Dr. Frank Lewis | Senior Pastor 
What is your favorite time of day to read the Bible, why?
First thing in the morning, usually around 5:30. The house is quiet and it starts my day off in a time of worship and devotion.
Do you have a meaningful experience of sharing Scripture with someone?
Personal witnessing experiences have been the most meaningful for me. There is nothing I enjoy more than being a part of someone’s journey to find Christ as Savior.
What Scripture has been most important to you this year?
The LORD will fight for you; you need only to be still."Exodus 14:14 (NIV)
What Biblical character do you relate most with?
Onesimus. He would have never been anything more than a runaway slave had not someone like Paul taken a personal interest in him. God transformed him for an unprofitable slave, to a profitable servant, and probably later to a pastor of the early church. Had there not been lots of godly people investing in my life over the years, my life would be so much less than it is today.
What was the first Bible verse you remember memorizing?
John 3:16
What ‘tricks’ do you use to memorize Scripture?
Writing the verse out by hand several times.
What book of the Bible do you turn to most often?
Psalms
Tom Crow | Executive Pastor
What is your favorite time of day to read the Bible, why?
Evenings – it’s a calming experience from the busyness of the day. My favorite PLACE to read the Bible is outdoors (any TIME – like morning/sunrise, afternoon, evening), in God’s great creation, and upstairs in my Man Cave.
Do you have a meaningful experience of sharing Scripture with someone?
Through many years of ministry, God has provided me countless opportunities to share a portion of Scripture with friends and seekers – none more precious than sharing with my children, Carrie and Philip, and seeing God’s Word alive in their lives…with people of all ages (adults, teens, kids at children camp, etc)…with people of various language groups including many Russians as a result of my mission travels to Russia (it always helps to have a bi-lingual interpreter OR “Four Spiritual Laws” in English and Russian). A few years ago, I met a young couple in Brentwood; the young man was raised without hearing the Good News of God’s love – he listened carefully, heard about God’s love and the need in our life for relationship with Jesus Christ, and a few days later called me to say he prayed to receive Christ! Since then, he walks with Christ and is growing in his faith.
What Scripture has been most important to you this year?
“Therefore encourage one another, and build up one another, just as you also are
Tom Crow serves as Executive Pastor, since October 1, 2006, having served in similar role for sixteen years with First Baptist Church Charlotte, NC. Tom & Jackie are the parents of Carrie Crow and Philip Crow, have been married for over thirty-eight years, and are very thankful to serve the Lord in Nashville with their church family!
From Oklahoma, Tom is a veteran of US Army service, a graduate of Cameron University and Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, a certified Church Business Administrator with National Church Business Administrators and is President-Elect of Southern Baptist Convention Business Administration Association and has served the Lord in churches in New Mexico, Texas, North Carolina, and Nashville.
Mountain Movers men’s ministry leadership, Sunday School leadership, sharing faith with others, church life leadership consume Tom’s ministry world.
Otherwise, Tom and Jackie enjoy the great outdoors, fishing, camping, hiking, family time and fellowship with others.
Tom encourages people toward Jesus Christ, and encourages men toward good health practices including annual physical exams – as a prostate cancer survivor, he wants men to take care of their body, a gift from God.
Tom daily sings, “Great is Thou Faithfulness” as a testimony of God’s grace and love to each person!
Rus Roach | Minister of Pastoral Care
What is your favorite time of day to read the Bible, why?
Anytime that I am alone and alert. That usually is in the morning before my wife gets up or after she leaves for work. That may be in the evening when she is watching TV. When someone else is around I want to be with them so, the alone part is important. Reading tires my eyes so I need to be alert…however reading Scripture usually prompts me to record my impressions, response, or an idea for follow up.
What Scripture has been most important to you this year?
The gospel of John is new and fresh as my Bible study class is going through the book word by word and verse by verse. My study (without commentary usually) is challenging me to express my faith, beliefs, experiences not someone else’s.
What Biblical character do you relate most with?
