Scot Burdette

“I was born and raised in Fayetteville, West Virginia.  I attended Glenville State College where I earned degrees in Computer Science and Economics.  While at Glenville I met Kelli Jameson, from Belpre Ohio, who eventually became my wife.  Upon graduation I accepted a job working for General Motors and moved to Detroit, Michigan. After several years in Michigan we moved to Columbus, Ohio in 1988 to start our family.  Pastor Phil Duncan led me to Christ within 24 hours of my oldest son’s birth in October 1990.  I joined JBC and have served as the Men’s Ministry Leader, Together We Build Director, Jr High Bible Fellowship Teacher, World Changer Leader, Upward Basketball Coach/Commissioner and a member of the Church Constitution and Redesign Committee.  I am the Director of Application Development for Information Control Corporation (ICC).  Kelli and I have been married for 23 years and have two teen aged boys, Nathan and Justin.  One of my favorite Bible passages is Jeremiah 29:11.”

John Gilliam

“I was the youngest of three children and my father served in the 101st Airborne Army division. Our family moved quite often and I spent my childhood years at or near various army bases in New York, Maryland, Georgia, Kentucky and North Carolina.  I came to know Christ at twelve years of age through the persistent efforts of a dear Sunday School teacher.  During my senior year of high school, my father retired from the military and we moved to southeastern Ohio.  I majored in accounting and graduated from Ohio University with a BBA degree.  While attending OU, God answered my prayer to send a godly young woman, Darlene Barrett, into my life.  I met Darlene while I was a counselor at a summer church camp and she later became my wife.  Upon graduation from OU, I took a position with a public accounting firm in Columbus, passed the CPA examination, and married Darlene a short time later.  Darlene and I joined JBC when we moved to Gahanna in 1989.  I am presently self-employed as a financial consultant, serve on the finance committee and help coordinate the Crown biblical financial ministry at Jersey.  Darlene and I recently celebrated our 30th wedding anniversary.  We have three grown children.  My life passage is Philippians 4:13.”

Pastor John Hays

I grew up in the north end of Columbus.  As a teenager, my family moved to Canal Winchester.  There I met a young woman, Jan Conrad, who would become my wife.  I was introduced to Christ when I was in High School, and was saved at a church in Carroll, Ohio.  I attended Muskingham college to play football, and after a career ending injury I transferred and graduated from Ohio University.  I was called to full-time ministry shortly after my salvation, and after graduating from college, I married Jan and we moved to Louisville, Kentucky to attended The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary.  I was called to pastor Jersey Baptist Church in 1981, and have served as Pastor here for the past 27 years.  Jan and I have been married for 28 years.  We have two grown children, Elizabeth and John.  My life passage is Galatians 2:20.

Nathan Wheeler

I was born in Memphis Tennessee the youngest of four children to Neil and Carol Wheeler. I was raised in a strong Christian home where my parents led by example and encouraged us to serve the Lord in our local church. I came to know the Lord at a revival service in our church in Chula Vista, California. My father was a career naval officer so we didn’t stay in one place for very long. He retired in 1976 and moved the family to Columbus where I graduated from Independence High School in 1982. I enlisted in the United States Army in 1984 and married my wife Kerri in 1985. In 1988, after much prayer, we felt led to leave the army and return to the Columbus area. In September of that year I was hired by the city of Columbus as a police officer. I am currently assigned in the Narcotics Bureau Tactical Unit. We have two daughters, Nichole who is 22 and  married to Michael Laatsch and Sarah who is 17. We joined Jersey Baptist church in 1994 where I have served and am serving in various positions: Usher, Security, Teller, Vacation Bible School, Bible Fellowship Teacher, Discipleship Class Teacher, Care Group Leader.

Sam Koon

“I was born in 1955 in Georgetown, Kentucky. I accepted Christ during a Sunday evening service at the Gardenside Baptist Church. My Father was transferred to Columbus in 1967. We joined Walnut Heights Baptist Church where I attended until 1982, when Sharon and I began attending Jersey.  Sharon and I were married in 1979 and have four children. I was honored to serve as Jersey’s minister of music for 13 years, sharing the pulpit with my friend, and pastor John Hays. I have served in many other capacities including preschool teacher, teller and on several building committees. It was during these years that the Lord gave and developed the spiritual gift of giving within me. I am privileged to have served for several years on the Finance Committee.  In the late 1990s, I began to take discipleship classes.  God gave me the spiritual gift of teaching and called me to start a class called Survival Kit, which I taught until just recently, when the class was replaced by our New Membership class. Investing in others and helping them grow in their faith is my passion. I attended The Ohio State University and have an undergraduate degree in real estate and finance and an MBA, with a depth of field in real estate. I am self employed in the real estate business where I focus on consulting, appraisal, brokerage and development. My favorite scriptures are Matthew 6:25-33 and 1 John 5:14.”

Jeffrey D. Damron

Jeffrey D. Damron is C.E.O. of A Kid Again, a nonprofit organization that strives to enrich the lives of children with life threatening illnesses and their families. They do this by providing year round times of healing, through fun-filled group activities, enabling children to leave their hospital stays and illness behind and be … A Kid Again.  After helping start the organization with a wonderful team of compassionate volunteers, Jeff was hired as the first paid staff member in 1997 and has served in the same leadership role ever since. He was instrumental in building a strong donor and volunteer base for the organization, which has seen substantial growth.  The organization now serves over 1,600 children and families striving to survive a life threatening illness throughout the state of Ohio. A Kid Again has chapters in Columbus, Cincinnati, Dayton and Cleveland.  Jeff graduated in 1982 from The Ohio State University with a degree in Marketing.  He resides in Gahanna, Ohio with his wife, Sue. Jeff and Sue have two sons, Derek and Nick and a daughter-in-law, Meaghan.  In his spare time, Jeff enjoys giving back to his church and spending time with his grandchildren Gabriel and Bentley. 

Tom Stebbins

I was born in Cincinnati, and raised in Columbus. I graduated from 

Linden McKinley High School and attended Ohio State University. 

I married my childhood sweetheart,   Patty, and we have been blessed with 4 children - and now 14 grandchildren. I have worked in the carpet industry for almost fifty years. In 1995 I was born again and baptized at Jersey Baptist Church. I began serving as an usher and God gave me a desire to know His Word. Four years later I started teaching a Bible Fellowship Class. I continue to learn and teach God’s Word. In 2002, I served on the Building Committee and last year started serving at  Stowe Baptist Center. My heart verse is Jeremiah 29:11-12.