Interim Pastor
Pastor Bill Messer 
Minister of Music
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Pastor Bill Messer, Interim Pastor
Born in the Commonwealth of Kentucky, Bill received his formal education from the University of the Cumberlands, New Orleans Baptist Seminary and the Southern Baptist Seminary. Over a span of forty years, he served as pastor of four churches in Kentucky and South Carolina. Since his retirement, pastor Messer has served eight churches as transitional pastor. Three of the eight were in Alaska. Bill is married to Sharon Kilgore Messer and together they have three children and seven grandchildren. Pastor Messer enjoys spending time with the grandchildren, traveling and fishing with Sharon and golfing. Rev. Jeremy Poplin has served as the Minister of Music at CFBC since 2012. In addition to overseeing the worship services at First Baptist he conducts the Sanctuary Choir, Orchestra, Youth Choir, Handbell Choir, and Women’s Ensemble. In addition to his ministry at CFBC, Jeremy is an active conductor, composer, arranger, and orchestrator and has also lead workshops on worship and worship planning for the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship of NC. He is also the accompanist for the West Forsyth High School Choral Department.
Jeremy holds a Bachelor of Music degree in Theory and Composition with a minor in Jazz Piano and Conducting from Christopher Newport University in Newport News, VA and a Master of Music degree in Choral Conducting and Pedagogy and a Master of Music in Church Music from Southwestern Seminary in Fort Worth, TX. He has sung and performed for revivals in TX and VA as well as concerts with the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra and Chorus, the Winston-Salem Symphony, The Piedmont Wind Symphony and the Kings of Swing Jazz Orchestra. He currently lives in Lexington with his wife Holly, their dog Lady and a cat named Dolly Purrton. He enjoys cooking, gardening, fishing, and golf. |
Director of Children's Ministry
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Tommi Jo Agnew has served as the Director of Children's Ministry since Fall 2021. TJ was born and raised in historic San Antonio, Texas - home of the Alamo. Throughout her childhood, her family served in the United States Air Force at Lackland Air Force Base. She accepted Jesus at her local First Baptist Church Vacation Bible School, which has shaped the trajectory of both her faith and vocation.
During her university years, she fostered a love for children's performing arts, song-writing, and worship. As a ministry director, Tommi leans into importance of discipleship, evangelism, and living intentionally. Through service in the Children's Ministry, she aims to bring scriptural literacy, a Christlike attitude, and a heart for Jesus to the next generation of Christians at CFBC. When Tommi isn't serving within the walls of CFBC, she spends her time sewing, watching Disney movies, and playing outside with her puppies. She lives in Winston-Salem with her husband, Rev. Nathan Agnew. Welcome to Clemmons First Baptist Church! |
Minister of Youth and Discipleship
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Rev. Nathan Agnew has served as Minister of Youth and Discipleship since Summer 2021. As a Texan native, Nathan loves the great outdoors and being outside. When he's not helping with CFBC Rise Student Ministry or CFBC Small Groups, he can be found enjoying the backyard with his four Australian Shepherds. Nathan has been in full-time ministry since 2016 and thoroughly enjoys helping families understand and connect with their faith on a deeper level.
Nathan holds a Bachelors degree from Baylor University in Waco, Texas and is a current student with Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. He has served with congregations both domestically and abroad, which still influences his approach to ministry. Outside of his position at CFBC, he is also passionate about the growth of Christ's Kingdom in Hong Kong and throughout Asia. He currently lives in Winston-Salem with his wife and ministry partner, Tommi Jo. |
Preschool Director
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Nancy Clevenger is the director of our weekday preschool. “Miss Nancy” has been the director now for over twenty years and previously taught in the four year class where she absolutely fell in love with preschool age children. She truly feels that God has called her to serve in this ministry of our church.
Nancy and her husband Jerry have three grown sons and most importantly are grandparents to Vera Lucille Clevenger and Ford Edward Clevenger. They are both involved in the ministries of CFBC and Nancy especially looks forward to teaching preschool Sunday School each Sunday morning. Miss Nancy feels extremely blessed to be able to serve in the preschool at Clemmons First Baptist Church. Working with beautiful children of God and their families in addition to working with amazing Christian teachers is a joy! Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.” Matthew 19:4 |
Associate Minister of Music
Holly Poplin |
Holly Poplin serves CFBC as our Associate Minister of Music. She currently leads the music during the worship service, directs the Children's Choir, Joyful Noise Choir (outreach choir to our nursing homes and Homebound Ministry), and is the assistant conductor of the Sanctuary Choir. Mrs. Poplin received her Bachelor's degree in Music from Armstrong Atlantic State University in Savannah, GA and her Master of Music degree from Southwestern Seminary in Fort Worth, TX. In addition to her duties at First Baptist she is an active performer and singer (operatic soprano). She has sung with the Fort Worth Symphony orchestra and with the Kings of Swing Jazz Orchestra, and regularly performs special concerts at First Baptist Church. She is married to our Minister of Music, Jeremy Poplin. |
Administrative Assistant
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Karen has worked in the office at Clemmons First Baptist since 2007. She works to achieve optimum office productivity and efficiency to support the business and activities of the church. Karen has lived in Clemmons for 15 years. In her spare time she enjoys reading, working in her flower beds, and spending time with family. She and her husband, Paul, are avid sports fans, and enjoy watching tennis, the Carolina Panthers, and the Charlotte Hornets. Karen is the proud mother of three children, Rebecca, Martha, and Carter. |
Financial Secretary
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Ruth Tesh works as financial secretary for CFBC. In this position, she is accountable to the congregation, pastor, Treasurer and the Finance Committee to rightly handle funds that come into the church treasury, as well as maintain accurate financial records. She has been happily employed at Clemmons First Baptist Church since May 2012. 1 Corinthians 14:40 instructs that “all things should be done decently and in order.” Ruth and husband Randy are family to daughter, Quinn, and her husband, Clint, and daughter, Mica, and her husband, Patrick. God gifted them with a precious grandson, Jack, in May of 2020, who is a source of continuing joy. Her life verse is John 6:37 “All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out.” |
Maintenance/Custodian
Norman Lyles |
Norman Lyles, our Maintenance Technician, started work at Clemmons First Baptist Church in October 2015. He handles facilities issues that develop here at the Church. Before coming to Clemmons he was a commercial Custodian for 3 years and a Head Custodian for 3 years in Davidson County schools. He spent 19 years as a Maintenance Tech for a manufacturing plant in High Point before it closed in 2008. Norman and his wife, Shannon, have 4 children. He enjoys cooking, grilling and collecting Cigars. |
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Rev. Barry W. Pearce is the Music Associate and Pianist at CFBC. Barry is a graduate of Campbell University and a 1974 graduate of Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. He served in full time music ministry positions in churches in Texas and North Carolina for 43 years before retiring in 2015. He and his wife, Nancy, now live in Winston-Salem. He serves as church pianist and assists with pastoral care visits.
Their three children are married. Brian and Alison live in Winston-Salem with their two boys, Henry and Walt. Their daughter, Bethany, also lives in Winston-Salem with her husband, Zebulon, and son, Elan. Jonathan and Toni live in Vienna, Virginia. Barry enjoys reading, playing the piano, and yard work. |