Community Baptist Church Staff

Meet our Pastor…

Dr. Kent Barrett

Community Baptist Church has been our home now since March 2008. The Lord has blessed us with a wonderful facility and people with a common goal to tell others about Jesus Christ. We want to serve you as part of our community. Our desire is to let you know that you are always welcome at Community Baptist Church and you have an open invitation to worship with us at any time. Come be our guest and worship with us soon.

Where did you grow-up and live?
Born in Gainesville, Georgia. Raised in Gillsville Georgia in Hall County.

Education
Graduated from East Hall High School (1991); Gainesville College, Associates of Arts Degree (1996); Carolina University of Theology, Bachelors of Arts in Biblical Studies (2001); Southern Bible Institute and Seminary, Masters of Ministry (2002); and North Georgia Baptist Theological Seminary, Doctor of Ministry Degree (2005).

Career Experience
After a three year stint traveling in Southern Gospel Music with “The Perrys”, I began my ministry as youth pastor at Gillsville Baptist Church in Gillsville, Georgia. Later moving to Mt. Olive Baptist in Commerce, Georgia also to work with the youth. Our last stop in youth ministry was at Pleasant Hill Baptist in Lavonia, Georgia. I took my first pastorate at Dove’s Creek Baptist Church in Elberton, Georgia and from there went to Enon Baptist Church in Alto, Georgia. God allowed me at this time to finish my Doctor of Ministry Degree. After God led us away from Enon, I became the pastor of Sandy Creek Baptist Church in Athens, Georgia and served there for three years, until our recent arrival at Community Baptist Church.

Family
I married Heather in 1996 and God blessed us with two wonderful children.

Bible Focus

I absolutely love the study of God's Word. It is God's revelation of Himself to us. The completion of His revelation of Himself is found in the person of Jesus Christ. From the First word in Genesis to the last Amen in Revelation, Jesus is the centerpiece and the only way given unto salvation. To know Him we must know His word.

My Story
My heart’s desire has always been to serve the Lord. While just a young man at the age of thirteen God called me to preach His gospel. The call was clear and certain. Since that time my life has been a mission to preach the Good News. In recent days God has brought us to Community Baptist Church to serve as pastor. I thank God for His guidance and look forward to greater days with this fellowship.

Get excited - Sunday’s a comin’

Dr. Kent Barrett

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Meet our Director of Children's Ministries...
Lisa Culpepper

My name is Lisa Culpepper and I have had the privilege for the last 5 years of serving as director of the children’s ministries at Community Baptist Church. I have enjoyed seeing God allow this ministry to grow and reach new levels. It is amazing to see what a great work God is doing! There is a passion in my heart to serve the Lord by working with these precious little boys and girls. They each have a special place in my heart and I love to see their excitement and smiling faces. I pray that God will continue to pour out His blessings and that we will continue to see these children accepting Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior.

Background

I was born and raised in Commerce, Ga. and attended Commerce High School.

My family

I have a wonderful husband named Stacy and we have a little Yorki-Poo named “D.J.” God placed Stacy in my life almost 16 years ago now and I know He has great plans for us in the ministry together. We have always loved giving of our time in serving Jesus. When we were dating, we used to get into trouble for being on the phone so long, but we were always sharing something about the goals and things we felt God had in store for us. We would even play Bible Trivia games over the phone. I am so thankful for my family and that I have such a strong spiritual leader like my husband in my life.

