Mike has served as a pastor, an associational missionary and a state missionary with the Georgia Baptist Convention. His ministry has taken him from West Central Georgia to North Georgia, to Waycross, Georgia, and back to West Central Georgia.

Mike is a native of Columbus, Georgia and has been married to his wife, Sharon, for forty years. They have two daughters and six grandchildren.

Mike is a preacher and teacher of the word of God. He holds a Bachelor's Degree from Columbus College (now Columbus State University), and Master of Divinity and  Doctor of Ministry degrees from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary.

Don Balltzglier, Sr. came to serve at First Baptist with forty-five years of Music Ministry experience. Prior to coming to First Baptist, Don served churches in North Carolina, South Carolina and Georgia.

 

Don and his family served as Vocational Southern Baptist Music Evangelists for sixteen years. They ministered in revivals as well as concerts from coast to coast. The Balltzgliers also served as staff evangelists at the Mt. Gilead Baptist Church in Griffin, GA.

 

Don and his wife, Carrell, have been a ministry team for 48 years. Don says, “It’s our joy to serve our Lord Jesus and the family of First Baptist.”

Lance Bernard has been Associate Pastor to Students at First Baptist since 2004. He grew up in Natchitoches, LA. with 4 brothers and 3 sisters. He graduated from Louisiana Tech with a Bachelor of Science and attended Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, TX.

Lance has worked with youth for over a decade and has also helped to plant churches in Northeastern Colorado with the North American Mission Board.

Lance is married to the former Ms. Dory Marler and they have a two daughters, Ashleigh who was born in 2008, and Marleigh, born in 2011. Lance enjoys golf, hunting and traveling.