The MBA Staff is Here to Serve You!
Team Members
Neal Hughes
Director of MissionsNeal Hughes is the Director of Missions for the Montgomery Baptist Association. He recently returned to the River Region after having served as the South Region Director of the North American Mission Board for eleven years. Prior to Neal’s service with NAMB, he served as pastor of churches in Montgomery, Birmingham and Weatherford, Texas. Neal is a graduate of Samford University and Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. He and his wife, Mary, have three grown children (and one grandchild) living in Florida, Georgia and Hawaii. Neal enjoys reading, fishing, church/revivalist history and SEC football. Neal’s life verse is Philippians 3:10, “I want to know Christ-yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death.”
Team Members
Savannah Barber
Lowndes County Missions' MobilizerA native of Montgomery, Savannah graduated in 2009 from LAMP High School and in 2012 from Huntingdon College (Major: English Language and Literature). She came to the MBA in 2018 as the Lowndes County Missions’ Mobilizer. She will create a network of support and implement new ministries in Lowndes County where there is much human need. Initially, she will organize a task force, recruit volunteers and pull together resources for the benefit of the people and churches of Lowndes County. She loves working at the MBA and appreciates its encouraging, compassionate and missional atmosphere. She plays soccer and loves to read. She and her family watch movies, go to the zoo together and are members of Gateway Baptist Church. She married her high school sweet heart, Peden. They have two children Rebekah and Kristopher. Her life has been filled with experiencing the ways in which God works. She encourages us all to look for both the small and the big, amazing ways God works in our lives.
Team Members
Robin Crowe
DOM / Financial Ministry AssistantRobin serves as the administrative assistant to the director of missions and financial ministry assistant for Montgomery Baptist Association. She has served the association since 2005. Coming from a military family and having traveled since childhood, she doesn’t call any one place home, but has now lived in Montgomery for over twenty-five years. She and her husband, Dennis, have one daughter, Tara. Robin’s hobbies include photography and crafting. Her life lesson is that God is good in all seasons.
Team Members
Martha Dempsey
Forest Park Ministry Center Associate DirectorMartha became a staff member in 2015 since volunteering at Forest Park Ministry Center in 2010. In her role at the food pantry, she gets to know new clients and serves them as needed. She knows that this is where God wants her to reach out and touch others with God’s love. She was born and raised in Greenville, SC. She graduated with her BA in Guidance and Counseling from Limestone College and a Master’s in Religious Education from Southern Seminary. She has been married to Bob for 43 years. They have two daughters, three grandchildren, two cats and two dogs. She enjoys reading, cooking and looking at recipes. For Martha, a prayer warrior, God’s love and control over her life is important.
Team Members
David Fleming
Leadership DirectorDavid, director of Coaching Leaders, supports MBA church leaders through overseeing the Great Commission Institute and writing grant proposals. He has been an executive-level leader and chaplain in healthcare, a missionary to Hong Kong and an educator in colleges and universities. David grew up in Birmingham and attended Samford University (BA) and The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary (MDiv and PhD). David enjoys reading, traveling and taking care of Millie, his “fur baby.” His life lessons include: 1) Jesus Loves Me, 2) God is faithful, and 3) God’s Spirit draws us all together to show Jesus’ love.
Team Members
John Fleming
Congregation Wellness DirectorJohn came to Montgomery Baptist Association as Director of Church Wellness in 2017. In his role, he will support churches in finding their fullest potential, train church leadership, and assist the church in planning strategy for community impact and church growth. He has been married for 51 years and they have two daughters with six grandchildren. John is confident that God called him out of retirement to help develop His church in this challenging day. Before retiring to Montgomery, he served for 50 years in ministry in Florida. He was director of missions in the Gulfstream Baptist Association and served in Florida’s leading churches. He loves to fish, garden and travel. His life lesson is “God is my strength…my ever-present help!”
Team Members
Sylvester Hardy
Lowndes County Ministry CoordinatorSylvester Hardy utilizes his outstanding relationship building skills serving Montgomery Baptist Association as it liaison to communities in Lowndes County and ambassador to African American churches in the River Region. He is the pastor of Jonathan’s House of Prayer – an MBA Lowndes County church. Sylvester is the seventh of thirteen children. He has three adult children and five grandchildren. He retired from the military (USAF) and graduated from Alabama State University. Sylvester became a Christian in 1991 while stationed at Maxwell AFB. God called him to ministry where he began serving as a youth minister and later as a pastor. His passion is to be a positive presence for young people through sports and ministry. When Sylvester meets someone, he doesn’t just say “hello,” he will always say, “Praise the Lord!” In this way, he reflects his joy in Christ that opens the door for gospel conversations.
