Dr. Robert G. Baker (Bob) is a native of Scott County (Georgetown), Kentucky. Bob is a graduate of Scott County High School (1971), Georgetown College (1975), and the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary (M. Div. in 1978 and Ph.D. in 1982). In February 2019, Bob retired from full-time ministry having served the Calvary Baptist Church in Lexington, Kentucky, for twenty-seven and a half years (September 1991-February 2019). Prior to his pastorate at Calvary Baptist, Bob pastored three other Kentucky Baptist churches: Greenup Fork Baptist in Owen County (1972-1975); Midway Baptist in Woodford County (1978-1982; Youth Minister from 1975-1977); and Lexington Avenue Baptist in Danville (1982-1991). Since his retirement from full-time ministry, Bob served as the Interim Pastor of the Saint Matthew’s Baptist Church in Louisville, Kentucky (January 2020 – October 2022).
In addition to his pastorates, Dr. Baker has served as an adjunct professor at Georgetown College (1980-82), at Southern Seminary (Fall,1982), and at Baptist Seminary of Kentucky (2005, 2006). He has served on the Board of Trustees at Georgetown College (1984-1991, 1995-2002, 2017-present) and was chairman of the Georgetown College Board of Trustees (1988-1991). He has been an active participant in the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship, having served on the CBF Coordinating Council (2005-2008). Recently, Bob served on the Administrative Board of Baptist Health Lexington. He has also served as a trustee of Baptist Seminary of Kentucky which was located on the Calvary Baptist Church campus for the first few years of its existence.
Dr. Baker is the author of Amos: Doing What Is Right (1995). He has also written four units of Sunday School lessons for Smyth & Helwys and has had several of his sermons published.
Robert and his wife Deborah, who is a Reading Interventionist and Literacy Coach at Picadome Elementary School in Lexington, have three adult children and five grandchildren. Bob’s hobbies include “grand-parenting”, golf, walking, bike riding, reading, and cheering for the University of Kentucky Wildcats. (And yes, he appreciates Huntington for preparing Patrick Patterson to play for U.K.!)
Meet the staff
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Dr. Bob Baker
Interim SEnior pastor
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Rev. DAVontaé Edwards
Associate Minister: Youth & Young Adults
Graduate of Marshall University in 2015 with a criminal justice and criminology degree, DaVontaé is eager to see children, youth, and families in the Huntington area grow to know Christ. DaVontaé graduated from Palmer theological seminary with his Masters of Divinity in Spring 2021. DaVontaé says that he is blessed to be able to be one of Christ's ambassadors in a church that strives each day to show the love of Jesus Christ in everything they do, and hopes to continue to shine God's light to every person he comes across. In his free time DaVontaé enjoys working out and playing football, basketball, golf and four square.
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RACHAEL GIBSON
CHILDREN's MINISTER
Rachael is a Beckley, WV, native and a 2000 graduate of Marshall University, earning an elementary education degree with early childhood specialization. In 2003, she received a Master's degree in early childhood special education. She taught school for six years before staying home to raise her children. Rachael is married to Josh Gibson and they have three children, Suzana, Leo, and Nora. She joined FAB in 2006 and attended various churches while living in Lexington, KY, and Durham, NC, before moving back to Huntington in 2013.
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organist & Interim music director
Jon is a West Virginia native, born in Bluefield. His interest in music began at age 11, and he was appointed to his first organist position at Bramwell Presbyterian Church, Bramwell, West Virginia, in 2004. In that time he studied with renowned keyboardist and composer, Dr. Evan Mack, at Concord University. He also served Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Bluefield, for Saturday services. In 2010, Jon was called to Huntington, where he accepted the organist/choir director position at St. Peter's Episcopal Church. It was in this time that he discovered his interest in composition, writing weekly anthems for the choir as well as supplying incidental music to other Episcopal churches in the area for use in special services. He became the organist at FAB in 2015, beginning Palm Sunday.
