Our Officers

The Lord Jesus Christ alone is the Head and Chief Shepherd of His Church (Mt. 16:18; Eph. 5:23-24; Col. 1:18; Heb. 13:20; 1 Pet. 2:25; 5:4). Christ rules over His Church by His Holy Word applied by His Holy Spirit (Lk. 6:46; Jn. 16:5-15; 1 Cor. 14:37), and the Scriptures are clear that a specific form of male leadership is to shepherd and serve God’s flock under His authority. This government is composed of two distinct but complementary offices: elders and deacons (Phil 1:1; 1 Tim. 3:1-15). Each of these offices should ideally be filled by a plurality of biblically qualified men in each local church (Acts 14:23; 20:17; Phil 1:1; 1 Thess. 5:12-13; Tit. 1:5; Heb. 17; Jas. 5:14; 1 Pet. 5:1-4). Each of our officers fully subscribes to the Second London Baptist Confession of Faith (1677/89) as defined, clarified, and supplemented by The Doctrine and Distinctives of Berean Baptist Church.

Pastors

Each local church is to be ruled by the servant leadership of a plural body of men who are called by God to feed, equip, and protect His flock. These men lead by both their pattern of sound words and their godly example (Mt. 23:1-12; Mk. 10:42-45; 1 Tim. 4:12; Tit. 2:15; 1 Pet. 5:3). Scripture variously calls these men elders, overseers, and pastors. Each of these titles refers to the same office (Acts 20:28; Tit. 1:5-7; 1 Pet. 5:1-4). The elders oversee the church with God-given authority in mutual submission to one another under the authority of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Vocational and Non-Vocational Pastors

Each elder shares equal authority with his fellow elders under the Headship of Jesus Christ (1 Pet. 5:1-4). But while each elder shares equal authority with his fellow elders, not every elder is equal in status. Some teach and rule with greater skill and diligence than others (1 Cor. 9:13-14; 1 Tim. 5:17-18), and vocational pastors typically bear the burdens of the ministry to a far greater extent than the non-vocational pastors are able to do. Therefore, while the church membership is to give each of the pastors the singular honor of esteeming him highly in love for his work’s sake (1 Thess. 5:12-13; Heb. 13:7, 17), the vocational pastor is to be given double honor by also receiving financial support according to the church’s ability (1 Tim. 5:17-18). This support enables the vocational pastor to give himself fully to the ministry of the Word and prayer without becoming entangled in secular affairs.

Deacons

God has ordained that each local church is to be served by a plurality of men called deacons (Phil. 1:1; 1 Tim. 3:8-13). The diaconate is not a shepherding, ruling body of men. Instead, deacons serve the congregation in an office that is complementary and subordinate to the eldership. Therefore, they must fulfill their role under the authority and oversight of the elders. The deacons are to attend to the many practical needs of the congregation so that the elders might devote themselves without distraction to the ministry of the Word and prayer (Acts 6:2-4). Therefore, the deacons are to wisely manage the church’s budget, benevolence, and buildings.

Pastor Jerry Slate, Jr.

Jerry Slate, Jr. serves as our vocational pastor. He was born in Marietta, GA and was raised in a Christian home, the youngest of three children. He was converted to Christ as an 8-year-old child and was baptized as a believer on July 16, 1977. He obtained his B.A. from Columbia Bible College in Columbia, SC in 1991, majoring in Bible and minoring in pastoral ministries. In January of 1993 he married his wife, Angela, and the Lord has blessed them with six children: Sam, Luke, Grace, Jack, Malachi, and Margaret. Jerry was ordained for the gospel ministry on November 23, 2002. He planted Berean Baptist Church, which held her first worship service on the Lord’s Day evening, February 2, 2003. Jerry has served as chairman of Reformed Baptist Mission Services (RBMS) and of the Administrative Council for the Southeastern Association of Confessional Baptist Churches. Our church has had the privilege of sending him out over the years on a number of short-term ministry trips to encourage and train indigenous pastors in many other nations. Jerry is the author of two short biographical sketches published by Solid Ground Christian Books: William Carey and the Greatest Generation and Faithfully Holding the Ropes: The Life and Ministry of Samuel Pearce (1766-1799). He is also the co-author (with Dr. Michael A.G. Haykin) of Loving God and Neighbor with Samuel Pearce (Lexham Publishers). Jerry’s interests include spending time with his family, reading, exercising, board gaming, hiking, and camping.

Pastor Matt Spears

Matt Spears serves as a tent-making pastor of our church. Born and raised in the metro-Atlanta area, he was saved by the sovereign grace of God as an adult in late 2014. Matt’s wife, Stephanie, was also drawn irresistibly to the Lord Jesus Christ shortly thereafter. Both Matt and Stephanie were baptized and added to a local Baptist church in 2015. The Lord has blessed them with four wonderful children: Hannah Kate, Henry, Jane, and Elizabeth. On October 29, 2023, after four years of study, Matt graduated from our church’s Faithful Men School of Pastoral Training. He was then ordained for the gospel ministry on February 4, 2024. Matt earned a Bachelor of Science in Construction Management from Southern Polytechnic State University and a Master of Business Administration from Kennesaw State University. He currently works in the process management and automation software industry. When Pastor Matt is not working with clients or serving the church, he enjoys spending time with his lovely family and sipping on a cup of coffee.

Deacon Jacob Bush

Jacob Bush serves as a deacon in our church. He was raised in Kennesaw, GA and was converted to Christ at the age of 16, being baptized into the membership of a local Baptist church shortly thereafter. In 2018 he married his wife, Kelsey, and they have been blessed by God with two wonderful daughters: Abigail and Elizabeth. In 2020 Jacob earned a Bachelor of Science in Information Technology from Kennesaw State University, and he currently works as a cybersecurity auditor. Jacob was ordained as a deacon of our church on February 4, 2024, and he is currently enrolled in the Faithful Men School of Pastoral Training. Jacob enjoys spending time with his family, studying and performing both sacred and secular music, and playing chess.

Deacon Jesse Dudek

Jesse Dudek serves as a deacon and gifted brother in our church. He was born and raised in Marietta, GA and was saved by God during the summer of his freshman year of college in Milledgeville, GA. He was baptized and added as a member of a local Baptist church during his junior year. Shortly after graduating, he began dating Avery. In God’s mercy, Avery and Jesse were married one year later, and now have a precious daughter named Florence. Their second daughter, Susannah, is expected in March 2024. Jesse earned a Bachelor of Business Administration degree from Georgia College and State University, and is also a graduate of the Faithful Men School of Pastoral Training. Jesse works as an auditor in the mining industry. In his free time, he loves walking around the Marietta Square with Avery, going to parks with Florence, playing strategy games, and woodworking.