“My favorite thing about serving at First Baptist is the incredible team that I serve alongside.  Not only do we have the best staff, but the deacon body, along with their families, are always active and willing to serve and sacrifice for the advancement of the Kingdom.”

Darrick serves as our Pastor, where his primary role is to shepherd, oversee, teach, equip and evangelize.  He has been part of the First Baptist family since November 2022 and is passionate about preaching the Word, along with counseling and discipleship.

Before coming to West Frankfort, Darrick pastored two churches in Kentucky.  He graduated in 2008 with a bachelor’s of arts in Biblical and Theological Studies from Boyce College in Louisville, Kentucky where he met his wife, Kat.  In 2024, he received his Master’s Arts in Biblical Counseling from MBTS in Kansas City, Missouri.

Outside of church life, Darrick loves being outdoors, spending time with his family, and cheering on his beloved Boston Red Sox.  He and Kat live in Orient with their four children, Theodore, Henry, Oliver & Rosalie.

What do you love most about serving at First Baptist?
That’s a tough question because there are so many things I love about First Baptist! If I had to choose one, it would be the people. We really are a church family. We celebrate life’s joys together, walk alongside one another through difficult seasons, and genuinely care for each other.
I love that our church has a heart for our community. Our desire is to serve people well and help them know just how much Jesus loves them. It’s exciting to be part of a church that is passionate about making Christ known.
I’m especially thankful to serve alongside our pastor. Darrick has a genuine passion for sharing the gospel, and that passion is contagious. As a church, we believe that following Jesus is filled with joy, and we love celebrating all the good gifts God has given us.
For almost 20 years I’ve had the privilege of serving as Associate Pastor where I oversee our Music Ministry and Children’s Ministry.  Before moving to West Frankfort, I served four Baptist churches in Alabama. I earned a Bachelor of Music from the University of Montevallo in 2000, where I also met my wife, Karen. In 2003, I completed a Master of Divinity with an emphasis in Biblical Languages from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary.
When I’m not at church, you’ll usually find me spending time with my family or cheering on my favorite college football team. Roll Tide! Karen and I live in West Frankfort with our son, Thomas, daughters, Kaydence and Ava. Our daughter, Elizabeth, and our son-in-law, Seth, live in Alabama, and we always enjoy the time we get to spend with them.

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