Church Staff
Lead Pastor
We are currently in the process of seeking a new lead pastor for our church. Please pray with us as we seek God's will in this matter.
Rev. Larry Burk – Worship & Media Pastor
joined the staff of South Baptist Church in January of 1990. Since then, he has provided direction to several areas of ministry in the church, including seminary internships, children's ministry, men's ministry, and budget development and implementation. His current responsibilities include oversight of worship service planning, music ministries, worship drama, seasonal music/drama productions, as well as media and technology areas.
Larry met his wife Kim in 1980 while at Baptist Bible College in Clarks Summit, Pennsylvania. Larry grew up in Fostoria, Ohio and Kim in Martinsburg, West Virginia. They graduated and were married in 1984. From 1985 to 1989, Larry served as Youth and Music Pastor at Tabernacle Baptist Church in Hazel Park, Michigan. In 1990, God led them to South where they continue to serve today. Larry was ordained in 1998 and is continuing seminary education toward his Master's Degree at Moody Graduate School in Chicago.
God has blessed the Burks with four children: Brenton, Bradly, Brittany, and Bryant.
Rev. Will Payne – Outreach Ministries Pastor
joined South Baptist Church as Outreach Ministries Pastor in September 2004. Pastor Payne is in charge of all outreach ministries of the church, including local outreach, Random Acts of Kindness, assimilation, discipleship of new believers, community events, and other avenues of outreach.
At the age of 15 Pastor Payne attended a camp at Baptist Bible College in Clarks Summit, Pennsylvania, where he felt the call to full-time ministry. Upon graduation from high school he attended Liberty University where he graduated with a degree in psychology in 1996. While attending Liberty, Pastor Payne met his wife Melinda, and they were married in 1997. Upon graduation from college, Pastor Payne worked in the sales industry for three years before attending Baptist Bible Seminary. He has a strong desire to reach people for Christ.
Pastor Will and his wife Melinda have three children, Alexandria, Marcus, and Victoria.
Don Chapin – Student Ministries Pastor
has served as Student Ministries Pastor of South Baptist Church since November 2002. Pastor Don gives leadership to Junior High, Senior High, and College/Singles Ministries. He is "hands on" with the Senior High, playing guitar, leading worship, teaching, and organizing events.
He is originally from Flat Rock, Michigan, a southern suburb of Detroit; however, he came to us from Ohio after serving at a church in the Akron area for over two years. At the age of five Don accepted the free gift of eternal life through faith in Jesus Christ as any five-year old could do. Struggling with doubt of his salvation, at age ten he re-affirmed his relationship with Christ. Pastor Don is a 1999 graduate of Cedarville University and is currently working on a Masters of Ministry degree from Baptist Bible Seminary.
Pastor Don and his wife Laurie have two sons, Joshua and Jackson.
Stephanie Black – Children's Ministries Coordinator
joined the staff of South Baptist Church in August 2004. As the Children's Ministry Coordinator, she oversees our newborn and baby nurseries, our preschool programs, and our elementary-age ministries. Her current responsibilities include the oversight of our regularly scheduled Sunday and Wednesday ministry opportunities for children, providing leadership for our staff of children's workers, and special ministry events for children, including the Family Easter Egg Hunt, Day Camp, Trunk-or-Treat, and The Christmas Adventure.
Stephanie grew up in Swartz Creek, Michigan, attending South throughout her childhood and youth. Upon graduation from high school, she attended the University of Michigan, graduating in 2003 with a Bachelor's degree in social work. Stephanie currently works part-time at South and is a part-time substitute teacher in the Swartz Creek School District. She also volunteers one afternoon per week at the Crisis Pregnancy Center in Flint.
Additional Staff
Shelly Lorenz – Secretary
Teresa Cannon – Secretary
Jean Wood – Financial Secretary
Jan Wood – Maintenance
Linda Gray – Custodial
Ministry Leaders
Deacons
Jerry Beil, Bob Brown, Matt Dosh – Vice Chair, Brent Hall, Jeff Hiscock, Jud Hunt, Garry Johns – Chair, Ed Lorenz, Marty Lorenz, Steve Shipp, Clifton Stokes – Clerk, Ted Velat
Deaconesses
Laura Banura, Carrie Berry, Paula Brill, Elsie Brown, Veronica Doll, Cynthia Hinton, Ann Parks, Sue Sergent, Carol Vandemark, Beverly Wiley, Pam Wittock