Mike was born in 1953 in Detroit, Michigan. He was born again and baptized at age 10. He enlisted in the U. S. Navy as a Seamen Recruit in 1970 and served on continuous active duty until his retirement as a Commander on June 1, 1998. In a career that encompassed service from the Vietnam War era to the Desert Shield and Storm era, Mike served with various units of the U. S. Marine Corps for 15 years. His deployments and temporary assignments with the USMC included a Mediterranean Deployment with the 24th Marine Amphibious Unit aboard the USS Nashville (LPD-13) and to countries in Europe including England, Spain, France, Italy, Norway and Germany. Diane and Mike met for the first time in a Sunday School class at Enon Chapel in the summer of 1975. They became one in Christ on November 27, 1976. God has blessed them with four beautiful daughters, four wonderful sons-in-law, seven grandsons and three precious granddaughters. Mike’s life verse is John 14:15, Diane’s is Galatians 2:20 and their life verse together in Christ is Psalm 34:3.

During their years of military service, Mike and Diane were active in the local church everywhere they were stationed across North America and in the Republic of the Philippines. Mike was licensed by Enon Chapel to preach the gospel on September 29, 1976. He was subsequently ordained there as a deacon on October 28, 1984 and as a minister of the gospel on March 8, 1998. He was called to serve as the interim pastor of Centerview Baptist Church, while still on active duty, on November 27, 1997. At that time he was the Plans, Operations and Medical Intelligence Officer at the II MEF Headquarters. He became the full-time pastor of Centerview on May 1, 1998. Mike completed his undergraduate degree from Columbia College in 1980 and a Master of Science in Human Resources & Personal Management from Golden Gate University in 1990. In May of 2005, he earned a Master of Divinity (with Biblical Languages) and in May 2012, a Doctor of Ministry (in Expository Preaching) from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary.

Mark was born in Syracuse, New York, and was adopted shortly after birth. In 1982, he enlisted in the United States Marine Corps, serving with distinction. His military career included two deployments to Iraq, and he ultimately retired in 2010 with the rank of Master Gunnery Sergeant, having served as the Electronics Maintenance Chief for the 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing. Mark experienced a transformative spiritual moment in 1985 when he was saved at Maranatha Baptist Church in Okinawa, Japan.

Since then, he has actively contributed to church ministries in various capacities, including as a Sunday school teacher and director, AWANA leader and commander, deacon, and bus director. Currently, he is the Executive Pastor at Centerview Baptist Church, serves as president of the board at Grace Classical School, supports doctoral students with their dissertations, proctors EdD comprehensive examinations at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary, and chairs the Executive Committee for the New River Baptist Association, which encompasses 31 churches.

Mark met Denise Cooper in Okinawa, and they were married on June 22, 1988. God blessed their marriage with four children: Stephanie, a former Marine linguist married to Lieutenant Junior Grade Deric John; Rachel, married to Gunnery Sergeant Evan Drain; Benjamin, a Navy Petty Officer First Class married to Caitlin Degarlais; and Kathleen, a second-grade teacher married to Matthew Burke. Denise, who currently serves as a teacher at Grace Classical School, homeschooled all four children. Mark and Denise are also proud grandparents to seven grandchildren.

In 1993 Mark was ordained as a deacon, licensed to preach in 1995, and formally ordained as a gospel minister at Centerview Baptist Church in 2010. His academic achievements include a Bachelor of Science degree from Liberty University, a Master of Arts in Religion from Liberty Baptist Theological Seminary, and a Doctor of Education from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary, where his dissertation focused on marriage enrichment within the local church, with particular emphasis on supporting military couples. Mark’s interests include golf, reading, and education, reflecting his multifaceted personality and dedication to lifelong learning.

Lanning (Lanny) Carr was born in Vancouver, Washington in 1950. He invited the Lord into his life as a young boy and was baptized as a teenager. It was not until he was 22 years old that Lanny's life was profoundly captured by the words of Jeremiah 33:3, “Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and I will show you great and mighty things, which thou knowest not.”

Lanny married his wife, Diane Lebel, in 1970. What God has wonderfully united and blessed for more than fifty years has produced two beautiful daughters. Karen has been a missionary with Convoy of Hope for twelve years developing feeding and self-sustaining programs worldwide. Lynn is married to career Navy Chief Petty Officer, Robert, retired after twenty-two years. They are located in South Carolina where Robert is engaged in a second career in servicing medical records They are the parents their three beautiful grandchildren.

As a “Brazier Boy” at age 14, Lanny began a career in Dairy Queen for 10 years becoming an owner/operator. He left Dairy Queen to begin his thirty-three year career with Whirlpool Corporation in 1973 where he progressed through various levels of executive management. He engineered successful new-market operations in Canada and India.

After Whirlpool, Lanny pursued his lifelong passion for teaching. He has been teaching algebra since 2005. He currently teaches upper level algebra and logic at Grace Classical School.

Since his re-dedication at age 22, Lanny has served in the Lord's Kingdom at several churches as an elder and deacon, youth leader, worship leader, and teacher.

Lanny's community activities include business consulting, conducting credit and budgeting workshops, teaching the Gospel Project at Centerview Baptist Church, and preparing tax returns for AARP. He enjoys an occasional game of chess or backgammon.