Beyond his weekly commitments, Jon has also been featured twice as guest organist at the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, D.C., for its annual Summer Organ Series. Jon was also invited as the only American competitor in the Galanti Organ Competition in Mondaino, Italy. His other projects have included extensive recording projects that have included a full program on the landmark E.M. Skinner organ at the Washington National Cathedral. Click Here to hear selected tracks from these projects.
Jon is also busy outside of music. He currently works as a production assistant at iHeartMedia, producing commercials and other on-air material. He is also known as "The Professor" on WBVB's "The Woody Show." In addition to work Jon is interested antique cars, a fascination he has held since a young age.
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Rev. Hubert Harvey
Staff Coordinator
Hubert Harvey previously served as our Associate Minister of Adult Education for 27 years before his retirement in 2016, and has graciously agreed to serve part-time during our interim season as our Staff Coordinator.
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Office Administrator
Kyle has been a member of FAB since he was a young child, and has served our congregation as an office assistant during summers and breaks, taught in our Children's Ministry, and has served on the Youth Commission and youth ministry leadership teams. Prior to working as our Office Administrator, Kyle exercised his love for golf as a Golf Pro at a local country club. Kyle is married to his wife Jess, and they have two daughters, Carly and Hallie.
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KATIE SHULL
COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR
Katie has been a member at Fifth Avenue Baptist since 2005 and on staff since May 2020. Katie received her Bachelor of Arts degree from Marshall University in 2009. Professionally, Katie has a varied background to include human resources/staffing, sales and recruitment, marketing, online course development, copywriting, and training--much of which was for two global yoga companies in her decade+ in the yoga industry. This variety of work has prepared her as a passionate teacher/educator, trainer, and organizational leader.
Katie is currently enrolled at Fuller Theological Seminary online, and hopes to complete her Master of Arts in Theology and Ministry in the Fall of 2024. The church voted in support of her Ministry License in May 2022. She looks forward to participating in God's work as she is shaped for her specific call.
Katie is married to Jared and is the mother to Alden and Jewel. In her spare time, she loves reading, writing, working out, and spending time outdoors.
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Scott has been an attending member of FAB since he was about 3 years old. Over the years Scott has been involved with the Food Basket Christmas Mission, Feeding the Homeless, Stephen Ministry, a member of the Koinonia Class, Missions and Ministry Commission, and Home Communion.
While attending Palmer University of Chiropractics in Davenport, IA, he met his wife Lee. She relocated to Huntington, WV and has been a practicing Physical Therapist at St. Mary's Hospital since 1980. They were married by former FAB pastor, Dr. R.F. Smith in 1982, and they have two adult sons, Quinn and Corey, and two grandchildren, Margot and Tate.
Fifth Avenue Baptist Church has always been a large part of our family life and
we could never find a church family that expresses so much caring love and concern on a daily basis. Our church family is always there for anyone who needs support or just being the best of friends who follow Christ.
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lISA DUDLEY
FINANCIAL SECRETARY
Lisa has been a member of Fifth Avenue Baptist church since 1982 and joined Fifth Avenue Baptist's staff in July 2017. As Financial Secretary she brings our congregation almost 40 years of experience and expertise in accounting and bookkeeping. She has worked in the private business sector in Huntington and Barboursville and additionally has worked in the financial office of another local church. Lisa and her husband Todd of 37 years have three grown children, (Kristin, Ryan & Joshua) who have blessed them with with five grandchildren. (Ethan, Hannah, Bruce, Dwight, Lincoln). Their children have spread their wings and have moved from West Virginia, so traveling to visit their children and their families is what brings them the greatest joy and is how they like to spend their spare time.
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Beverly & Mike Bailey
Fellowship Dinner Cooks
We are glad to have Beverly and her husband Mike on staff to provide meals for our Wednesday Fellowship Dinner. Beverly has many years of experience as a school cook and has provided meals for our youth camps on several occasions. Together, they feed and serve us with love and care.