Staff | Rockwall First Baptist

Michael Criner

Senior Pastor

Dr. Michael Criner grew up in Texas and became a follower of Jesus at the age of 7, baptized soon after. Michael’s grandfather, Ed Hecht, led him to Jesus; discipled him in Jesus; and was with him when he surrendered to the call of vocational ministry at the age of 12. God led him to work with children and youth, with much of his time spent working with college students. Michael is passionate about Jesus and His church. One of the great joys for him is to see others come to know Jesus, learn to walk with Jesus, and begin to serve Jesus in the life of the church. His conviction is that there must be a pathway for people to hear the gospel, grow in the gospel, and share the gospel in the world. He is married to Abby, and together they have three daughters. His hobbies include training and running ultramarathons, reading, and drinking cold-brew coffee.

Trent Blackley

Minister of Music

Trent leads out in morning worship services and oversees the Worship Ministry. He has been on staff at FBCR since 2015. A graduate of Oklahoma Baptist University and Southwestern Seminary, Trent and his wife Joi reside in Sunnyvale and have two adult children, Nathan and Rachel. Trent is an avid runner, cyclist and snow skier (when he gets the chance) and possesses a broad and mostly useless knowledge of popular music lyrics from the 1980’s.

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Don French

Business Administrator

Don has been on our staff as Business Administrator since 2009, working with our ministries and staff to ensure they are able to do what God has called them to do. A “problem solver”, Don is frequently able to leap tall buildings in a single bound, but never wonders about things or lives in the past. A mild mannered man, he assumes the identity of a loving husband to Angie and father to two precious adults who all three are the very best part of his life.

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Steve Swofford

Pastor Emeritus

Steve and Brenda Swofford have been a part of the First Family since 1989. They have two married sons and seven beautiful grandchildren – 3 girls and 4 boys! Steve is also the long time chaplain with the Rockwall Police and Fire Departments. He loves to play his guitar. Actively involved in Baptist life at the State and National level, Steve is a graduate of Dallas Baptist University and Southwestern Seminary.

Jesse Crouch

Minister to Adults (55+)

Jesse ministers to Active and Older Adults who are 55+ years old. Since 1974, he has ministered in churches in North Dakota, Nebraska and Texas and has been at FBCR since 1997. A native north-Texan, he is married to Lou, a native Arkansan, and they have four children and eight grandchildren who live from the gulf coast of Texas to Oklahoma City. He is a graduate of Southwestern Seminary.

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JP Black

Minister to Students

JP joined our staff in 2022. When he was 12 years old, he accepted Jesus as his Lord and Savior, and believed, placing his faith in Jesus’ atoning work for sin on the cross and his resurrection from the grave. Since then, JP has made it his ambition to live out the gospel. He is a graduate of Dallas Baptist University, where he received a Bachelor of Arts in Biblical Studies. JP is now pursuing his MDiv at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary. In January of 2020, JP married the love of his life Kathryn, and the two of them live in Terrell, Texas. JP loves chips and salsa, baseball, and his dogs Melvin & Winston.

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Emma French

Student Ministry Associate

Emma French is our Student Ministry Associate. She began working here in 2016 upon graduation from the University of Mary Hardin Baylor.

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Alexia Rimmer

Minister to Children

A graduate of Hardin-Simmons University with a Bachelor of Music, Alexia worked as a Music educator for Rockwall ISD before joining the FBC staff in 2007. Married to Duane, they have three precious daughters and one super son-in-law. Being able to combine the love of children, her passion for music, and sharing the love of the Lord has made serving the families of FBC an amazing adventure.

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Shelley Brown

Minister to Preschool

Shelley leads the Preschool Ministry and has been on staff since 2007. Shelley and her husband Chris love to travel abroad and see faraway places. Just kidding… After raising three great kids, Katie, Brooke and Will, they mostly love to just stay home and hang out with their dog Lucy. The Brown family has enjoyed being a part of FBC since 1994.

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Ihor Kudelin

Music & Worship Associate

Ihor joined our staff in 2021.

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Tommy Gheen

Media Director

Tommy Gheen is our Media Director. He is responsible for managing media content for the church. Tommy joined our staff in 2017.

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Jeff Katzmann

Facilities Director

Jeff has worked as our facilities director since 2007. He and his wife, Tina, have been blessed with a wonderful family; their eldest daughter, Kayse, her husband, Tyler, and their two children, Rosie and Max; their middle daughter, Kali; and their son, Kody. Mix in two cats and a pug and you have a cup overflowing with love and happiness.

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Sue McAlexander

Administrative Assistant to Senior Pastor

Sue McAlexander is our records secretary, church clerk and administrative assistant to the Senior Pastor. She joined our staff in 1995.

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Susan Edsall

Administrative Assistant to Ministers to Adults

Susan Edsall first came to work at our church in 2002 were she served as the Music Library/Media Assistant in 2007 she left to be home with her children. She returned to our staff 2016 as the administrative assistant to the Ministers to Adults.

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Jennifer Bowen

Administrative Assistant to Students

Jennifer has been on staff since 2022.

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Amanda Cannaday

Administrative Assistant to Preschool/Children

Amanda Cannaday is the assistant to the Preschool/Children’s Ministers. Amanda taught in public school as well as Weekday School before joining the Children’s Ministry in 2015.

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Cheryl Entrekin

Music & Worship Adm. Assistant

Cheryl Entrekin is our Music Administrative Assistant, Handbell Coordinator and worship band keyboardist. Cheryl joined our staff in 1995, shortly after she and her family moved to Rockwall.

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Kim Mills

Finance Director

Kim Mills is our Finance Director joined the staff in Oct 2007.

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Gay Miller

Administrative Assistant

Gay came on board in the church office in 2008 as an administrative assistant.

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