Our Leadership

Our Leadership Team

Dave Russell, MDiv

PRESIDENT

Dave is the lead pastor of Oakhurst Baptist Church in Charlotte, NC, and is currently pursuing a doctorate at Southeastern Seminary. He has spoken at events such as Together for the Gospel and the Desiring God Conference

Michael White, PhD

ACADEMIC DIRECTOR

Michael is the lead pastor of Freedom Church in Lincolnton, NC, and holds degrees from the University of South Carolina, SEBTS (MDiv, ThM), and Wheaton College (PhD in Systematic Theology). He has taught at Charleston Southern and North Greenville universities, serves on the board of Gospel Systems, and has published in several theological journals.

Eric Mullis, PhD

NETWORK DIRECTOR

Eric serves in a strategy and catalyst role for NC Baptists after 14 years overseas with the IMB in Thailand, where he led teams in the southern region and Bangkok under the Global Cities initiative. He holds degrees from UNC Charlotte (BA), SWBTS (MDiv), and SEBTS (MA, PhD), has served on the board of Thailand Baptist Theological Seminary, and lives in North Carolina.

Jenn Heckman

CONTRACT PROJECT COORDINATOR

Jenn holds a BEd from St. Thomas University and an MBA from the University of Fredericton, and has over a decade of experience working in both the franchised educational industry and ministry organizations. She is a member of Pineland Baptist Church.

Our Teaching Fellows

Tim Gosselin, MA

Scott Hand, DMin

Dave Kiehn, PhD

Trevor King, EdD

Tim serves as an associate pastor at Oakhurst Baptist Church in Charlotte, North Carolina. He is married to Jenn, and they have three children. Originally from Connecticut, he completed a pastoral internship at Capitol Hill Baptist Church and earned an MA in Biblical Counseling from Westminster Theological Seminary. Before moving to Charlotte, he served with the Christian Counseling and Educational Foundation (CCEF) and 9Marks Ministries.

Dr. Hand is a Gastonia native and former IMB missionary to East Asia, now serves as Disciple-Making Pastor at Parkwood Baptist Church—where he came to faith—and is passionate about evangelism, discipleship, and equipping others, all while raising four kids with his wife Christine and avoiding soccer.

Dave is the lead pastor of Park Baptist Church in Rock Hill, SC, and serves as Regional Coordinator for the Pillar Network. He holds degrees from the University of Pennsylvania (BA) and SEBTS (MDiv, PhD in North American Missiology), and has authored over ten books.

Dr. King is the Discipleship Pastor at Old Town Church in Rock Hill, SC. He holds a BS from Mid-America Christian University and an MA and EdD from Southeastern Seminary. He and his wife Ashley have two daughters, and he enjoys reading, cooking, traveling, and family time.

Blake Maxwell, DEdMin

Dr. Maxwell is the Discipleship Pastor at Hickory Grove Baptist Church in Charlotte, NC, where he has served for five years. He holds degrees from Liberty University and Seminary, and a DEdMin from Southern Seminary. He and his wife Holly, his high school sweetheart, have six children.

James Sharp, MA

Originally from Dallas, Dr. Sharp has pastored churches in Texas, Nebraska, and North Carolina for over 20 years. He currently serves as Pastor of Teaching and Vision at Life Church in Salisbury, NC. He holds a BA from West Texas A&M and an MA from Wheaton College. James and his wife Kristen have four children, and he enjoys history, reading, running, and cheering for the Boston Red Sox.

Kyler Smith, PhD

Dr. Smith, an Oklahoma native, has served churches in Oklahoma, Arkansas, and for the past decade at Hickory Grove Baptist Church, where he is Senior Associate Pastor. He holds degrees from John Brown University, Southern Seminary, and Midwestern Seminary, and is passionate about preaching and teaching. He met his wife Lauren on his first day at Hickory Grove.

Jordon Willard, DMin

Jordon has pastored in Virginia and North Carolina since 2010 and currently serves as Senior Pastor of First Baptist Church in Weddington, NC. He holds a BA from the College at Southeastern and an MDiv and DMin from SEBTS. He serves on the Board of Directors for the NC Baptist State Convention and led the 2023 NC Pastors’ Conference. Jordon is passionate about church revitalization and strengthening local churches.