To schedule a meeting with John, please contact:
Senior Pastor Assistant Beverly Shoemaker
e-mail or phone 322.5656
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Dr. John Avant
Senior Pastor
In 1993, John sensed Jesus calling him to missions with the local church which John calls the "hope of the world". Before coming to First West, John was the North American Mission Board's Vice President for Evangelization. In addition to having led growing churches in Texas and Georgia, John has led mission work across North America including the planting of a Japanese church, a Hispanic church, and a multi-cultural church in Manhattan. Internationally, John has helped to plant churches in Belarus, Mexico, Lebanon, and Vietnam. John has also trained pastors in many countries including China, Israel, Canada, and Uganda.
A published author, he has written If God Were Real, Authentic Power, The Passion Promise, and co-authored Revival among other works. John and his wife Donna are proud parents to Matthew & Christi Avant Watson, Joseph & Amy Avant Daniel, and Trey Avant. Donna is a gifted speaker and is an integral part of the P3 Women's Mininstry at First West.
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To schedule a meeting with Toby, please contact:
Executive Pastor Assistant Debbie Robertson
e-mail or phone 322-2088 |
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Dr. Toby Frost
Executive Pastor
Toby came to First West from the North American Mission Board where he served as Senior Director of Direct Evangelism and Manager of Event Evangelism. At First West, Toby works in partnership with Dr. Avant in implementing the vision and strategy of First West, coordinating a network of evangelism through missions, coaching, mentoring, and church planting that serves both locally and in the broader Kingdom.
As well as working for the North American Mission Board, he was National Director of Celebrate Jesus 2000 and has been a visiting professor at several Baptist Seminaries throughout the South.
Toby and his wife Susan are proud parents to three children: Taylor, Perry and Roddey. Susan also serves on the ministerial staff at First West. |
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To schedule a meeting with Mark, please contact:
Global Ministries Assistant Judy Grant
e-mail or phone 322.5104 | |
Mark Fenn
Global Ministries Pastor
Mark joined the First West team in April of 1992, as Youth Pastor and now serves as Global Ministries Pastor. Mark gives leadership to community and global transformation strategies.
Mark and his wife Ann have a son, Caleb, who enjoys hunting with his dad every chance they get! Ann is a gifted pianist and a member of the First West Praise Team. |
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To schedule a meeting with Randy, please contact:
Portico Assistant Kim Wilhite
e-mail or phone 325.6638
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Randy Impson
Minister of Operations & Chief Financial Officer
Portico Pastor
Randy served as First West's Single Adult Pastor from 1998-2001, then as pastor of Calvary Baptist Church in Starkville, Mississippi. Randy returned to First West in May 2006 to serve as Portico Pastor.
Before being called into ministry, Randy was a bank vice president and commercial lender and his financial wisdom is invaluable to the operation of First West.
Randy's favorite activities are hanging out with his bride of over 25 years, Denise, and training and hunting his bird dogs. He and Denise have two children, Aaron and Shelly Impson Williams (husband Ben Williams). Randy and Denise recently became grandparents to Ben and Shelly's son Evan Williams. |
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To schedule a meeting with Dwight, please contact:
Education Ministry Assistant Amy Gill
e-mail or phone 322.5029
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Dwight Munn
Education and Discipleship Pastor
Dwight Munn is our Discipleship Pastor, giving leadership to the Christian Education Team. A native of South Carolina, Dwight came to First West after serving for six years as the Pastor of First Baptist Church of Luling, LA, just outside New Orleans on the Mississippi River. Dwight also served in student ministry for seven years prior to pastoring. Dwight is a graduate of Wingate University and New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. He is currently pursuing his Doctor of Ministry degree.
Dwight's hobbies include hunting and fishing, hanging out with friends and family. His wife, Lissa, is a 5th grade school teacher. He has two daughters, Marissa who is 15, and Malia who is 12. |
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To schedule a meeting with Gil, please contact:
Pastoral Care Assistant Lynne Carter
e-mail or 322.5104 ext.121
To schedule a counseling session with Gil or another Christian counselor, contact the Counseling Center at 322.1427.
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Gil Martin
Counseling and Pastoral Care Pastor
Gil is responsible for the leadership and direction of the staff at First West Counseling Center and Pastoral Care of First West members. His desire for the First West Counseling Center is to create a premiere Christian counseling ministry for the entire Northeast Louisiana region. Gil's calm demeanor helps create a peaceful environment for those seeking help with personal and spiritual issues. Gil also organizes GriefShare and Celebrate Recovery groups at First West.
