Pastor: Dr. Tim Borchert

Dr. Tim Borchert, Senior Pastor, and his wife Phyllis are both 1995 graduates of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. In addition, Dr. Borchert recently received a doctorate from the Robert E. Webber Institute for Worship Studies.

A graduate of Georgetown College, KY, Pastor Tim served as the director of the Carroll Youth Center in Wisconsin, where he developed and led QUEST, a summer youth conference for the American Baptist Churches USA. He also served as pastor of First Baptist Church of Tipp City, Ohio, and as Minister of Adult and Family Life at First Baptist Church of Columbus, Indiana.

Music Minister: Rev. Tim Bounds

Tim attended Carson Newman College in Jefferson City, Tennessee and the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky. He was born in Knoxville and raised just a few miles from Oak Ridge in Powell. As Minister of Music at First Baptist, he oversees the music ministry, directs the Chancel Choir, Chancel Bells, accompanies and directs the Amazing Grace Chorale, and accompanies and directs the Celebration Singers.

Prior to serving First Baptist, Tim was Associate Minister at Broadway Baptist Church, Knoxville from 1990 until 2006. Before going to seminary in 1986, he served as Minister of Music of First Baptist Church, Dandridge, Tennessee and Interim Minister of Music at Lyon’s Creek Baptist Church and Cumberland Baptist Church, both in Knox County. He also served churches in the Louisville, Kentucky area.

Family Life Minister: Elizabeth Turner

Elizabeth graduated from Mars Hill College with a degree in Religion with a concentration in youth ministry in 2007. In 2010, she graduated from McAfee School of Theology in Atlanta, GA with a Master of Divinity degree, concentrating in Urban Ministry.

Elizabeth served as youth and children’s intern during college. While in graduate school, Elizabeth worked with teens who had been victimized by human trafficking, working closely with Atlanta area organizations. As Family Life Minister, Elizabeth works in collaboration with parents and congregants to foster a safe environment for children and teens to develop authentic relationships with Christ through discipleship, bible study, mission trips, and fun everyday activities.