My favorite scripture

“I have set the Lord always before me: because He is at my right hand, I shall not be moved.” Psalm 16:8

My story

I remember as a young child going to church with my mom’s parents. Those were such great memories and they had such a great influence on my life. When I was eight years old, I “repeated” a prayer and thought that I had done what I needed to do to accept Jesus as my Savior. At the age of 30, I realized that I did not have a personal relationship with Christ. I knew about Him, but I never really “knew Him” in my heart. I knelt down in a Sunday school room at our church in September of 2006 and asked Jesus into my heart. I now have that personal relationship with Him. My prayer is that I can be used of God to help these children that He has blessed me to work with to fully understand what they are doing as they are accepting Christ; that they will know and be 100% sure that they have had a personal experience. I pray that no one would have to go all those years like I did and live with the fear and doubt of not being sure about their salvation. Jesus is the best thing that has ever happened in my life! He truly is a friend that will never leave us or forsake us. I now have an even greater passion in my heart and life to serve Jesus Christ by trying to work and teach the young children in our church about this man named Jesus. That is what it is all about…seeing lives changed forever as they come to know Christ.

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Meet our Minister of Music…

Stacy Culpepper

I am so thankful to have been given the opportunity and the privilege to serve in the ministry at Community Baptist Church! What a wonderful bunch of folks to be around. To serve with, to worship with, and with that being said, I would like to extend a special invitation to you and your family to come and join in and be a part of all of the great things that God is doing around CBC. The best is yet to come…and there is always a place for you. My prayer as the Minister of Music at Community is that there will always be an atmosphere of worship and praise to the God that has so unconditionally loved us and blessed us. That we will always strive to live Psalm 100:4...to "Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise: be thankful unto Him, and bless His name."

Background

I was born in Commerce, Georgia. I grew up in the Commerce area and have lived in Banks County.

Family

Lisa and I were married in November of 1998. God has blessed me with the most wonderful wife. Serving Christ together in the ministry has always been a passion that we both have shared and loved. I look back and remember that our very first conversation on the phone…even before our first date…was about our sensing of God’s call upon our lives. It’s amazing how God works!

Favorite Songs

"He’s All I Need" – Made popular by the Kingsmen

"He Loves Me Like I Was His Only Child" – My wife and I sing together.

"Amazing Grace"
"I'd Rather Have Jesus"
"At the Foot of The Cross" - Tammy Trent
Anything by the Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir
"Covered" - by the CBC Choir
"Days of Elijah" - by the Mike Lefevre Qt.
"No More Night" - David Phelps
"The Light of That City" - Allen Asbury

"My God Will Always Be Enough" - Karen Peck & New River

"Over & Over Again" - Jeff & Sherri Easter

My Story

I accepted Christ at a very early age in Children’s Church at Mt. Zion Baptist Church in Madison County. I have so many fond memories and experiences there at Mt. Zion. Pastor Doug Echols was, and to this day still is, one of the greatest influences on my life. He was who He said He was...and was genuine, real and one of the most humble men I ever met. His love for people and for the cause of Christ has never left the forefront of my heart and mind as I strive to serve God in my own life. I was blessed to have grown up under such a godly minister. He was truly a godly man. When I was around the age of 5 years old, I began to sing specials such as “You and Me Jesus” & “Ain’t No Grave Gonna Hold My Body Down.” I would join up and sing with my Mother on songs such as “Please Don’t Tell My Daddy” and songs that my Mother had written such as “Three Days In Jerusalem.” My Mother always had a song in her heart...and my childhood was filled with a Mom that sang and praised God as she cleaned the home, as she cooked meals and as she washed dishes. She too has been one of the most influential people in my life. A very godly lady, willing to serve God however He leads. I was taught directing dramas from her, songwriting from her, and singing from her. I thank God for the influences that my life has been blessed to have known. My Grandfather would stand me up in front of the church in a chair, back me up with the guitar and we would have ourselves a time. I then at the age of 8 began to take piano lessons. At the age of 13, I began to work in the Children’s Church Ministry through playing the piano, teaching and puppets. Shortly thereafter, I began to play the piano for the main worship service. The road has taken me through so many opportunities. From directing dramas, to playing the piano in church, to teaching Sunday school classes to now directing the choir. God has been so good to me…and the privilege of serving Him has been the greatest opportunity of my life. To have just a little part in leading people closer to Christ is the most awesome endeavor that I’ve ever been a part of.