chris Wondree, Student Pastor – Buford Road Campus, Bon Air Baptist Church
Chris serves at Bon Air Baptist Church, Buford Rd Campus, as their Student Pastor. He, his wife, Lacey, and oldest son moved to Richmond from Waynesboro, VA, where he served as Campus Minister at JMU’s BCM. Upon arriving in RVA, Lacey and Chris found out they were having twins. If you like soccer or hearing about little red-headed humans, go ahead and strike up a conversation. He’s got plenty to say.