Leadership

Dr. R.C. Smelcer and Mrs. Ginger

Dr. Smelcer has been in the ministry nearly 30 years. He has spent most of that time serving with his father, Pastor Rick Smelcer, at Maryville Baptist Tabernacle. He attended Maryville College where he played baseball and started a bible study that served more than 70 students. After graduating, Dr. Smelcer added a Master's degree in Administration and Leadership from Lincoln Memorial University and has completed his doctrate since coming to GBC. He has been preaching an old-fashioned style of message since he was 19 years old. Outside of the ministry, his hobbies include: anything his daughter, Leah, is involved in (basketball, softball); loving his wife, working out, and writing books.

Email Pastor Smelcer

Mrs. Ginger (TFL - The First Lady) is currently the Senior Financial Analyst for Aramark Corporation. Pastor Chris says, "She is undoubtedly the best thing that has ever happened to me outside of Salvation." She loves planning events and building a family environment. She is usually the life of the "party". Her hobbies include: sudoku, escape games, being best friends with her daughter, winning at any game she plays...! Her personality is infectious. It is said that she dreams in starbursts, rainbows and unicorn glitter.

Ms. Leah is currently a student at The King's Academy in Seymour, TN. She is an honor student and plays basketball and softball for the Lady Lions. She is very witty and is definitely the life of the family. She is currently a senior and is planning on attending ETSU to study Child Psychology next Fall. "We are so very proud of her and the young young she has become."

Associate Pastor Charles Whitson

Brother Whitson is a treasured member of GBC's leadership. At 93 years old, he brings 70 years experience in the ministry of the Lord to GBC. He has pastored, built, mentored, restored many churches from Louisiana to Tennessee (most notably, Walridge Baptist Church in Knoxville Tennessee).

After serving our country in the military, Bro. Whitson married his sweetheart Mrs. Joyce and the two began serving the Lord alongside each other. Mrs. Joyce has recently went home to be with the Lord where she has promised Bro. Whitson to be waiting by the river for him. His eyes fill with tears anytime he thinks of his sweet Joyce and his voice lifts every time he mounts the pulpit. As long as the Lord allows Bro. Whitson to stand, he will preach the third Sunday morning each month at GBC.

If you visit GBC, you will likely receive a call from Bro. Whitson as he serves as our Director of Outreach and Visitor Care.

Associate Pastor Chris Brown

Bro, Chris joined the church soon after Pastor Smelcer. Bro. Brown and his family had been searching for a church. One Tuesday evening, he and his sweet wife, Mrs. Kayla, sat in the parking lot and prayed. The following Wednesday they visited, and have been blessing our church ever since.

Bro. Chris is a graduate of Crown College in Powell, but hails from West Virginia and spent time there as a pastor and a Christian radio station manager along with his father, Pastor Joe.

In the 1990's, Bro. Chris spent time playing piano and singing with the Inspirations. God moved he and his family to New York where he once again worked as an associate pastor for many years.

Pastor of Ministry Organization and Outreach Jason Hodge

Bro. Jason Hodge has been a member of Gilead Baptist church for many years. God called him away for a short time to serve in other capacities but has recently moved Bro. Jason and his family back to Gilead and everyone could not be more happy they are back.
Bro. Jason and his wife, Mrs. Lori, have been integral in boosting our Young Adult Sunday school class. after opening a brand new classroom, they have already out grown it and are waiting for another newly remodeled larger room.
Bro. Jason oversees the Youth Department and events. They have many events already planned for the year. You will see Bro Jason, Mrs. Lori, Brady (son), Geneva (Brady's girlfriend...), and Destiny (daughter) at all of them. What a faithful family!

Asst Pastor Josiah Brown

Bro. Josiah has quickly become a valued member of Gilead Baptist Church. He is currently a student at Crown College and has a desire and passion to one day stand in a pulpit that God will undoubtedly bless him with care of.

Bro. Josiah is very passionate about the Word of God and witnessing. His grandfather and his father are/were both pastors in West Virginia and New York areas. Bro. Josiah has been trained by some of the best men that could train a young man to step into the the ministry as equipped as someone could be.

If you visit GBC, you will see Bro. Josiah as he moderating each service, singing, preaching, and/or helping the pastor in any and all duties associated with shepherding a flock.

Director of Biblical Education Rick Owens

Bro. Rick and Mrs. Carol are spiritual spark plugs in our church that have raised the level of worship. They are excited to serve the Lord in any capacity.

Bro. Rick comes with wealth of Bible knowledge and is considered a scholar in the field of the Authorized, Preserved KJV. We would highly recommend Bro. Rick to a Pastor looking for a series regarding the foundational truth that is the KJV. Bro. Rick's knowledge and study will not disappoint.

