Leadership

Jeff began his ministry as Pastor of Sullivan Baptist Church in June 1995. He has a BS in Electrical Engineering (1985) from Tennessee Tech University. He and his wife, Ramona, are natives of Kingsport and were married April 4, 1987. Ramona has a bachelor’s degree (1985) in Business from East Tennessee State University and is employed as Bookkeeper at Sullivan Gardens Elementary School.

Pastor Jeff and Ramona have two children. Their son Tyler and his wife, Kelly, live in Knoxville.  Daughter Sarah and her husband, Andrew, also live in Knoxville and have two daughters, Penley Tyler Cain and Campbell Elizabeth Cain. Their families are active at Sevier Heights Baptist Church, Knoxville.

Bro. Andy is our Worship Pastor.   He has been ministering in churches in  Georgia and Tennessee since 1994 and joined the ministry staff at Sullivan Baptist in 2005.  He received a Bachelor’s degree in Music Education from East Tennessee State University in 1996. He has also taught music in Georgia, Tennessee and Virginia.    Bro. Andy married his best friend and partner in ministry, Erin Elliot in June of 1999.   She is a second grade teacher at Blountville Elementary School. She received a Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education from East Tennessee State University in 2000, and a Masters degree in Teaching from Tusculum College in 2006.  They have 2 children:  Drew born in 2003, and Hannah Grace born in 2006.  When not preparing worship or ministering to our Senior Adults,  Bro. Andy  enjoys  spending time with his family, and the outdoors (especially hunting and fishing).

Ross Turner serves as our Minister of Students. Ross was called and surrendered to the ministry in 2016. He is originally from central New York, and upon graduating high school he spent ten years in the United States Air Force as an Explosive Ordnance Disposal Technician. He has been deployed to Afghanistan and Iraq, as well as stationed in numerous states, to include North Carolina, where He met his wife, Joy. Ross and Joy were married in January 2010.  Joy attended Mount Olive College in North Carolina where she received a bachelor’s degree in Clinical Psychology in 2011, and is currently a pre-school teacher at Towering Oaks Christian School in Greeneville, TN.
Ross and Joy have two children, Mason who was born in 2012, and Brystol, who was born in 2014. When not working with the students, Ross loves to spend time in the outdoors with his family, camping, hunting and fishing.

Sharon is our Children’s Ministry Director. She brings over ten years experience in oversight and development of Children’s Ministry as well as a 3 Star, DHS-licensed, full-time Child Development Center, two Parent’s-Day-Out Programs, the development of a MOPS Ministry and a Pregnancy Loss Ministry. Sharon considers Children’s Ministry the most important Ministry in the Church and loves working with a team of volunteers to ensure that children are learning about Jesus and coming to know Him as their Savior.  Sharon and John have been married for 30 years and have two married adult children, Nicholas and Holly. One of Sharon’s favorite Bible verses is Matthew 19:14 “Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them; for such is the Kingdom of Heaven.”

I came to know my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ in July 1993, shortly thereafter I accepted the call into the Ministry. I have served in The Deacon Ministry here at Sullivan Baptist since 1994. I have been blessed with a wonderful wife (Anita) and soul mate for 50 years. We have been blessed with 2 children, 5 grand children, and 3 great grand children.
I am humbled and consider it a privilege and honor to serve my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and a privilege and honor to serve Sullivan Baptist Church as Senior Adult Director.

Christina is our Media, Creative Arts & Technology (MCAT) Director. Christina is originally from Plant City, Florida and moved to Kingsport, Tennessee in 2015. She is a 2019 graduate of King University with a major in Digital Media Art and Design. Christina is excited to be a part of the Sullivan family and to serve and worship the Lord through the digital ministry.

Anita has been a member of Sullivan Baptist since 1979 and serves as Ministry Assistant. She is married to Paul Overbay and has 2 children, JJ and September, and 3 grandchildren, Bailey, Ali Jayne, and Peyton. Thank you for your continued service, Anita!

Linda has served the church faithfully since February, 2003. She is originally from North Carolina, but has been a Kingsport resident since December 1975, having married her husband Allen, the previous May before coming to Kingsport. Linda & Allen have 2 children, Edward & April, along with 5 beautiful grandchildren, Trinity, Bailey, Cassidy, J.D. & Wade.  Linda is a member of West Colonial Hills Baptist Church, and previously worked at the Northeast Regional Office for the Tennessee Baptist Children’s Home for 12 years.  Thank you for your continued service, Linda!

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Michael Walker (pianist), Steve Whitaker (bass guitarist), Carol Robinette (organist), and Magan McBryar (violinist) lead the congregation in worship at all the appointed times.  We are overly blessed to have such talented musicians who are focused on allowing the Holy Spirit flow through them as they play with excellence towards making a joyful noise unto our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.