Dr. Robert Jolly
Dr. Bob Jolly has been the pastor of First Baptist Cumming since 1994. He is a graduate of The University of Kentucky, Lexington, Ky. , and earned a Masters of Divinity and Doctor of Ministry from The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, Louisville, Ky.
Dr. Jolly’s vision for First Baptist is to be united as a church with God, to glorify God and reveal Jesus Christ as God’s Son. Through preaching and example he has led First Baptist to live out the motto, “the church that gives itself away.”
Pastor Bob has “given himself away” to the community in many ways. He has served as president of the Forsyth County Ministerial Association, board member for Habitat for Humanity, board chair for Fellowship of Christian Athletes, board member for Baptist North Hospital, member of Forsyth County Board of Education Strategic Planning Committee and coached youth sports.
Dr. Jolly has “given himself away” to Baptist causes serving the Georgia Baptist Convention and the Lanier Baptist Association in several capacities. He is also the founder/director of Forsyth Family Festival, a cooperative interdenominational effort to increase the evangelistic activity of participating churches, train believers in evangelism and reach Forsyth County with the gospel of Jesus Christ. He has travelled regularly to Ethiopia to train church leaders.
Bob and his wife, Kathy, are the parents of two grown children, Preston and Meredith. Kathy works for the Forsyth County Board of Education. Her service to the community includes board chair of United Way and board member of Literacy Forsyth. At First Baptist she has led in many areas including: Bible teacher, mission leader, and music ministry. Bob and Kathy enjoy gardening, boating, antiques, reading and travel.
Dr. Darel Robertson
Minister of Music
Darel and his wife, Susan, joined First Baptist Church in 2002 and became active in the Celebration Choir and Orchestra. In September, 2004, Darel began serving as Interim Music Minister until the church called him as Minister of Music in January, 2005. Susan, Human Resources Director for Precision Concrete Construction in Alpharetta, GA, serves as Church Pianist at FBC.
Darel graduated from the University of Houston-Victoria and earned two master degrees and a Ph.D. from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, TX. He began his music ministry as a bi-vocational Minister of Music in 1974. In 1977 Darel surrendered to full-time ministry and served as Minister of Music in various churches in Texas in addition to serving with the Southern Baptist Radio and Television Commission and the North American Mission Board. While serving at the North American Mission Board, Darel helped develop the Evangelism Response Center .
Darel and Susan have two children, Kim and Chad, two granddaughters, Keira and Zoey, and two grandsons, Kiernan and Zane, living in Texas.
Dr. Michael O'Neal
Minister of Evangelism & Missions
I was raised in a Christian home and a Bible-believing church, so I was taught about the good news of Jesus Christ at an early age. After realizing that I needed forgiveness and eternal life from the only Savior, I surrendered my life to Christ when I was 7 years old.
In 1997, God called me to full-time vocational ministry. In response to that call, I transferred to Union University in order to pursue a Christ-centered education that would equip me to serve as a church leader. From 2000-2006, I studied at The Southern Baptist Seminary in Louisville, KY, where I received a M.Div. in Christian Education and Leadership and a Ph.D. in Evangelism.
Over the last decade, I have served as youth minister, worship leader, associate pastor, church planter, and college/seminary professor. I have been involved in mission trips to Brazil and Malaysia, where I preached and conducted leadership training. Through these experiences, God has given me a growing passion to equip God’s people to participate in local and global missions.
My wife (Carrie) and I met in college and have been married for 11 years. We have been blessed with two boys: Silas (4) and Hudson (2). I love hanging out with my family. I am probably too passionate about Braves baseball and Tar Heels basketball.
“I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. (Jesus Christ, John 15:5)
“But I do not account my life of any value nor as precious to myself, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.” (Paul, Acts 20:24)
Minister of Discipleship & Young Adults
Cole Wilkins joined the FBC Staff in November of 2011 as Minister of Discipleship & Young Adults. He is privileged to serve the adults of First Baptist by equipping them to make disciples through personal relationships, Bible Fellowship Groups, small groups, discipleship classes, and any other means to fulfill Jesus’s Great Commission. Cole also has the opportunity to impact college students, young singles, and young marrieds at First Baptist as they pursue Christ in formative years. Ultimately, Cole is very simply committed to being like Jesus Christ, following Him, and teaching others to do the same.
Originally from Houston, TX, Cole has served in a variety of educational ministry contexts. He earned a degree in Biblical Studies from Dallas Baptist University with minors in English and Philosophy, but most importantly met his wife Erin there. The two were married and both earned Masters degrees from Wheaton College Graduate School in the Chicago area. Cole has also completed additional studies at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. While very studious, Cole feels that virtue and holiness ought to be the goal and natural application of knowledge.
Cole is so thankful to God for his wife Erin and daughter Adelyn. He and Erin love Jesus, books, coffee, their puppy “Douggie”, college sports – in particular the University of Texas, new foods and cultures, cooking and grilling, Sherlock Holmes, creativity, the Church, and now Georgia!
Minister of Youth
Scott graduated from North Carolina State and married his wife Catherine in 1992. They have two daughters, Hannah and Maggie. Scott has been the Youth Minister at First Baptist since graduating from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in 1995.
