Meet The Pastors

                    

 jwalker@fbca.com   
 
 

 

I grew up as a Pastor’s son, so the church has almost always been an important part of my life. God’s call on my life to the ministry came while I was a student at Palm Beach Atlantic University. After completing my BS in Business Administration, I headed for Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Ft. Worth, Texas where I also served on the ministerial staff at Northway Baptist Church in Dallas for five years (1981-86) as the Minister of Recreation and Singles. After completing seminary, I was called to be the Student Pastor at Shandon Baptist Church in Columbia, SC (1986-89). My first Senior Pastorate was at the Azalea City Baptist Church in Valdosta, GA (1989-93). In 1993 I responded to the call to Biltmore Baptist Church in Asheville, NC where I served as Senior Pastor for 14 years (1993-2007). For a brief period of time I served as the CEO of the Haggai Leadership Training Institute, but enthusiastically moved back into the Pastorate in 2008 as the new Senior Pastor of First Baptist Church of Alpharetta. My beautiful and loving wife Debbie and I have been married since 1989 and we have four absolutely wonderful kids, Amy, Ian, Jamie, and Emma whom I love with all of my heart.
 
My absolute passion for our church is that we would make a huge difference right here in our own community of Alpharetta by reaching out and ministering to the need of the people not only within our church family, but also to those beyond the walls of our campus. My desire is that FBCA would play a very active role in our community and then reach out to the world as God opens opportunities. I’ve heard it said, “The light that shines the farthest shines the brightest at home.” I believe that’s true.
 

 

I truly had a great childhood. My whole family, including uncles, cousins, and aunts, was involved in ministry-serving the same church. I chose to major in vocal performance. I wanted to do something else with the musical talent that God had given to me and trained for six years in pursuit of a career as an opera singer, not realizing that God had other plans. As I experienced God using me to impact others during a part-time position as worship minister, I realized His true calling for my life.

I received a Bachelor of Vocal Performance from Palm Beach Atlantic University (2002) and served as the Minister of Music & Worship at North Hialeah Baptist Church while earning a Master of Music in Vocal Performance from the University of Miami (2004). During that time I was called to serve as the Associate Pastor of Worship at First Baptist Church of West Palm Beach, FL. In early 2010, my wife Jismarie (jeez-mah-REE) and I felt God leading us to seek the next step in our ministry. Willing to go where God leads, I accepted the call to First Baptist Alpharetta in April 2010 and we made the move to Alpharetta.

God wants to change our perception of Him. He is a great God. He wants us to worship Him as Who He is. He wants us to trust Him as Who He is. My prayer for each of you is that you would be expectant and ready for what the Lord is about to do at our church, FBCA.

 

 

 

 

God called me to full-time vocational ministry after seventeen years in secular business, most of which was in management. I started my career in finance, transitioned to technology consulting, and finished my secular career in business strategy. I worked for large and small companies such as IBM, Accenture, Ariba, and Alltel, all of which gave me great experience in leadership, communication, and strategy. Prior to joining the staff at First Baptist Alpharetta, I was a member at the church and served in numerous lay leader roles including being a deacon. The experience of being a church member, Small Group Leader, Committee Chairperson, Deacon and Pastor has given me unique insight into ministry from multiple viewpoints. I believe God has used these experiences to make me more effective as a pastor. I have earned a BBA in Finance from Georgia State University, a Master of Divinity from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary (NOBTS), and I am currently working on the Doctor of Ministry in Leadership from NOBTS. I have been married to my amazing wife Jeannie for fifteen years, and we are blessed to have two wonderful kids, Kayla and Max.
 
I am deeply passionate about the priority of God’s Word and the Lord’s mandate to make disciples of all nations. I have a heart for the global church and our persecuted Christian family around the world, and I believe every Christian should be a multiplicative disciple-maker. My focus is on allowing Jesus to live through me in this world so He can be glorified here and allow others to experience His life for eternity.
 

I was born in Knoxville, TN. But  grew up in Greer, SC. and trusted Christ at the age of 12 at Pleasant Grove Baptist Church in Greer. Shortly after trusting Christ at twelve years of age, God called me into some sort of ministry. At the time I did not know what, I just knew there was something ahead. I received a BS from Clemson University, ThM from Dallas Theological Seminary and a MNA from Georgia State. I married Vanda absolutely sure God had made her for me. God has given us three children, Caleb, Ashlee, and David Andrew.
 
After serving part time in three churches and one camp ministry my first full time position was Associate Pastor, Singles and Discipleship, for ten years at Ash Street Baptist Church. I then became associate pastor at Mount Zion Baptist Church for ten years responsible for most facets of the ministry. I was able to see a broad range of churches in over two years of ministry as Evangelism Consultant at the Georgia Baptist Church. 
 
In my junior year at Clemson I was involved in Bible Studies, mission trips, and evangelism projects. I was discipled by some godly men. I was asked to be on staff at several churches. I was soon ordained and began my ministry journey. My passions lie along seeing people, ministries and churches change and grow. I love to use God’s Word to make this happen. I love to encourage people to walk with God and step into ministry. I am pumped when lives are changed. It always amazes me when God uses me. I love my role at FBCA in applying these passions in Ministry Development.
 

jholcomb@fbca.com
 
 

 

I grew up in the huge city of Vidalia, GA where my dad was very active in the student ministry at our local church, so for me going on youth trips began at an early age. My family also had a ministry called Going Home Family Ministries which allowed our family to travel across 4 states singing and leading churches in family based weekend seminars. While I was in high school I recognized my call to the ministry and soon after rushed to Toccoa Falls College to pursue that call. I truly feel Toccoa did a great job in preparing and shaping that call to ministry that I received as young high school student. I graduated with a degree in Interpersonal and Organizational Communication, and minors in Bible and Student Ministry. While I was a senior at Toccoa, I took my first church staff position at Clear Springs Baptist Church in Alpharetta, GA, as the student and Recreation Pastor.

 

After graduating I married my amazing wife Lisa, and moved to Alpharetta (2001-2004). After my time at Clear Springs I was called to serve at Peachtree Corners Baptist Church in Norcross, GA as an associate Student Minister of Discipleship where I stayed for a short period of time. It was during this time that I feel God positioned me to launch into some great things in student ministry (2004-2005). It was from this launching pad that we moved to FBC Conroe TX where I served as the Student Pastor (2005-2009). While at FBC Conroe I had some significant things happen in my life outside of ministry. I became a dad and was able to pursue my masters at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. To be honest I never thought God would call me and my family back to the area my ministry first began but here we are and we couldn’t be more excited.
 

My wife Lisa and I have been married since 2002 and know have two amazing girls Addyson, and Riley. I have a true passion to see students come to know the Lord and then live out a walking talking relationship with Him so that they can truly see how amazing the God we serve is!
 

 

 

I was born and raised in Texas. I have a wife, Brittany, and a dog named Cooper and this is our first big move out of Texas!! We have been married since July 2007.
 
I earned my BBA in Business Administration and Management from Houston Baptist University. I started in ministry fairly early as a freshman in high school leading our worship at Capstone Church, the church my family started in El Paso, TX. In 2003, I was called to be the Elementary Pastor at River Pointe Church in Richmond, TX. Then in 2007 I served as the Children’s Pastor at Woodlands Church East Campus in Humble, TX.
 
We moved to Alpharetta, GA in December 2009, following God’s call to be the Children’s Pastor here at FBCA. I have a passion for Children’s Ministry and an excitement for things to come at FBCA and the kids we have the opportunity to reach.