FBC STAFF
Rev. Eric Dyer
Associate Pastor of Youth
My name is Eric Dyer and I am thirty-two years old. I grew up in Cookeville, Tennessee and went to Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas before I moved to Blackshear in 2017. This is my fourth year being the Next-Gen Pastor here at FBC and most of those years have been spent doing youth ministry. My wife Julia and I have been married for almost five years. We have two beautiful children, Charlotte and Charles!
Being the Associate Pastor of Youth means that I wear multiple hats in ministry every week. Every person, from new-born to college graduate, falls under my jurisdiction. I organize all of these ministries with the primary goal of teaching them the Gospel. This is to make sure that as they take steps toward adulthood they not only get closer to Christ, but look more like him through discipleship.
The main goal of the Youth Ministry here at First Baptist is to see lives changed with the Gospel so that young people will be the church of today and bring the Gospel to the world.
Rev. Will Emery
Associate Pastor of Administration & Discipleship
Will was raised in Blackshear, Georgia. God graciously saved him at the age of 12 and then called him to ministry at the age of 15. He has served with the youth, missions, and ministries over his time at FBC.
Will recently graduated from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary with a Bachelor of Arts in Pastoral Ministry. He is currently working on a Master of Divinity through Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary.
Will’s role in the church is to provide leadership for Administration and Discipleship. In all that he does, he desires to, “walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to Him: bearing fruit in every good work and growing in the knowledge of God” (Colossians 1:10).
Will enjoys to read, travel, and golf.
Rev. Matt Peters
Associate Pastor of Worship
Matt serves as the Associate Pastor of Worship for FBC Blackshear. He joined the staff in October 2020. Matt is from Cordele, GA and moved to Waycross in 2002. He is married to Jessica and they have four children, Lily, Will, Ella, and Judah.
Matt earned an A.S. in Business Management from Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College as well as a B.S. in Business Management from Georgia Southwestern State University. After college, Matt spent nine years working as a golf professional and earned Class A status with the PGA of America. In 2009 he answered the call to the ministry and has served in the areas of outreach, community missions and worship leadership. Matt has recently graduated from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary with a M.A. in Pastoral Ministry.
Matt enjoys spending time with his family, playing golf, hiking, kayaking, and playing & singing music.
Bruce Callahan
Media Director
Bruce Callahan is the Media Director and has been an active member at FBC for over 26 years.
He is married to Cindy, who plays the piano and keyboards at FBC. They have two children, Courtney Lindsey (David) and Ryan Callahan (Lindsey). Bruce and Cindy are expecting their first grandchild, Emma Lee, in August 2022.
Bruce retired from UPS in January 2020 and accepted the role of Media Director at FBC.
He enjoys playing golf and spending time with his family.
Gwen Cason
Ministry Assistant
Gwen is the Ministry Assistant.
Gwen joined the First Baptist Church staff in February 2001 as Secretary and has been Ministry Assistant since 2007.
Born and raised in Blackshear, GA, Gwen accepted Christ at the age of 12 at her home church, Beulah Baptist Church.
She is married to Bill Cason and has two daughters: Joanna Savino and Brianna King.
She enjoys working in her yard, cooking, shopping, and spending time with her family.
Denise Taylor
Financial Secretary
Denise is the Financial and Membership Secretary.
Denise joined the staff at First Baptist Church in August 1999 as Secretary and has been the Financial and Membership Secretary since November 2000.
She is married to Richie Taylor, and they have two children, Robbie (Amanda) Taylor and Maura (Brandon) Carter, and four grandchildren, Adalynn & Austyn Taylor and Avery & Dutton Carter.
She is a member of Lees Chapel Baptist Church.