David, Peter, Jonah – these were called by God, yet flawed and forgiven, and still having a place of service with God’s people
What was the first Bible verse you remember memorizing?
I Corinthians 10:13 "There has no temptation taken you but that is common to man. But God is faithful and will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you can bear. He will provide you a way out."
What book of the Bible do you turn to most often?
The Psalms far and away is my choice. Whether for use in pastoral care situations or personally, the Psalms are always a source of encouragement and strength.
Rus Roach is a native of Houston Texas, a graduate of Baylor University and holds two degrees from Southwestern Seminary in Ft. Worth Texas. He was a pastor of three churches over a 12 year period in Texas before coming to Nashville in October 1987. Rus has served with three different pastors at First Baptist Nashville and has held responsibilies of evangelism, missions, and now, pastoral care.
"We have begun or co sponsored 19 new churches and have sent thousands of persons on scores of trips on six of the seven continents. We've served tens of thousands through the crisis ministries of First Baptist Nashville. Celebrate Recovery (CR) is the most recent ministry that is positively helping people of downtown Nashville."
Rus and his wife reared three wonderful daughters at First Baptist Nashville. He feels that downtown Nashville is an incredible place to serve the Lord and feels privileged to be doing so at here.
Sam Sanders | Minister to Senior Adults/Recreation
What is your favorite time of day to read the Bible, why?
Early morning - mind is clearer, I feel better.
Do you have a meaningful experience of sharing Scripture with someone?
Teaching a group of youth some of the basics to living a Christian life using the book of James.
What Scripture has been most important to you this year?
Romans 8:28
What Biblical character do you relate most with?
Phillip
What was the first Bible verse you remember memorizing?
James 1:22 - “...be ye doers of the Word and not dealers only”
What ‘tricks’ do you use to memorize Scripture?
Memorization of any text is best done by repeatedly writing out the text in your own handwriting until you can do it without referring to the original.
What book of the Bible do you turn to most often?
James
Sam writes, "after graduating from the University of MO in 1966, I moved with my wife, Barbara, to Ft. Worth, TX to attend Southwestern Seminary. In the three wonderful years we were there, both of us with several part-time jobs, we made many friends and produced a boy, Mike, and a girl, Julie. They have, in turn, given us four beautiful grandchildren: Krystle and Brett, children of Mike, both grown and living in California; and Emily and Caroline, second grade and preschool, living in Brentwood and active in our church with their parents, Michael and Julie Comstock.
I received a Master of Church Music in 1969 and we moved west, serving Baptist churches in California and Oklahoma. I owned and operated a recording company specializing in Christian music in Fresno, CA in the early 80’s. We moved to Nashville in 1987 where I served as a music editor/producer for Genevox, a music division of the BSSB, now Lifeway. Shortly after arriving in Nashville I came on the First Baptist Nashville staff as part-time Music Ensembles Director. After three years, when downsizing eliminated my job at BSSB, I came on the church staff as part-time Recreation Director and then full-time Minister of Recreation/Senior Adults. In 1991, Barbara became music director for the Oak Hill private elementary school and is still there.
We live in a small house on a small farm in Williamson County and enjoy the wild animals and the peace and quiet. We mow a few acres of grass and raise some flowers and shrubs. I like to play golf when I can, arrange and play music when I get the opportunity and spend time with the grandchildren. Our 23 years with the wonderful folks of FIrst Baptist Nashville have been the best of our lives.
Joe Fitzpatrick | Worship and Music PastorJoe Fitzpatrick has served as the Worship and Music Pastor at First Baptist Nashville since May 2009 after having served for twenty years as Worship Pastor for Park Hill Baptist Church in North Little Rock, Arkansas. Previously he has served churches in Jacksonville, Florida, Fort Worth, Texas, and in Oklahoma. He holds degrees in trumpet, voice, and conducting from Oklahoma State University (BME) and Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary (MCM). Mr. Fitzpatrick is a Past-President of The Southern Baptist Church Music Conference and the world-renown Grammy and Dove Award nominated recording/touring ensemble, The CenturyMen. He has also served as President of The Arkansas Master’Singers Men’s Chorus and recently served as host for the 2010 Metro Music Conference.
