STRONG PASTORAL LEADERSHIP AND A LOVING CONCERN FOR ALL WHO ATTEND

OUR LEADERSHIP

LEADERSHIP TEAM

Our church has a history of strong pastoral leadership, a thoughtful and intelligent approach to the scripture and a loving, caring concern for all who attend.

This history is combined with a desire to link the clergy and laity in the structure and organization of our church. Our desire is a continuous spiritual growth combined with involvement and engagement with the community and the world.

Our Minister leads the staff and administrative functions accountable to the congregation and supported by the Congregational Council, Diaconate and the Ministry Teams.

Martha Kearse

Senior Pastor

Before coming to us, Martha became a minister in the life of St. John’s Baptist Church, Charlotte, NC in 2001 as the Minister to Children and Family Life and was installed as Associate Minister in February, 2012.

Growing up in central Virginia, Martha graduated high school in Lynchburg. She then earned her BA in English and Education at the College of William and Mary. In 1985, she moved to Charlotte to teach high school English until 1997. Martha received her Master of Divinity in Pastoral Studies from the M. Christopher White School of Divinity at Gardner-Webb University in 2007 and was ordained by St. John’s Baptist Church that same year. She received her Doctorate in Ministry at Gardner-Webb University in 2017. Martha and her husband Monty have four children: Mattie, 22 and a recent graduate of UNC-Wilmington; Conner, 20 and a junior at UNC-Greensboro; Anna, 17 and a senior at Myers Park High School.

In pursuit of sanity, Martha likes hiking in the mountains, reading books, watching movies, taking walks with friends, binge-watching Netflix, dogs, happy music in most categories (except jazz), riding a bike in the country and chocolate. She likes jeans over dresses, flats over heels, blue over red, Jesus over Paul, and chocolate over just about any other food you could mention.

Leslie Willman

Administrative Assistant

Leslie Stone Willman is a lifelong resident of Lynchburg who helps us maintain contacts with the people she knows all over the city. She worked for her father, who owned Coleman Shoes, then for many years at the Legget organization. In recent years, she formed her own landscaping company, the Garden Goddesses, where she worked with her aunt, Susan Luce, and with a good friend. Leslie joined the staff at Peakland Baptist in 2021 and quickly became an irreplaceable element of what makes our church function. She serves as our Church Administrator and is the keeper of all institutional knowledge, as well as serving on our Missions Team, and keeping our grounds and sanctuary beautiful.

pbcoffice@peaklandbc.org

Allan Heer

Organist

Allan graduated from Bucknell University in 1962, He has been playing organ and piano for churches all of his semi adult life. In addition to playing for Peakland Baptist Church, Allan is also happy to be the organist for the Traditional Services at Holy Cross Catholic Church on Clay Street. Allan’s talent is in demand as an accompanist around Lynchburg, and he often plays for weddings and Bar Mitzvahs. Allan is married to Angela, a member of the choir, has 2 grown daughters and 6 granddaughters.

Jeff Curcio

Videographer

Jeff earned a B.A. in Architectural Design and Rendering from the University of Maryland and spent six years as a Senior Designer with an architectural firm in Washington, D.C. In 1981, he launched his own freelance design company, Point of View, LLC, which he owned and operated for 40 years in the D.C. area. He and his wife, Cheryl, moved to Lynchburg in 2008, where he continued his work until retiring in 2021. When the pandemic temporarily closed the church building, Peakland Baptist recognized the need to continue worship services online. Jeff was invited to step into a new role—providing videography for the church. Though this work was far removed from his architectural background, he embraced the challenge of learning video production and has now been sharing worship through this ministry for over four years. Jeff and Cheryl are co-caregivers to Cheryl’s 92-year-old mother, Sylvia, who lives with them. He is also a proud grandfather to two young boys and a girl—children of his daughter Amanda and her husband, who live in Hampton, Virginia.

Debbie Burton

Music Director

Deborah Burton has served as Director of Music at Peakland Baptist Church since 2003 and holds a B.A. in music from Bluefield College and a Master of Music from Converse College School of Music. She is the June McGraw McBroom Chair of Fine Arts and instructor of music at Virginia Episcopal School. For seven years prior to moving to Lynchburg, Ms. Burton was an Assistant Professor of Music at Bluefield College.

Susan Allen

Financial Assistant

Susan is a native of Lynchburg and the mother of four beautiful daughters ranging in ages 13 – 20. She earned her degree in Environmental Science from Lynchburg College, then later pursued accounting courses and worked for a local accounting firm for 18 years. Currently mid-way through a Master of Divinity through Lexington Theological Seminary, she is finding balance between accounting work and working as a relief chaplain for Centra. She enjoys writing, gardening, music, and naps. Susan’s office hours are on Mondays, 10-2 p.m.

CONGREGATIONAL COUNCIL

Our congregation is led by our Congregational Council, made up of the following members:

Moderator
Assistant Moderator
Church Clerk
Church Treasurer
Team Leaders:

Facilities
Finance
Missions

Peakland Connects
Personnel Team
Spiritual Formation