Leadership

Jason serves as the Senior Pastor of First Baptist Church Barnesville where he’s passionate about seeing people grow in every area of life through the transforming power of Jesus so that they might become living proof of a loving God. He has a deep conviction that the local church should be both a spiritual family and a launching pad for missional living.

Luke 2:52, “And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man”, has profoundly shaped Pastor Jason’s life and ministry. It guides his desire to help people grow holistically as Jesus did—intellectually, emotionally, relationally, and spiritually. It’s a picture of a balanced and healthy disciple growing to become more like Christ in every season of life.

Originally from Thomason, GA, Pastor Jason has been in ministry for 25 years. Most of the lessons he has learned in life come from raising kids, making mistakes, and watching God show up in the messy and the ordinary. His wife, Honey, is his best friend and partner in both life and ministry. They have four beautiful daughters—Willow, Mercy, Nola, and Haddon—who keep them joyful, humble, and always spending money.

When he’s not at the church, Pastor Jason loves fishing, hunting, and coaching soccer in the community. If you’re looking for a church that’s real, family-friendly, and passionate about helping you grow in your faith, Pastor Jason would love to meet you.

Russ was born and grew up near Baltimore, Maryland. He met his wife, Pat, while working as an interim pastor for a mission church in central Maryland. He and Pat have two adult daughters. He attended Southwestern Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas, graduating with a Master of Divinity and a Master of Religious Education degrees. From there he pastored a mission church, was a youth minister in a church in Baltimore, and then spent seventeen years as Associate Pastor of Education and Youth at a church in Pasadena, Maryland. Russ joined the FBC staff as Associate Pastor of Education and Administration in August of 2001.

Marcus serves as the Worship Pastor and has been involved in worship ministry for most of his life. He is passionate about helping people encounter the presence of God through music, creative expression, and intentional discipleship. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Commercial Music and a Master’s degree in Worship Studies. Originally from Tampa, Florida, he has had the privilege of serving in churches in Virginia and now Georgia. He and his wife, Taryn, have been married since 2022 and love partnering together in ministry to strengthen and encourage the local church.

Jennifer holds a Master's degree in Business and Health Administration from the University of St. Francis. She is a licensed Radiologic Technologist, certified by the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists, and has two decades of experience in healthcare and education. Jennifer has been serving as the Children’s Minister at FBC for six years, and she is deeply thankful that God called her to this ministry. She finds great joy in impacting the lives of children and helping them grow in their faith. Outside of her professional life, Jennifer cherishes time with her husband, Bruce Zeager, Jr., and their two children, McKinleah and Joseph.

With a focus on Christ, some of Josh’s favorite scripture is Philippians 1:19-21. As he helps lead the students at FBC, Josh tries to keep the focus on living with integrity for Christ until the Lord calls us home. He is blessed with the best wife, Abby, and two kids, Remi and Billy. Josh was a student here at FBC many years ago, and had 4 different leaders during his high school years. Josh believes the Lord was working in his life during those years as God began calling him into ministry. Josh is blessed with a great team to work with as they strive to move the Gospel forward for the Glory of God! If you have a student in middle or high school, Josh invites you to visit us and see if FBC Barnesville is the place God had called you too as well.

Meet Audrey, our Ministries Assistant! She is a Georgia native, originally from Newnan, but moved to Barnesville while attending Gordon State College to pursue her Bachelor’s degree. Audrey graduated with a degree in Health Information and Management, but God had other plans and led her here to FBC. As a Ministries Assistant, her main role is supporting our ministers with any task, big or small, but she also enjoys planning and coordinating events. In her free time, you can find Audrey spending time with her husband, Evan, and enjoying the outdoors.

Carrianna is passionate about using creativity, clarity, and strategy to help people connect with the gospel in meaningful ways. From managing digital content and print materials to mobilizing photography and podcast teams, she ensures that everything we communicate reflects the heart of Christ. Carrianna is a graduate of Gordon state College, and is currently working toward an M.A. in Strategic Communication: Digital Media at Liberty University. She has been at FBC since 2018 and joined the staff team in 2022. When not behind a computer keyboard or musical keyboard, you can find her tending to her many office plants, spending time with her dogs (Winston + Tillie), or enjoying time at a local coffee shop.

Sarah serves as the Pastor’s Administrative Assistant, helping manage the day-to-day details of church life and supporting the pastor as he guides and cares for the FBC family. She graduated from Gordon State College in 2024 with a degree in Education, but the Lord led her in a different direction and opened the door for her to serve in ministry. Originally from Hampton, Sarah began attending FBC’s Young Adult gatherings in 2019 and joined the church family in January 2024. She has loved planting roots in Barnesville and being part of the community here. In her free time, she enjoys being outside, photography, and spending time with her nieces and nephews.