Worship Ministry Staff
Gordon Butler | Associate Pastor of Worship
gordonbutler.net
Gordon oversees the entire Worship Ministry, its' staff and leads our Traditional and Celebration worship services, as well as the FBC Worship Choir. Gordon was born and raised in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. He met Christi while attending Louisiana College and they were married in 1998. Their precious daughter, Ivi Grace, was born in November of 2010. Gordon holds a degree from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. He began his ministry at First Baptist in January of 2006. Gordon enjoys spending time with his family and friends, writing and recording music, being outdoors and working with computers.
Learn more about Gordon, his music and the incredible journey God has led his family through by reading his blog or visiting his website here.
Justin McKinney | Associate Minister of Worship
Justin is a jack of all trades at FBC, overseeing areas from the Production Ministry, media production, directing our Orchestra, leading the Youth Arts Ministry as well as many other behind the scenes ministries. He began his ministry at FBC in August of 2007. Justin is originally from
Palmetto, Florida. While attending
The Baptist College of Florida he met his wife, Renee. They have one daughter Arin who was born in 2006 and twins Annika and Gabriel who were born in 2010. He holds a Bachelors Degree in Music Education. Justin enjoys good music, tennis, soccer, Drum Corps, and being wrapped around his little girl's finger.
Ellen Sanders | Worship Assistant
Ellen grew up at FBC and has been on staff since August 2007. Ellen and her husband, Andrew, both sing and help lead worship on the Praise Team and Worship Choir each week in our Sunday services. Also, as of November 2008, and May 2010, Ellen and Andrew are enjoying their two sweet boys, Timothy and Jaden.
David Gaines | Staff Keyboardist & Arranger
David primarily leads the Celebration Band at FBC as well as doing custom arranging of music for our worship services, choir and orchestra. He joined the FBC staff in January of 2012. David is a native of Nashville, TN and currently resides in Fletcher with his wife Sandy, and their daughters, Amanda and Ashley. David is a graduate of Samford University in Birmingham, Alabama. He has been in full-time music ministry for almost 20 years and has served in churches in Tennessee, Alabama, Florida, North and South Carolina. A published arranger and composer, David also spends his time doing freelance recording work, as well as serving as one of the on-call musicians at the Billy Graham Training Center, The Cove, here in Asheville. As a musician, he has been involved in international music missions with organizations such as Global Mission Project and Italy for Christ. You can follow David on his blog
here or check out his website
here.
Susie Waldrop | Organist
Susie has been the organist at FBC for over 32 years, and currently plays for our Traditional Service on Sunday mornings. She is a native of Transylvania County and has been a church musician for over 50 years. She and her husband Ronnie opened Waldrop House of Music in 1994 with the goal of multiplying the ministry of music to churches and homes in our area. The Waldrops have three children and five wonderful grandchildren. Susie's greatest joy is spending time with her family, her dog Beethoven and enjoying the mountain view from her log home at Loafer's Glory in Brevard.
Betty Jean Carswell | Pianist
Betty Jean came to FBC as pianist in June of 2007 Betty Jean and currently plays for our Traditional Service. She was born in Charlotte, NC and graduated from Florida Atlantic University with a major in piano performance. . She is married to Dr. Ernest L. Carswell Jr., Pastor Emeritus of Taylors First Baptist Church, Taylors, SC. She is the mother of three, and grandmother of ten. Her heart’s desire is to praise and glorify God in her music, “making His praise glorious.” Psalm 66:2.
Lee Lane | Audio Technician
Lee was born and raised here in Hendersonville. He has been at FBC since he was a young boy and began helping with Production Ministry when he was in high school. He came on staff in January of 2006. Some people sing, some people preach; Lee's God-given talent is making sure that the Word can be heard! When he's not behind a sound board, he enjoys camping, hiking, photography, playing guitar and rollin' around on the floor with his dog, Taz.