Pastors
Dr Josh Burnham - Senior Pastor
Dr. Josh serves as lead pastor and has guided Bethel since 2016. Josh (a MSU Bulldog) and Casey (a LSU Tiger) were married in 2006 and have two children, Eli and Erin.
Dr. Burnham has a passion for the Lord and the Sacred Scriptures, dedicating his life to studying God’s Word, completing a Ph.D. in Old Testament and Hebrew from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, and teaching in the local church for almost two decades.
Pastor Josh’s heart is to see people set free and lives transformed by the redeeming work of Jesus Christ through the local church, God’s plan A to change the world!
Jared Mitchell - Worship Pastor
Jared is from Birmingham, Alabama, where he grew up and lived most of his life until he moved to Jackson, Mississippi. While in Mississippi, Jared attended Mississippi College where he earned his undergraduate degree in Christian Studies and Psychology. He and his wife, Annaclaire, who is from Fayetteville, Arkansas, met in college. They were married in 2013 and have one daughter, Presley.
Aaron Meeks - Student Pastor
Aaron grew up in the St. Clair County area and attended college at Gadsden State Community College. Soon after graduating with his Associate degree, he moved to China for six months with the IMB as a student missionary. After returning to the States, he attended online at Boyce college for a semester of Bible courses before finishing a bachelor’s degree in child studies with a minor in Anthropology at UAB.
After graduation, Aaron felt the leading of the Lord to move to Haiti as a missionary to work in the children’s homes while also training the caregivers in Trauma Informed Care for almost two years.
Following his missionary service in Haiti, Aaron moved to Alabama and married Ashley, who grew up a missionary kid in Australia in 2019.
Currently, Aaron serves the Kingdom at an inner-city ministry in Birmingham. His role consists of working with teen boys, training leaders and workers in Trauma Informed Care, and coordinating volunteers within the non-profit.
Aaron and Ashley were foster parents to threw siblings last year and now have a baby
due in December. Above all, Aaron has a deep passion for helping equip and disciple younger generations in the Gospel and seeing them become committed to the Lord as they enter adulthood.
James Beachem - Lay/Congregational Pastor
Tony Butler - Lay/Congregational Pastor
Tony and his wife Sherry have been members at Bethel since 2021. You can find them serving with Bethel’s kid’s ministry and teaching small groups from time to time. Through a summer camp, Tony gave his life to Jesus Christ. Even today, Tony’s heart for evangelism burns bright as he leads a camp for youth every summer.
Noah Whitaker - Lay/Congregational Pastor
Noah and his wife Lindsay have been covenant members of Bethel since 2021 and have 8 children (Jude, Salem, Cana, Justus, Jubilee, River, Titus, and Zion). The Whitakers have served faithfully in the nursery, on the Mission Team, and are now leading a Life Group. Both Noah and Lindsay have a heart for discipleship and missions and care deeply about helping others progress in their relationship with Christ.
Staff
Mary Beth Brown - Director of Preschool/Children
Eric Parsons - Director of Communications
Jessica Mayfield
Julie Vandenbergh - Office Manager
Richard Long - Maintenance Supervisor
Melody Etheridge - Office Assistant
Deacons
2026
Andy Austin
Andy and his wife Donna have been covenant members of Bethel since 2001. Together, they have six children, eighteen grandchildren, and six great-grandchildren, with two more expected this spring. The Austins have served in various ministries at Bethel, including biblical counseling, small group leadership, men’s ministry, and nursery care. Their experiences reflect the significant impact of the local church on their family. Serving in the deacon ministry is a responsibility they deeply value.
David Hawkins
David and his wife Cindy have been a faithful servants and members of Bethel for many years. The Hawkins have served in worship ministry, small group ministry, greeter ministry, and many other areas. David loves the Lord, and look’s forward to serving Bethel in this next season alongside his wife, Cindy.
Del Wright
Del and his wife Farrah have been covenant members of Bethel since 2020 and have a young daughter named Gracy. The Wrights have served faithfully on prayer and evangelist teams (with Farrah also serving in worship, women’s, and children’s ministries). Since joining the church both have grown in their relationship with God and their relationship with each other. Witnessing their daughter grow up in the church at Bethel and seeing her begin to ask Gospel-centered questions has been the greatest joy as parents.
