Dr. Gil McKee

Senior Pastor

gil@fbctuscaloosa.org

Education? B.M.–Hardin-Simmons University, Abilene Texas. MDiv. – Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, Fort Worth, Texas. DMin.–Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, Kansas City, Missouri

Where did you grow up? Native of Houston, Texas. Moved to Baton Rouge, Louisiana at age 3. Moved to Pearland, Texas at age 15.

Personal? Married to Sharon Knowles McKee (May 22, 1982) Children- Jason and Holly

Interests/Hobbies? Hunting, Golf, Running

Favorite Movie? Saving Private Ryan, Braveheart, The Patriot

What's On Your ipod? Enjoys music of all kinds but especially music of the 70’s

Favorite Food? Mexican Food

We would be surprised to know...? That I'm a certified scuba diver.

On your bookshelf? Personal library of about 3500 volumes.

Your perfect day? A day with my wife on the beach in Destin or at Disney World.

You're terrified of? Snakes!

Favorite Scripture? Philippians 4:13

Most proud of? My children.

What advice would you give yourself at 20 years old? Slow down and smell the roses.  Learn to enjoy the journey in stead of pushing so hard to get to the destination.

Kris Sullivan

Business Administrator

ksullivan@fbctuscaloosa.org

Education? Bachelor’s Degree in Commerce and Business from the University of Alabama.

Where did you grow up? Many different cities in the U.S.  The longest place of residence while growing up was Houston, Texas

Personal? Married to Rene’; two children: Rebecca and Anderson. Lucy the beagle and Shadow the cat also live with us.

Interests/Hobbies? Golf, Fitness, Watching Alabama football and basketball, working in my yard.

Favorite Movie? The Shawshank Redemption

What's On Your ipod?  Jeremy Camp; Building 429; Casting Crowns; The title track from Psalterium by the Lamb Family.

Favorite Food? Steak

We would be surprised to know...? That I want to someday own a business that encourages people in their Christian faith.

On your bookshelf? Wild at Heart (John Eldridge); Bringing Up Boys (James Dobson); The Bible.

Your perfect day? To watch the sunrise in Destin, play golf in the morning and then attend an Alabama football game in Bryant Denny Stadium at night.

You're terrified of? Missing God’s will for my life

Favorite Scripture? 1 Timothy 1:15 and 16

Most proud of? My Family

What advice would you give yourself at 20 years old? Surrender to God; follow your surrendered heart; be confident and bold; make every day count

Vial Fontenot

Minister of Missions & Ministry

vial@fbctuscaloosa.org

Education?  Niceville Senior High School, Niceville, FL.;  Louisiana Tech University, Ruston, LA, Bachelor of Science; New Orleans Seminary, ThM; Christian Spanish Academy, Antigua, Guatemala, 84. hrs. Spanish Language; Samford University, Birmingham, Counseling and Evangelism

Where did you grow up?  USAF Brat - Okinawa, Alaska, New Mexico, South Carolina, Mississippi, Montana, Florida, Washington DC, Louisiana

Personal?  Married to Mitzi, two children, Jovi and Joshua

Interests/Hobbies? Painting with oils, hunting, fishing, building outdoor wooded structures

Favorite Movie?  Ben Hur, 007 stuff

What's On Your ipod?  Classical, Rock, Gospel, Easy Listening

Favorite Food? Spaghetti, Steak, Eggs, MRE's

We would be surprised to know...?  I have driven a car on the left side of the road in Indonesia; I use my left hand with chopsticks; I used to run hurdles at Tech and led with my left leg

On your bookshelf? Amazon Head Hunters, Santa Biblia, So You Want to be a Leader, Summerall On and Off the Air, Celebration of Discipline

Your perfect day? Building a deck in a friend's back yard and watching a movie on my big screen tv.

You're terrified of?  Leaving a mission team member in another country.

Favorite Scripture?  Jeremiah 12:5

Most proud of? My Son and Daughter; New Christian Family members around the world

What advice would you give yourself at 20 years old? God will be faithful to you no matter what happens.

Joe Armour

Minister to Adults & Outreach

jarmour@fbctuscaloosa.org

Education? BS in Agronomy–Mississippi State University, MS in Agronomy–Mississippi State University, MARE (Master of Arts in Religious Education)–Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, MDiv (Master of Divinity) Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary

Where did you grow up? On a dairy farm in the community of Cayce, Mississippi, near Byhalia in Northwest Mississippi (just outside of Memphis, TN)  

Personal? Wife is Lynn. Three children – Joseph, 16; Harrison, 13 and Jane Frances, 11. Dog named Coco, a golden retriever mix, and two cats, Bella and Millie.

