Pastor Tom Whitsett has faithfully served in ministry for over 35 years, answering God’s call to preach in 1989. Since that time, he has ministered across Arkansas, Mississippi, Alabama, and Georgia, sharing the Gospel with passion and conviction. For nine of those years, he traveled full-time as an evangelist, proclaiming the Good News and encouraging churches throughout the region. Tom has served as the Senior Pastor of Mt. Rachel Baptist Church for over a year, bringing with him a deep love for people and an unwavering commitment to the truth of God’s Word. He is driven by a desire to see lives transformed by the power of Jesus Christ and has a heart for both evangelism and discipleship. Inspired by the Apostle Paul, he pursues ministry with zeal, relationship, and a passion for unity within the body of Christ. Tom is married to his beloved wife, Melissa, and has three sons—Andrew, Adam, and Timothy. His greatest desire is to see people come to know Jesus and grow in a way that reflects His light in a dark world.

Cynthia Brown has served as the Children’s Director at Mt. Rachel Baptist Church for the past five years and has been a faithful member and servant in the church for over 11 years. She’s been married to her husband, Jay, for 19 years, and they have two children—Kylie (18) and Jax (14). Cynthia loves working with kids and has a deep desire to plant seeds of faith that can be nurtured and grown through every stage of life. She believes Jesus is the source of true life and longs for every child to see that truth and grow in a lasting relationship with Him.

Kraig Givens serves as the Student Pastor at Mt. Rachel Baptist Church, where he has been on staff for the past year. He brings over 16 years of experience as a coach, athletic director, and teacher at a Christian school. Kraig has been married to his wife, Ashleigh, for 16 years, and they have two children—Rett (13) and Micah (9). His greatest desire in ministry is to see students genuinely fall in love with Jesus and live lives of true daily worship rooted in a real relationship with Him.

Jennifer Davidson has served as the Office Manager at Mt. Rachel Baptist Church for the past three years and has been a member of the church for the last five. With over 20 years of experience in office management, she brings a unique blend of professionalism, energy, and laughter to the church office. Jennifer loves Jesus deeply and is passionate about seeing lives radically transformed by His grace. Her heart for ministry shines through in both her work and her relationships.

Carol Goble serves as the Administrative Assistant to Pastor Tom and has been faithfully supporting the ministry for over a year. She brings over 25 years of experience in Human Resources and Administration, and has been a devoted member of Mt. Rachel Baptist Church for the past 23 years. Carol has been married to her husband, Danny, for 45 years, and is the proud mother of Brandon and the late Brittany—both of whom have been her heart and soul. She has also been blessed with a wonderful daughter-in-law, Nancy, and a caring son-in-law, Eric Hunter—both of whom have been amazing additions to the family. In recent years, through deep personal loss, Carol has come to know Jesus as her steady Rock. She believes that while this world is broken and full of pain, Jesus is the One who heals and restores what is broken. Her life and work reflect a quiet strength and unwavering faith in the hope found only in Him.

Jason Yarbrough has served as the Reach Coordinator at Mt. Rachel Baptist Church since 2023 and has been a member since 2015. He was saved at nine years old and has been active in various church ministries since 2004. Jason has been married to his wife, Christy, since 2005, they have 6 children and 5 grandchildren. He has a passion for teaching, discipleship, and community involvement. He loves studying the Bible and sharing the transforming truths of the Bible with others.

Kirsten Deal has been a dedicated member of Mount Rachel Baptist Church for over twenty years, serving faithfully in various roles. For the past seven years, she has volunteered in the kids' ministry, bringing energy, care, and a deep love for children. Over the last year, she has served as Preschool Director, where her passion for early childhood development shines. Kirsten is committed to creating a nurturing, Christ-centered environment where young children can begin building a strong foundation of faith. Her goals for the preschool ministry include growing the program and equipping volunteers. She also strives to ensure each child feels safe, loved, and excited to learn about Jesus.