Mark Blair
Mark and his wife Ellen have been covenant members of Bethel since 2022. They have 4 sons: Phillip, Adam, Garrett, and Andrew. In addition, their granddaughter, Rileigh, has lived with them since 2020, but they consider her to be more of a daughter than a grandchild. The Blairs have had the opportunity to serve in many areas of the church, including the worship ministry, children’s ministry, men’s ministry, mission team, and occasionally lead a discussion in Life Group. They serve to unify the “body of believers” for His glory (Philippians 2:3-7).
Stephen Johnson
Stephen’s family joined Bethel in 1960 when he was less than a year old. Stephen was saved at Bethel at the age of 8. He and his wife Donna will celebrate 45 years of marriage this year. They have two adult children, Whitney Collins (Rusty) and Alex Johnson (Rachel). They also have five fantastic grandchildren: Nolan and Molly Collins and Ava, Audrey and Henry Johnson. Stephen and Donna have served for many years in various areas in the church. Stephen has previously served as a deacon, has led a Life Group for many years, is a member of the choir, and has served on multiple committees. As a lifelong member of Bethel, Stephen has personally experienced the blessing of being served by the deacon ministry (and the extended church family), and is humbled by the opportunity to serve.
Wayne Phillips
Wayne and his wife Karen have been faithful covenant members at Bethel for over twenty years. They have two children: a son, A.J. Phillips and his wife Hannah, and a daughter, Catherine Phillips. Wayne faithfully served as a deacon from 2020 to 2023. Throughout the years, Wayne and Karen have served in many areas of ministry and currently enjoy serving in hospitality roles such as cooking for Wednesday night meals and Christmas Store. Wayne has a deep love for the Lord and a faithful commitment to serving Him and the faith family.
2024
Andrew Bolin
Andrew and his wife Amia have been covenant members of Bethel since 2019 and have a young son named Watkins. The Bolins have served faithfully as connections team leaders, in the worship ministry, and are now vital teachers in Bethel’s kids ministry.
Austin Lail
Austin has been attending Bethel since birth. At Bethel, Austin gave his life to Jesus Christ, was discipled, and now serves faithfully. Austin glorifies Christ through the worship ministry and in the college and career life group. Above all, Austin has a deep and consistent love for the Word of Christ and the local church.
Randall Johnson
Randall and his wife Lynn have been members at Bethel since 2017. Lynn serves with Bethel’s kid’s ministry, and Randall helps teach life groups and a discipleship group. Randall has also served in key leadership roles at Bethel, including being a past chairman of deacons and the missions team.
2025
Greg Price
Greg and his wife Tiffany have been covenant members of Bethel since 1996. They have been married for 30 years and have two adult sons, Christian and Andrew. Greg confessed Christ as his Savior at age 18, and Tiffany at age 9. Greg was ordained as a deacon 20 years ago. The Prices have served Bethel in many different areas through the years, and their current passion is leading the young adult life group. They consider the church as family and believe the church is a vital part of every person’s growth and maturing in Christ.
Josh Clayton
Josh and his wife Alex have been covenant members of Bethel since 2020. They have faithfully served as connection team leaders and are actively involved in the baptism ministry. The Claytons serve out of an overflow of joy and hope they have in Christ Jesus.
David Butler
David and his wife Megan have been attending Bethel since the fall of 2019, and joined as covenant members in 2020. They have two children, Caleb (5) and Levi (3), with a third boy due this spring. David and Megan both serve in Bethel’s children’s ministry in various capacities, and David helps teach an adult life group. They have been involved together in children’s ministry for many years through summer camps, and have seen first-hand the importance of exposing children of all backgrounds to God’s grace.
Bradley Isbell
Bradley has been attending Bethel since early childhood with his family, where he gave his life to Christ, was discipled, and now serves. He has served in key leadership roles at Bethel, including the missions and finance teams. Bradley credits the Bethel family for helping him discern his calling to serve in both publishing and international missions, where he gets to help individuals be involved in and understand the mission of God. He looks forward to serving the Bethel faith family in whatever capacity is needed.