Interests/Hobbies? All sports (primarily youth sports), landscaping/yard work, photography, and spending time with family

Favorite Movie? All time favorite is “It’s a Wonderful Life.”  Others include “Man from Snowy River,” “The Gods Must Be Crazy,” “Holiday Inn” and any sports movie based on a true story.

What's On Your ipod? Various types but I listen mostly to contemporary Christian music, primarily worship/praise music

Favorite Food? Breakfast food!   I love to eat breakfast at night! 

We would be surprised to know...? I was the Bulldog Mascot and Head Varsity Cheerleader at Mississippi State University

On your bookshelf? “The Faith" by Charles Colson; Books on Christian growth, Christian worldview and today’s culture, William Wilberforce, and leadership. 

Your perfect day? A peaceful day at a cabin on a lake with family/friends (people I love and who love me) with delicious food with great weather with no TV, computer, or cell phone

You're terrified of? Trying to pronounce some of the names in the Old Testament

Favorite Scripture? 2 Corinthians 5:21 – “God made Him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God.”

Most proud of? My family – my wife and three children!  With me marrying and having children “later in life” I am blessed with a wonderful family!

What advice would you give yourself at 20 years old? “Make the most of every opportunity” Eph. 5:16 (NIV), Col.4:5 (NIV); “Redeem the time” Eph. 5:16 (NKJV), Col. 4:5 (NKJV)

Tim Simpson

Minister to College

tim@fbctuscaloosa.org

Education? Bachelor of Arts in Communication, UA; Master of Divinity, New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary

Where did you grow up? Tuscaloosa

Personal? Married to Shelley Simpson; Sons - Ethan and Gideon

Interests/Hobbies? Soccer, Volleyball, Surfing, PS2, Hanging with Shelley, Ethan and Gideon

Favorite Movie? Tombstone, Dumb and Dumber, The Emperor’s Club, Good Will Hunting 

What's On Your ipod?U2, Dave Barnes, David Crowder Band, Sara Groves, Lots of Sermon Podcasts

Favorite Food? Pizza, Turnip Greens, Mac and Cheese, Tong Cho Chicken

We would be surprised to know...? I played soccer for the University of Alabama and surfed in Hawaii

On your bookshelf? Five Dysfunctions of a Team by Patrick Lencioni, The Practice of Godliness by Jerry Bridges, Courageous Leadership by Bill Hybels, Teaching to Change Lives by Howard Hendricks

Your perfect day? A day in the pool by the beach with Shelley and my sons and/or a day in the pool with Bono, Tommy Nelson, and Sylvester Stallone

You're terrified of? I try to avoid snakes, jellyfish, and insects that sting

Favorite Scripture? Romans 5:8

Most proud of? My family and friendships and my t-shirt collection

What advice would you give yourself at 20 years old? Your perfect mate will work with you when you’re 27; don’t date anyone until you meet her. Concentrate on your guy friendships and study your Bible like it could be taken away

John Lowe

Minister to Students

lowedown@fbctuscaloosa.org

Education? Troy University BS in Business Administration. New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary Master of Divinity emphasis in Christian Education

Where did you grow up? Montgomery, AL

Personal? Married Bobbi Lowe in July of 1995; Tyler is 6th Grade, Madi is 4th Grade.

Interests/Hobbies? Burning Meat on the Grill, Computer tasks, Photography, Alabama Football.

Favorite Movie?  Hoosiers, The Lion King, Remember the Titans

What's On Your ipod? Toby Mac, Family Force Five, Steve Fee, Hillsong United

Favorite Food? Pork, Beef, Shrimp and Pizza

We would be surprised to know...? I’d like to do Mike Row’s job for a day.

On your bookshelf? John Maxwell Books.

Your perfect day? Sitting in the Woods with a cooler full of Dr. Pepper

You're terrified of? Snakes

Favorite Scripture? Ephesians 2:11-15

Most proud of? Knowing that God chose to bless me with a beautiful family.

What advice would you give yourself at 20 years old? Choose a course of study that is very specialized and study harder.