He includes in his list of spare time activities: fantasy football, tennis, and chess. He and his wife Pam have two children, Heather and Tommy (wife Jocelyn) and two grandchildren, Logan and Kasen. |
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To schedule a meeting with Quinn, please contact:
Worship Ministry Assistant Dawn Holder
e-mail or phone 322.5206
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Quinn Stanfill
Music and Worship Pastor
Quinn gives administrative leadership to the overall Worship Ministry of First Baptist Church. He serves as the primary worship leader for the Classic Service and sings with the praise band in the Contemporary Services.
He enjoys spending time with his family, hunting, and sports of all kinds. Quinn is married to Irene and they have two children, Megan and Connor. Irene is also involved in music ministry at First West including helping our Children's Worship Education, Kid's Praise. |
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Will Norvell
Contemporary Worship Pastor
Will Norvell joined the staff of First West in October of 2009. For the past 4 years, Will served as Worship and Media Pastor of a young dynamic church he helped to plant in Temple, TX called The Vista Community Church. Will has been leading worship for over 12 years, spending the majority of that time on the road as a traveling worship leader and artist for various churches and events. In 2002 Will married Beth, who is also an incredibly talented musician. Together, they create a passionate team, who's aim is to demonstrate the love of God for His people, and encourage intimacy with Him through deep and meaningful times of corporate worship.
Will spends most of his free time hanging out with Beth and their kids, Jessie Rose and Asher Judah. When he's not with them, you can usually find him hunting, fishing, or embarrassing himself on the golf course. |
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To schedule a meeting with Whit, please contact:
College Ministry Assistant Lynne Carter
e-mail or phone 322.5104
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Whit Bass
College and Prayer Pastor
Whit began serving at First West in April of 2002 as the High School Youth Pastor. He transitioned into Prayer and Urban ministries in the fall of 2006. Whit now serves as College and Prayer Pastor. As the College Pastor he seeks to offer area collegiates a relevant ministry that engages them to take part in our overall church vision.
As the Prayer Pastor Whit is responsible for the church's prayer ministries. He desires to develop multiple prayer teams to under gird the many ministries of our church. Whit assists Dr. Avant in the Wednesday night Destiny services and supports him in helping to grow a passion in our people for prayer and revival for our church and community. Whit has a vision that one day the church sanctuary will be full on Wednesday nights with people seeking God through prayer and worship.
Whit is also our Energy and Environmental Director. He leads our church in conserving energy usage and implementing recycling opportunities for our congregation. Working with the First West Building and Services team, Whit has helped save First West a substantial amount in energy costs teaching us all to be better stewards of the tithes and offerings First West receives. Whit and his wife Michelle have two daughters, Hannah and Aaron Sophia. |
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To schedule a meeting with Chris, please contact:
Preschool Ministry & Special Needs Administrator
Theresa Dickerson
e-mail or phone 398.9162
or
Childrens Administrator
Lisa Hartline
e-mail or phone 398.9162
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Chris Burton
Children and Preschool Pastor
Chris Burton has served in children's ministry in New Orleans and West Monroe for the past twelve years where he continually lives out his favorite verse, I Corinthians 13:3 "If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing." He received his Bachlor's Degree in Pastoral Ministry with a minor in Psychology and Counseling at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. Currently he is working on completing his Masters of Divinity in Psychology and Counseling.
Chris is married to Amy, who teaches secondary math. He and Amy have five children: Laci, Laura, Dakota, Jake, and Taylor which add a lot of joy to their lives and perhaps prompt his favorite quote: by the great theologian Bilbo Baggins, "Sometimes I feel like a little butter spread over a lot of bread." |
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To schedule a meeting with Susan, please contact:
Evangelism Assistant Kaye Cloessner
e-mail or phone 322.5730
or
P3 Women's Ministry Assistant Paula Aultman
e-mail or phone 322.5730
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Susan Frost
Outreach and Women's Minister
In January 2008, Susan began P3, a new Women's Ministry for First Baptist Church of West Monroe that desires women to experience the power of three: God’s power, purpose and passion. She has also been deeply involved in outreach and sharing the love of Christ with the communities of Northeast Louisiana.