Bro. Rick is a walking miracle after suffer a major stroke in early in 2024. God has raised him back up ad he is preaching again. Praise the Lord!

GBC is blessed to have the Owens family serving with us!

Young Adult Pastor Travis Lunsford

Bro. Travis and Mrs. Kaylyn have recently joined our pastoral team and have been wonderful additions from the start. They are passionate about reaching the lost and proclaiming the Gospel message. Bro. Travis will soon be directing our GCC (Great Commission Coalition). Bro. Travis is a fiery young preacher with an earnest passion for the lost. All of which are a great combination for a dynamic message.

Deacons

At Gilead Baptist, our deacons are passionate about serving the widows and widowers, sick and shut-in. They spend countless hours making phone calls, visits, and in prayer for the their church and the souls that God has put under their watch care. Bro. Johnny, Bro. Calvin, Bro. Harold, and Bro. Jason are four of the most attentive and conscientious deacons. God has truly blessed Gilead Baptist Church.

If it has been laid upon your heart to serve our church as a deacon, allow us to help you accomplish the desire that God has placed on your heart. We are always looking for good men to serve our church.

Bro. Johnny and Mrs. Karla Roche

Music Department

Bro. Billy Proffitt - Music Director, Guitarist, Soloist, New River Quartet (Lead)

Bro. Billy has been serving at Gilead for the last 6 years. Billy is an accomplished mandolin player and can play just about any instrument with strings. He has played and sang bluegrass gospel with some of the biggest names in the business. He brings a wealth of knowledge, experience, and love for God to Gilead. We love him, Mrs. Gena and his entire family, and it is a large family!

Aiden McDonnell - Organist, Bassist, Soloist, New River Quartet (Tenor)

Brother Aiden may be one of the most gifted young men you will ever meet. Not only is he artistically gifted with a pen and brush, but he is musically gifted.

Coming from a large family, Bro. Aiden has always found a way to fit into a large crowd. He has done the same thing at GBC. He has started playing the bass and organ as needed. If he is not playing, you will hear his very unique tenor voice from the back row of the choir loft.

During Sunday school, you can find he and his wife, Joanna, teaching our Teen class. And until she is ready for her own class, you will see their beautiful baby girl, Kit, in there with them.

What gift and a treasure Bro. Aiden and his family have been to GBC.

Sunday School, Torch Youth Group, Children's Church

Mrs. Kayla Brown

Mrs. Kayla brings a wealth of knowledge in teaching children and being able to find what they need to help them understand the Gospel. On one occasion, Mrs. Kayla had the opportunity to lead one student to the Lord in Salvation by teaching in the book of Revelation.

Bro. Jason Hodge - Young Adult Class

Brother Jason came to the pastor with a heavy burden on his heart for the young adults at GBC. He was given the space to grow a class and in short order, they out grew the room. Today, the Young Adult class (The Bridge) has their own web page, livestream, and followers across the area and beyond.

If you are looking for a place to grow in those years between the teens class age class and the adult age class, GBC has the class for you.

IGNITE Adolescent Ministry

Miss. Ashley Brown

Nursery Coordinator

Trustees

Bro. Billy Proffitt and wife Mrs. Gena

Chairman of the Trustee Board

Church Office Staff

Treasurer - Karla Roche

Church Care

We have some wonderfully dedicated members who care for our church campus and service order. These jobs are often overlooked in churches, but at GBC, we are honored to have wonderful men and women who keep things in order.

Bro. Jon Koogler Head of Maintenance and Projects

Honored Gilead Baptist Church Members

Bro. Charles Whitson

Bro. Whitson has been a pillar in the Knoxville area for over 70 years. Bro. Whitson has pastored 11 churches during his time in the ministry at churches ranging from Tennessee to Louisiana.

Bro. Whitson brings a wealth of biblical knowledge and wisdom to our pastoral staff at GBC. He currently serves as the associate pastor and will do so as long as the Lord gives him strength to stand.

You can hear Bro. Whitson preach the 3rd Sunday morning of each month.

We are honored to have a man of such integrity and scholarship worshipping at GBC!

Mrs. Evelyn Ford (Right) and her dear friend Mrs. Jayne Phillips

Mrs. Evelyn has spent nearly 4 decades at Gilead Baptist Church. Twenty-Four of those years she served at the honored pastor's wife to Bro. Lawrence Ford. Bro. Ford served two different stints as pastor from 1973-1979 and again from 1980-1997. Mrs. Evelyn faithfully stood beside her husband as he pastored GBC for 24 years and today she faithfully stands as a pillar of strength, an encouragement, and and a source of wisdom.

We are honored to have Mrs. Ford still worshipping at GBC!