Beth Yates

Minister of Childhood Education

byates@fbctuscaloosa.org

Education? Bachelor of Music from Ouachita Baptist University (1985) Masters of Arts in Religious Education from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary (1989)

Where did you grow up? Osceola, Arkansas

Interests/Hobbies? Cooking, entertaining – especially afternoon tea, golf, children’s books, music

Favorite Movie? “It’s a Wonderful Life”; “Simon Burch”; “Imitation of Life”; and “Phantom of the Opera”

What's On Your ipod? Mostly classical, praise and worship, and broadway soundtracks

Favorite Food? Chinese, just about anything homemade, BBQ

We would be surprised to know...? That I am the youngest of 7 children, I have 17 nieces and nephews and I have 36 first cousins

On your bookshelf? lots of parenting and leadership books (my favorites are by Tim Elmore right now); thanks to a recent membership in a book club, I am currently reading The Invention of Hugo Cabret (Selznick) and The Shack  (Young) – we recently read Native Son (Wright), Innocent Traiter (Weir) and The Prince of Frogtown (Bragg)

Your perfect day? Spending time with friends, attending concerts, traveling

You're terrified of? Bugs of any kind!

Favorite Scripture? "Therefore, I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you.” 2 Timothy 1:6

Most proud of? My family and close friends

What advice would you give yourself at 20 years old? "Don't take yourself too seriously, and focus on God's will for your life"

Jerry Lake

Minister to Senior Adults

jlake@fbctuscaloosa.org

Education? Graduated from the U of A with a BS Degree in Commerce and Business Administration

Where did you grow up? In Birmingham until I was 7 years old and then we moved to Tuscaloosa.

Personal? Married to Helen Long Lake – 3 Children Christopher, Joel ( Married to Melinda Ray), and Candice (Married to Chris Powell)  - 3 grandchildren -  Sarah Morgan Lake, Benjamin Lake and Clay Powell

Interests/Hobbies? Fly fishing and day hiking

Favorite Music? I like all kinds of Music from Hymms to Rock and Roll.

Favorite Movie? A River Runs Through It, and  Ole Yeller

Favorite Food? – I like most all food!  However,  a good cheeseburger and baked beans are among my favorites.  Oh! And don’t forget the Strawberry Shortcake.

We would be surprised to know...? I danced and sang with a group called “Rock Back the Clock”.  We did shows for reunion groups and charitable organizations.

Your perfect day? Being on vacation with my family in the North Carolina mountains.  Trout fishing and hiking in the morning and family events in the afternoon.

Favorite Scripture? Matt. 6:33

Most proud of?  My family!

What advice would you give yourself at 20 years old? Seek God more in my life every day.

Stefanie McGuire

Children's Ministry Associate

smcguire@fbctuscaloosa.org

Education: Vocal Performance Major/Theatre Minor, University of Alabama; Certified Kindermusik Instructor

Where did you grow up?

Born and raised in Tuscaloosa, Alabama

Personal: Married to Michael McGuire since April 29, 1995; two daughters, Marlee and Morgan

Interests/Hobbies? I have probably tried almost anything that has to do with making something! Also I act, sing and play piano. Does shopping count as a hobby?

Favorite Movies? DieHard, Dream Girls, The Notebook, The American President

What's On Your ipod?

Everything from hard rock to children's songs and everything in between.

Favorite Foods? Popcorn, Rotel dip, Mountain Dew

We would be surprised to know...? I was a University of Alabama cheerleader my freshman year of college. I traded in screaming for singing!

Favorite Scripture? "Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised." Proverbs 31:30

On your bookshelf? I just love books! In fact, I have a nice collection of Christmas books and now I have started collecting holiday books for my girls. I really have a problem in this area, but apparently my self help section isn’t doing its job because I just keep buying them.

Your perfect day? A day filled with all the things you would love to do before you die and sharing it with the ones you love the most.

You're terrified of? I'm terrified of not living up to the potential of what it means to be a follower of Christ.

Most proud of? My parents; Bunny & David Lee. I was fortunate enough to be raised in a Christian home with Godly parents who have been married for over 50 years. They were very involved with the church and made sure that we were there every time the doors were open. These Christian values are ones that Michael and I strive for with our children and in our marriage. I am also very proud of my beautiful, smart daughters and a husband who’s main goal is taking care of his girls.

What advice would you give yourself at 20 years old? Never give up on anything that's worth fighting for no matter if it takes a lifetime to accomplish it.