Team Members
Debbie Jones
Samaritan Inn Ministry DirectorDebbie has directed the Samaritan Inn Ministry since 2010. She helps when a child or other family member has a health crisis and needs a place to stay through treatment and recovery. She was raised in Montgomery and has lived here with her husband Grant. They have a son and daughter-in-law, along with two granddaughters that she homeschools. Following graduation from Judson College, Debbie became a teacher. She enjoys her pets, antique shopping, reading, photography and traveling. One of her favorite verses is Isaiah 40:31, “but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.”
Team Members
Donna McCullough
Forest Park Ministry Center DirectorDonna is the director of the Montgomery Baptist Association’s Forest Park Ministry Center. Since 2008, she has been on the front line providing individual and group support for guests of the center facing a life crisis or major life changes. She engages MBA churches and volunteers to become involved in missions through compassion ministries. Married to Ron, they have four children and 15 grandchildren spread out from Alabama to Alaska. She grew up in Roanoke, Alabama and received her BS from Auburn University. She has an MS from Troy University – Montgomery in Counseling and is an Associate Licensed Counselor. Donna is also nationally certified as a counselor. She enjoys reading, travelling, relaxing with her husband and PJ (their puppy), and playing with grandchildren. Her life lessons come from Jeremiah 17:7-8, 2 Corinthians 2:3-4 and Ephesians 3:14-21.
Team Members
Dewayne Rembert
Ministry ResidentDewayne Rembert began serving Montgomery Baptist Association as Ministry Resident in February 2018. He works to partner MBA churches with neighborhood schools offering the good news and ministry opportunities. Originally from Linden, AL, he has lived in Montgomery for 22 years. He graduated Troy State University of Montgomery and Birmingham Theological Seminary for classwork in evangelism. Dewayne first heard the gospel when he was 26 years old. Having experienced grace in life changing moments, it was God’s call to ministry that led him to serving as youth pastor at Strong Tower Washington Park, an MBA church. In addition, he developed the youth ministry Flatline Movement. Dewayne enjoys playing basketball and listening to Christian rap music. He and his wife, Leslie, have three children. Dewayne’s life lesson is that it is better to obey God than to offer a sacrifice up to him.
Team Members
Susan West
Conversational English DirectorSusan directs the Conversational English Ministry for the Montgomery Baptist Association, coordinates volunteers and international students as they work on English. She is an encourager and welcomes all she meets. After retiring from teaching, she was a Conversational English volunteer and became the Director in 2011. She and her husband have three married sons. She calls her grandchildren her “grand blessings”. Originally from Troy, she received her Bachelor’s Troy State University and her Master’s from Auburn University at Montgomery. Conversational English is where her great joy intersects with a great need. Susan loves flower gardening, reading and spending time with her grand blessings. Her life lesson is, “We draw people to Christ ‘by showing them a light that is so lovely that they want with all their hearts to know the source of it’” (Madeleine L’Engle).
Team Members
Elizabeth Wilkinson
Ministry Assistant to the Association, ClerkElizabeth joined Montgomery Baptist Association as the Events Coordinator, Association Ministry Assistant and Associational Clerk in 2017. She is a native of Montgomery and graduated from Jefferson Davis High School. At Auburn University at Montgomery, she graduated with her BA and is now the proud mom to two amazing kids. Elizabeth is passionate about missions and serving churches. She was a USC2 missionary for NAMB in Gatlinburg. She is a gifted musician and loves teaching younger generations to be equipped and excited about praising the Lord through song and instruments. Her life lesson is summed up in these words: “Jesus, Jesus, how I trust Him. How I’ve proved Him o’er and o’er.” Soli Deo Gloria!
Team Members
John Yi
Asian Mission StrategistJohn Yi, a native of South Korea, serves Montgomery Baptist Association and the Alabama State Board of Missions as Asian Mission Strategist. John is a caring leader, he leads out in helping Asian people groups to start churches and train leaders. John planted and now pastors All Nations Baptist Church on the campus of Heritage Baptist Church in Montgomery. He was educated in South Korea (BA), at Denver Seminary (MA), at Southwestern Seminary (MDiv) and at Luther Rice Seminary (DMin). John and his wife, June, have two adult children. John loves God’s Word and memorizes it through song. He enjoys music, golf and woodworking.