Rev. Sam Bartlett – Interim Pastor

Information coming soon!

Rev. Ricardo Alvarado – Associate Pastor, Hispanic Ministries

A native of Costa Rica, Rev. Ricardo Alvarado has served as Associate Pastor for Hispanic Ministries at First Baptist since January, 2001. He graduated with degrees from the Rio Grande Bible Institute, Edinburg, TX, and the Baptist Seminary of Costa Rica, and has served as pastor and in other capacities at churches throughout Costa Rica and Texas. In addition to his ministry in Galax, Rev. Alvarado serves as a Church Planting Regional Catalyst for the Virginia Baptist Mission Board, coordinating and assisting associational leaders and local congregations in spreading the gospel to unreached people in the Southwest Virginia region. He is married to wife Maria, and is blessed with three children.

You may contact Rev. Alvarado at alfa_1955@yahoo.com.

Rev. Stephen Farrar – Minister of Music

Rev. Stephen Farrar has been a member of the First Baptist ministerial staff since November, 2006.  A native of Harrisonburg and the beautiful Shenandoah Valley of Virginia, Stephen is a graduate of Eastern Mennonite University, Harrisonburg (B.A., Music), and Ohio University, Athens (M.M., Performance).  Upon receiving his call to music ministry, Stephen attended Baylor University’s George W. Truett Theological Seminary, where he received dual degrees in theology (M.Div) and church music (M.M.).

From the time that he started piano lessons at the age of eight, Stephen knew that his life would be a musical one.  His intention to pursue a performance career changed while serving as the music director at West Side Baptist Church (Harrisonburg), when he realized that God, through Jesus Christ, was calling him to use his gifts to glorify Him and to enable others to worship Him more and more passionately.  Stephen’s personal ministry focus comes from Psalm 95, which exhorts us to “come, let us bow down and worship…[and] kneel before the Lord our Maker; for he is our God, and we are the people of his pasture” (vs. 6-7).  It is his hope that worshippers at First Baptist will come to worship God with just as much fervent desire as the psalmist!

In addition to playing the piano, Stephen enjoys reading, movies, professional football, sight-seeing (especially presidential homes), and visiting family.

You may contact Stephen at music@fbcgalax.org.

Marian Porter – Preschool Director

Marian Porter has served as the Director of First Baptist Church’s Preschool ministry for twelve years.  Before, she served as director and teacher at Leighton Park Baptist Church’s Preschool for twenty-two years.  She and husband Lewis have been married for forty-six years and are blessed with two children and four grandchildren.  Marian considers it a blessing and joy to work with young children and playing an important part during their developmental years.

You may contact Mrs. Porter at (276) 236-9195.

Elizabeth Vaughan – Minister to Children

Elizabeth Vaughan serves as the volunteer minister of First Baptist’s Children’s Department.  She is supported in the ministry by her husband, David, and their two children.  It gives Elizabeth great joy to be able to serve the children of First Baptist.

You may contact Elizabeth at ejdvaughan@comcast.net.

Penny Adams – Bus Ministry Coordinator

Penny Adams faithfully volunteers as one of the coordinators of the church’s Bus Ministry, which has successfully operated for over ten years.  Penny, along with her husband Dick and other committed volunteers, picks up children in the local community and brings them to church on Sunday mornings.

Marlene Tipton - Administrative Assistant

Marlene Tipton joined the staff of First Baptist Church as administrative assistant in April, 2009.  During the previous seventeen years, she served as business manager for an orthopedic surgeon, and then office manager of the diverse properties and holdings of the physician's estate.

Marlene is the pianist at her church and thoroughly enjoys the many hours spent each week serving in the music ministry.  In her free time, she enjoys biking, walking, RVing, reading, and spending time with her family.  She and her husband, Bayne, are blessed with one son, two delightful grandchildren, and a daughter-in-law who is an inspiration.

You may contact Marlene at secretary@fbcgalax.org

Glennis Morris - Financial Secretary

Glennis Morris has served as the financial secretary for First Baptist Church since 1992.

Nancy Hazelwood - Organist

Information Coming Soon!

Patty Davis - Pianist

Patty Davis has been playing the piano since she began taking private lessons at the age of eight.  She has always enjoyed playing in church and served at three other churches throughout southwest Virginia before coming to Galax.  After playing for special groups and occasions at First Baptist for several years, she became a member of the music staff in 2001.

Patty has supplied piano accompaniment for musical productions by the Galax Theatre Guild and is currently the pianist for the Highland Camerata, a classical chorus with members from both Virginia and North Carolina.

Patty is married to William "Bill" Davis, Jr. and they have two grown children.

Joey Riggins, Sexton

Joey Riggins has served as sexton at First Baptist Church since 1998.  He and wife Teresa are blessed with two children.