Church Staff
Minister of Music
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Rev. Dr. Wade Arnold
Dr. Arnold is the newest member of the Clemmons First Baptist Church staff having joined us in August of 2020. Dr. Arnold has served in a variety ministry positions including Youth Minister, Director of Education, Discipleship Pastor, as well as Senior Pastor. In addition to his ministry experience, Dr. Arnold is a licensed Clinical Psychologist in the State of Florida and has served as a staff psychologist as well as a faculty member at several universities. Dr. Arnold earned undergraduate and graduate degrees from Mississippi State University. He earned his master of divinity from the George W. Truett Theological Seminary at Baylor University. He earned his doctoral degree in psychology from the University of Florida. Wade and Jessica have been married since December 2000. They have two daughters, Lily and Hayden. Outside of ministry, Wade enjoys riding his bicycle, fishing, and learning to play guitar, ukulele, and mandolin. To read Dr. Arnold’s latest blog click here. Rev. Jeremy Poplin has served as the Minister of Music at CFBC since 2012. His passion is leading our church in worship utilizing the best of the best music possible-whether it's high liturgical, classical, traditional hymns, contemporary praise and worship, or anything in between-and educating the congregation on what it means to worship God. He believes that music should be done to the glory of God and only be music of the highest caliber performed with musical and creative excellence. 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. His musical “We Are Free” has just been published by Worship House Music and the recording of the musical was recently recorded and released by the Clemmons First Baptist Sanctuary Choir and Orchestra. His Christmas musical “God Made Low” was premiered and recorded in December 2015; some of the arrangements from it will be published by Sovereign Grace Music. His choral collection “Sing the Wondrous Story” was premiered and recorded at Clemmons First Baptist on April 10, 2016 and will be published by Worship House Music. He 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 of 12 years, their two dogs Lady and Lacey and a cat named Dolly Purrton. He enjoys cooking, gardening, fishing, and golf. |
Administrative Assistant
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Katie Grace Kibler is a Winston-Salem, NC native and teaches first grade at Whitaker Elementary School in Winston-Salem. Katie Grace has a BA in Studio Art from Gardner-Webb University and a Masters in Teaching from Salem College.
She has spent years working with children and students in ministry from being a Sunday school teacher, youth Bible study leader to helping organize children's ministry events at her former church. She has two puppies, Martha Bea and Maverick and loves spending time with them and her family and friends. Katie Grace is excited to be part of the staff at CFBC and is eager to see how the Lord will work through the children and families of our church body. 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 Holly Poplin serves First Baptist Church 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. 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 14 years. She and her husband, Paul, are avid tennis fans, and enjoying watching 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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1 Corinthians 14:40 instructs that “all things should be done decently and in order.” As financial secretary, Ruth is accountable to the congregation, pastor, church 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. Ruth and her husband of 32 years, Randy, live in Mocksville. Their family includes a daughter, Quinn, and husband Clint, second daughter, Mica, and husband, Patrick. Ruth’s favorite things are her relationship with the Lord, her family, books, movies, and her dog, Max. Norman started work at Clemmons First Baptist Church in October 2015. He handles Maintenance/Custodial issues that develop here at the Church. Before coming to Clemmons he was a Custodian for 3 years and a Head Custodian for 3 years at an Elementary School in Davidson County. 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. Rev. Barry W. Pearce 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. |
