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Dr. Mark Gaskins has been our Senior Pastor since August 2005.  He came to JHBC from Wingate University in Wingate, North Carolina (a Baptist university), where he served as University Chaplain.  Prior to his ministry at Wingate, he served several churches in North Carolina as pastor.

Mark and his wife Jo Ann are both natives of Tabor City, North Carolina.  They have twin teenage sons, Jeffrey and Jonathan.  Mark’s favorite way to spend his free time is with his family.  He also enjoys reading and playing golf (he’s a lot better at reading!).

Mark’s ministry as our senior pastor is grounded in the conviction that pastoral ministry must be guided by two primary concerns: the word of the Lord and the welfare of His people.  Mark focuses on these concerns through his preaching and teaching, by providing pastoral care and spiritual guidance, and by leading the church in fulfilling its mission.

Through the years, Mark has been involved in Baptist life beyond the local church, especially in the area of Christian higher education.  He holds degrees from Campbell University (B.A. in Religion), Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary (M.Div.), Wake Forest University (M.A. in Religion), and Gardner-Webb University’s M. Christopher White School of Divinity (D.Min.).

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Rev. Ronnie Byrd has been the Minister of Music and Education of JHBC since October 6, 1991. He came to Jonesboro Heights Baptist Church from Antioch Baptist Church in Mamers, North Carolina, where he served as Minister of Music, Education, Youth, and Children. Prior to Antioch he served on the Methodist Charge for several years.  As well as serving the church he has also taught voice and piano privately. Presently, he is Adjunctt Instructor for Central Carolina Community College where he has taught for over twenty years in Music Appreciation.

Ronnie enjoys traveling, photography, and spending time with family and friends.

His passion is for any of the creative arts, especially music, which can be woven like a tapestry into the Ministries of the Church.  He enjoys the massive evangelistic ministries of musical productions for the church that includes the church family and community.

Ronnie graduated from Campbell College in 1974, with a degree in Music Education with a Major in Voice and a Minor in Piano. He also graduated from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro in 1978 with a Master's Degree in Music, concentrating in Choral Music and Conducting.

Rev. Ronnie Byrd has also taught music in the public schools and served as Associational Music Director for both Little River Baptist Association and Sandy Creek Baptist Association.

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Rev. Mike Clements has been  JHBC’s Minister to Families since October 2008.  He came to JHBC from Moncure Baptist Church in Moncure, North Carolina, where he served as Senior Pastor.  Before moving to North Carolina, Mike had been active in youth ministry in several churches in Atlanta, Georgia.

Rev. Mike and his wife, Terri, moved to North Carolina in 1980 from Atlanta.  They have a daughter, Gracie, and a huge dog, Zeke.  Mike enjoys being with his family and friends and is hoping to, one day, finish restoration of his 1910 farmhouse in Moncure.  He loves jamming with his musician friends and playing occasional “gigs” with daughter, Gracie, who plays fiddle and sings.  He has played with numerous rock bands, jazz groups, and has led worship with his guitar in churches.

Rev. Mike’s education includes a degree in Religious Education from Mercer University and work in music education at Jacksonville State University in Alabama.  He is currently working toward a Master’s degree at Campbell University Divinity School.

Mike’s passion in ministry is working to strengthen families in a culture that often devours rather than supports families.  Mike believes the church should be active in the community and model Christ in an increasingly troubled world.

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Marva Lee Roush joined the JHBC staff as an Administrative Assistant in June 2007.  She started her career as a receptionist/clerk-typist working for an engineering firm in Marion, Ohio.  She was then promoted to administrative assistant for the marketing department of that same firm.  Then in 1984, she was given the opportunity to work for the president of Macola, Incorporated, which later became Macola Software.  Marva Lee earned the promotion to executive assistant working directly with the president/chief executive officer and chief financial officer.  A position she held until Macola Software was bought out by Exact Software.  After the buy-out, Marva Lee became executive assistant for the Human Resources/Payroll department. 

In June 2005, Marva Lee and her husband, Don, decided to retire from their full-time jobs in Ohio and move to Sanford, North Carolina.  They have a son, Matthew, and a daughter Nicole Smith and husband Jamie Smith, all who live in Raleigh, North Carolina.  Both Matthew and Nicole are Campbell University graduates.

Marva Lee enjoys knitting, reading, playing golf and Southern Gospel Quartet music.

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Upon God’s calling, Mrs. Kimberly Davidson joined the JHBC Staff as the Church Pianist in November, 2008.  Kimberly is a native of Sanford and was privileged to have been raised in a loving Christian home, accepting Christ as her personal Savior at the age of seven.  Prior to coming to JHBC, Kimberly attended Grace Chapel Church where she and her family had been involved in the music and children’s ministries.

Kimberly and her husband, Rafe, have been married ten years and have an eight-year-old boy, Connor, and a daughter, Reagan, who is six years old.  Kimberly enjoys volunteering at Tramway Elementary School where her children attend and substitute teaching at St. Luke Preschool.  She loves spending time with her family and being involved in all her children’s activities.

Kimberly has a passion and appreciation for music from all types of genre.  She took piano lessons from the age of six throughout high school and went on to minor in music from N.C. State, emphasizing in piano performance.  She earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Management, with a Concentration in Marketing in December, 1997.

Kimberly feels blessed to be a part of JHBC as a church musician and is grateful to have an opportunity to utilize God’s talent in order to glorify Him!  She acknowledges music as a prime method of ministering to each and every one of God’s children!