The key to this Youth Ministry is God's incredible work through lots of volunteers who are willing to invest in the lives of teens. Our High School Ministry is called " 2:42 ." Students at First Baptist worship at 9:30 on Sunday mornings and have Bible Fellowship on Sunday mornings at 11:00. High schoolers also have Bible study on Wednesday night at 6:15. They also take part in mission projects, prayer and other fun activities.
The Youth Ministry at First Baptist Church partners with parents to worship God, reach people for Christ, obey God’s word, love one another and serve others.
Find out more by clicking on the “Youth” tab at the top of this page.
Middle School Minister
Kyle is a graduate of Appalachian State University with a Bachelors of Science in Interpersonal Communication and a Minor in Leisure Studies. He received a Masters of Arts in Christian Education at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. Kyle was Ordained as a Minister on May 3, 1998. His objective is to teach young people about the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ and to encourage and challenge them in their faith.
Kyle came to First Baptist Cumming in June, 2007, as the Minister of Middle School after having served a Minister of Students in Central Kentucky. He met his wife, Rebecca, the following year and they were married on April 18, 2009. Kyle brings a great deal of experience in Youth Ministry and recreation. He has coached high school athletics and has been involved with the YMCA, associational events and the Fellowship of Christian Athletes. Kyle and Rebecca have a daughter and a son.
Minister of Children
Brian Weaver joined the FBC Ministry Staff as Minister of Children on August 16, 2009 following a four-month internship.
Before entering full-time ministry, Brian spent many years in volunteer ministry roles in the local church. That experience has given him a strong desire to create a volunteer environment where people can use their God-given spiritual gifts to serve God through serving children.
Brian’s desire is to see children and families have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ; to learn and know God’s Word; to teach children to serve God and others; and to minister to families in a way that encourages them to make the home the primary place their children grow spiritually.
As a 1997 graduate of the University of West Georgia, Brian earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Recreation Management. He is currently working on his Master of Arts in Christian Education at the New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary (Atlanta Extension).
While serving as a ministry volunteer, Brian worked for 10 years in the maintenance division at Delta Air Lines. He also has several years of sales experience in the insurance and packaging industries.
Brian has been married to Carmen for 13 years. Their son, Jackson, is 7 years old and daughter, London, is 5 years old.
Carmen also graduated from the University of West Georgia in 1997 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Math and Education. She worked for 10 years as an analyst for Wachovia Bank, served for 2 years as the Weekday Education Director at New Hope Baptist Church in Fayetteville, GA, and she is currently an active volunteer in the preschool and children's ministries at FBC .
Minister of Preschool
Edna and her husband, Jeff, joined First Baptist Church in 1995. They were both very active in the church with Edna serving as the Director of the Women's Ministry for three years and with Jeff serving as a Praise Team and Choir Member, Sunday School teacher, and Deacon. In July, 2002 Edna served as Interim Preschool Minister, and the church called her as Minister of Preschool in October, 2002. Jeff is an IT Manager at Northgate Arinso in Norcross.
Edna graduated from Texas A&M University with the Bachelor of Science in Physical Education. Later she earned the Master of Arts in Religious Education from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas. In 1985. She began her ministry with the Georgia Baptist Convention in Youth Evangelism and continued ministering there for twelve years.
Edna desires to build the spiritual foundation on which a child can grow to understand their need for a personal relationship with Jesus Christ and to encourage parents along this journey.She and Jeff have a son, Kyle, who is in high school. The Bridges' enjoy flying, reading, college sports, and traveling.
Minister of Senior Adults
Rev. Ken Danuser joined the staff on Feb.1, 2010 as the Director of Senior Adult Ministries. He joined our church over a year ago with his wife, Kaye. Ken is excited about joining such a loving, ministry oriented church. He wants to assist Senior Adults in sharing Christ, caring for one another as well as older members who no longer can participate, and increasing fellowship with food, fun and adventure away from church.
Ken has been pastor of six Ga. Baptist churches over a 35 year period. He holds a BS degree from Ga. College and State University, a MDiv degree from Southwestern Seminary in Fort Worth, TX. and has finished the advanced Clinical Pastoral Education program from Patrick Harris Hospital in Anderson, SC.
The last 7 years, Ken has been bi-vocational serving as a Family Service Counselor in the funeral industry.
Ken and Kaye are excited about living close to their two young grandsons, spending much time in pursuit of their little steps. They have two grown sons, Jason and Greg. Jason is the pastor of Creekside UMC and his wife Stephanie is a teacher in the Dawson Co. schools. Greg and his wife, Nancy, live in Chattanooga, TN where he is a sales representative in the medical supply industry. They have one grandpuppy, Molly.
Golf, all sports and meeting new friends are great interest in Ken's "retirement" years.
I accepted Christ as my Savior on September 28, 1954. I was nine years of age and my twin sister and I were saved on the same day. We were baptized along with our dad (he was Methodist at the time). Looking back I can see where God was helping me make good decisions, preparing me to serve him and ultimately calling me to full-time ministry. I was ordained as a Minister of the Gospel on February 24, 2002 by the First Baptist Church of Jensen Beach Florida.
My wife, Karen, and I have three biological daughters and two ‘adopted' sons. The mother of our two sons died suddenly at the age of 31 when they were 11 and 13. They were our neighbors and we had known them since they were two and four years of age. To date these five children have provided us with eleven grandchildren. Two daughters live in north Georgia; one daughter lives in Palm City, Florida; One son lives in Providence, Kentucky and the other son lives in Ft. Pierce, Florida.