STAFF
Dr. Stan Lewis
Lead Pastor
Stan Lewis is a Florida native. He is married to Kristin and they have three daughters, Brittan, Lauren and Ashlyn. After graduating from the University of West Florida he then graduated from the New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary with a Master of Divinity in counseling and a Doctor of Ministry in leadership. In addition to serving on staff at a number of churches, Stan also served in the U.S. Navy Chaplain Corps and as a satellite campus director and adjunct professor for the New Orleans Theological Seminary.
Stan's passions are missions, photography, skeet and trap shooting, and spending time in the outdoors. The Lewis family loves travel, mission work, and athletics. Stan currently serves as a board member for two mission organizations, Lantern Vision and Mission Ascend; Stan is also the author of two books: "Everyday Apologetics: A 100-Day Devotional Journey in Defending the Faith" - Books 1 & 2.
Andrew Heathershaw
Worship Pastor
Worship is foundational to the life of a local church and an individual's walk with God. As a member of First Baptist's pastoral staff, Andrew gives leadership to the worship, music, and technical ministries of FBCC with emphasis on God-centered and life-changing worship, musical balance, and a desire for excellence. His desire is to equip and encourage people in worshiping God and loving each other.
Andrew received his formal ministry training from Bryan College and The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. He has served in full-time worship since 2001 and came to FBCC from North Carolina in April 2015. Andrew is married to wife, Haven, and they are blessed with six children. Andrew enjoys music, WWII history, travel, exploring the outdoors, and investing time with family.
Chuck Walthall
Pastor of Missions and Media
Chuck's mission is to creatively communicate to the congregation and the world outside our walls through the use of relevant, meaningful multimedia productions and to engage the church in developing and implementing an effective missions' strategy.
Beth Hendricks
Director of Children's Ministries
Beth was born and raised in Oklahoma where she met her husband, Nathan, when he was stationed at Tinker AFB. Beth and Nathan have six children - Brianna, Nate, Kinley, James. Micah and Grace. They moved to Florida after Nathan's retirement and have been members of First Baptist since October of 2018. Beth has a bachelor's degree in Family and Child Development from the University of Central Oklahoma and has a heart for ministering to the families in our church by providing a loving and caring environment for their children. Beth also enjoys being a part of the choir and praise team at church.
Laura Kitchen
Director of Marketing/
Office Manager
Laura was born into a military family and lived all over the United States. She is married to Eric and they have two children and one son-in-law. Laura graduated from Florida State University with a degree in English Education and was a teacher for many years, teaching children from middle school to preschool. She began working at FBC in January, 2018. Laura enjoys spending time with family and watching college football.
Deivia Walker
Receptionist
Deivia joined the staff of First Baptist Church in 2021. Her friendly face greets visitors as they arrive in the office. Deivia and her husband Larry have been married for 31 years and have one son, Austin. Deivia and Larry have lived in Milton since 2001 and enjoy going to the beach and watching college football.
Elaine Burgess
Pianist
Elaine is our talented accompanist who has served faithfully for many years. In addition to playing during regular Sunday and Wednesday services, she travels with the annual Youth Choir Tour and accompanies many other special programs and events throughout the year.
What We Believe
The First Baptist Church of Crestview is a family of followers of Jesus Christ. We seek to obey our Lord’s commands as found in His Word – the Holy Bible - which we believe to be inspired and inerrant. Our faith, which was once and for all given to the Church, is placed exclusively in the Person of Jesus and we believe that we are delivered from sin and eternal death by His death on the Cross. Our salvation is a work of grace or an act that we could never earn or obtain through our own efforts.
As a group of followers of Christ whom He has brought together, we believe we are called to take the Good News of the life found in Christ to all who will hear and to all the world as our Lord commanded us to do. We share this Good News willingly and without coercing others, and we do so out of love for them.
Christ is the Leader of our church and as His followers we seek to find and put His will into action. Our church is served by a staff family who is led by a Lead Pastor, and also by many lay people who serve as deacons, committee members, and through various ministry groups. We believe that all Christians have been gifted and called to an area of service within the church and we seek to equip and help them discover their place of service.
We furthermore believe that followers of Christ are called to be generous people following the New Testament instructions and model for being a giving people. Our New Testament giving enables our church to accomplish the tasks given to us by Christ, also helps other churches and mission efforts to prosper, and helps to meet the needs of those around us.
The First Baptist Church of Crestview is a Southern Baptist Church which means we cooperate with other churches of that denomination to accomplish mission work and equipping the saints through theological education and making available Biblical resources. Even though First Baptist is a Southern Baptist Church, we are also an independent church. We “associate” with other like-minded churches to accomplish the work of the Gospel, but maintain an autonomy as a body of believers who answers to the directives to Jesus Christ alone. For more information about what most Southern Baptists believe please see the link below to the Baptist Faith and Message.