Susan is a writer, speaker, and long-time native of the South. She received her Bachelor of Science degree in Administrative Management from Clemson University and has over twenty-five years of experience in Bible teaching, evangelism and women’s ministries. She and her husband, Executive Pastor Toby Frost, have three children: Taylor, Perry, and Roddey. |
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To schedule a meeting with Woods, please contact:
Singles Assistant Barbara Domingues
e-mail or phone 388.0906.
or
Senior Adults Assistant Norma Wilson
e-mail or phone 388.0906.
<< go to Single Adults
<< go to Senior Adults
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Dr. Woods Watson
Single Adult and Senior Adult Pastor
Woods serves in two capacities at First West—the Senior Adult Ministry and the Single Adult Ministry, seeking to help seniors and singles know Christ, grow in Christ, and go for Christ.
Prior to coming to First West, Woods served for four years as senior church consultant for Cargill Associates. Woods also served for 24 years in the local church ministry—15 years as senior pastor. A native from Alabama, Woods received his B.A. from Samford University and the M.Div. and Ph.D. from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. He has studied in England and Sweden.
Woods and his wife Anita have six children: Chris, Amber, Kyle, Jonathan, Graydon, and Cooper. Anita is the Administrator of Northeast Baptist School, a pre-K–12th grade school in West Monroe. |
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To schedule a counseling session with Todd, please call the Counseling Center at 322.1427.
To schedule a meeting with Todd, please contact:
Young Adult Pastor Assistant Norma Wilson
e-mail or phone 398.9280
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Todd Sherwin
Young Adult Pastor
and Director of First West Counseling Center
Todd serves as the Young Adult Pastor and the Director of First West Counseling Center. He brought his family to First West in 2007, where he began serving as Assistant Director at First West Counseling Center. Todd is a Marriage and Family Therapist with degrees in both ministry and counseling.
In the past, he has served as an interim pastor and teaching pastor at other churches. His heart is to see people grow in healthy relationships with Jesus and others.
He enjoys being outdoors and spending time with his family. Todd and his wife Becky have two wonderful children, Karissa and Duston. |
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To schedule a meeting with Richard, please contact:
Median Adults Assistant Amy Gill
e-mail or phone 388.0906
or
Men's Ministry Assistant Sharon Fitzsimmons
e-mail or phone 322.5104
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Richard Gates
Median Adult Pastor & Men's Minister
Richard came on staff at First West in May, 2009 as our Median Adult Pastor. Richard has been an active member of First West since August, 1982. He has served in a number of volunteer capacities and on committees. He has also served on the Deacon Fellowship and on three Pastor Search Committees. Richard worked in wood product sales for 37 years before coming on staff at First West.
Richard spends most of his spare time enjoying golf. Richard and his wife, Paula, have 4 children: Whitney Gates Cate, Leslie Gates Nunn, Rachel Saucier, and Beau Saucier. They are the proud grandparents of 5 grandchildren. Richard has a servant’s heart and his motto is “whatever it takes”.
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To schedule a meeting with Michael, please contact:
Axis Student Ministry Assistant Jill Watson
e-mail or phone 398.9174.
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Michael Wood
Student Ministry Pastor
Michael began serving on the staff at First West in August, 2009. Prior to joining our team, he served on the Student Ministry staff at Prestonwood Baptist Church in Plano, Texas for 5 years. He is originally from Wichita Falls, Texas, and received a Bachelor of Arts in Religion from Oklahoma Baptist University and a Master of Arts in Christian Education from Southwestern Seminary.
Michael’s passion is seeing students become consumed with Christ, living it out among their peers and sharing their story with those they encounter. He enjoys playing sports of all kinds, hunting, fishing, and pulling for the Texas Rangers. Michael and his wife Abby, a gifted photographer, are proud parents to their son Gavin, born in August, 2009. |
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Mark Parrish
Community Transformation Pastor
Mark volunteered to become a coordinator for our community transformation activities at First West in 2008. Since then he has organized two highly successful community transformation days and organized our ministry to hurricane evacuees. He continues to encourage members to find a place in the community where they can serve and help to transform an impoverished 50-block area in the vicinity of First West's buildings.
Mark owns the company Ajasent which hosts servers for about 800 businesses throughout the United States and Canada. He enjoys hunting, fishing, gourmet cooking, and working with law enforcement (he is a West Monroe Police Department Reserve Officer). Mark is married to Skye Parrish. |