Joe is married to the former Gwenn Robertson of Nashville, Tennessee. She taught as an Elementary Music Specialist with the North Little Rock School District, was the Children’s Music Consultant for the Arkansas Baptist State Convention, and served as Children’s Choir Coordinator at Park Hill Baptist Church. The Fitzpatrick’s have been blessed with two beautiful children, Robert Sean and Melodie Marie. Joe enjoys running, water and snow skiing, and spending time with his family.
Brandon Owen | Student Minister
What is your favorite time of day to read the Bible, why?
Morning. I am a bit of a morning person. It is my favorite time of the day. It makes me glad to think about a cup of coffee (possibly a donut) and time with the Lord.
Do you have a meaningful experience of sharing Scripture with someone?
Anytime I have had a chance to share with someone who speaks a different language through using an interpreter. The one that comes to mind first is sharing with a high school student in Germany named Marcos in the summer of 2005.
What Scripture has been most important to you this year?
The Sermon on the Mount.
What Biblical character do you relate most with?
Well, I think it is supposed to be Jesus, but I’m afraid that is not yet the case. I will go with any of the disciples. Although I follow Jesus as they did, I too often do it just as clumsily.
What was the first Bible verse you remember memorizing?
Ephesians 4:32. Random, huh? However, it is one of my favorites from one of my favorite chapters.
Shannon Meadors | Children's MinisterShannon Meadors, Minister to Children, joined our staff on December 1, 2009.
Shannon experienced God’s call to ministry as a Sixth Grade teacher serving in a local church in 1998. She attended seminary and served on staff at Prestonwood Baptist Church in Dallas, Texas while obtaining her degree. Now as a wife and mother, God has given Shannon a continued vision for sharing His Word in a dynamic, creative and applicable way with children that they may know the unconditional love of His Son. It is her calling to help children grow as passionate followers of Jesus Christ.
And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men. (Luke 2:52)
With this verse in mind, Shannon desires to partner with parents, grandparents, and teachers to help children mature in the same four areas as Christ: intellectually, physically, spiritually, and socially. The Children’s Ministry at First Baptist Nashville is intentional in growing kids as Christ-followers – able to make wise choices according to Scripture, equipped to share their faith, engaged in worship, and empowered to serve
their world.
Shannon was born on January 9, 1974 in Evansville, Indiana. She is married to Kyle Meadors, Director of EHR Testing for the Drummond Group. They have two children, Jacob and Ava Lauren. Shannon received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Elementary Education in 1996 from Southwest Baptist University in Bolivar, Missouri and her Masters degree in Christian Education in 2003 from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas. Shannon’s life verse is Philippians 1:20.
Jason Fincher | Young Adult Minister, interimFirst Baptist Nashville is thankful to welcome Jason Fincher in a staff support role of small group minister. Jason will prayerfully assist in developing a Bible study through small groups ministry plan. He'll enlist homes, enlist and train leaders, and implement groups for week-day Bible study experiences for discipleship and outreach opportunities.
You may indicate your interest to Jason for participation, assistance in leadership, or hosting a Bible study small group on a week night or weekend time other than Sunday morning.
Jason can be contacted at jason.fincher@firstbaptistnashville.org.
Jason writes, "Kristin and I have been married eight years. So far, we have lived in Boston, Massachusetts; Cookeville, Tennessee; Birmingham, Alabama; and now Nashville. We are looking forward to settling down in Nashville. We share our apartment with our two cats, Max and Lilly. We are expecting our first child in July!
Kristin was a sixth grade teacher for four years while we lived in Birmingham. She plans to be a stay-at-home mother after our child is born in July.
We both enjoy reading and exploring local coffee shops. Kristin also enjoys knitting and cooking."
