Staff - Rockwall First Baptist

Steve Swofford

Senior Pastor

Steve and Brenda 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. When he is not studying for sermons, 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.

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 college aged 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.

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.

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.

Paul Byrom

Minister to Young and Median Adults

Paul recently joined our staff and leads young and median adult ministry and “Connections” with new members. He is married to Sheri and they are both native Texans. They have two grown daughters and a son. Paul is a recovering ice cream addict. He and Sheri enjoy live theatre, the arts, the food scene, and coffee shops. They also love traveling, playing games, and outdoor activities. Lastly, we are pretty sure this isn’t his home planet.

Jarrid Hawkins

Minister to Students

Jarrid leads our student ministry which includes our 7th graders through our college-aged young adults. He has been on staff since getting out of the Army in 2014. Jarrid and Rebekah have a 3-year-old daughter, Hannah, who will be a big sister around New Year’s Eve! Jarrid graduated from Dallas Baptist University with a Bachelor of Arts and Sciences in Christian Ministry. He’s almost done with a Master of Arts in Youth Ministry and is pursuing his Master of Divinity from The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. Teenagers, a toddler, a new baby, 2 masters programs, and a new love of CrossFit means Jarrid has a lot of free time.

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.

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 eleven years ago as Minister to Children. Married to Duane, they have three precious daughters and one super son-in-law. Being able to combine the love of children, my passion for music and sharing the love of the Lord has made serving the families of FBC an amazing adventure.

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.

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.

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.

Jeff Katzmann

Facilities Director

I have had the pleasure of working as a facilities director at first Baptist Church since 2007. My wife Tina and I have been blessed with a wonderful family. Kayse and her husband Tyler gave us our first grandchild Rosie in 2015. Kali, our middle child and Kody, our son. Mix in two cats and a pug and you have a cup overflowing with love and happiness. I am honored to call first Baptist Church my home.

Gay Miller

Administrative Assistant

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

Kim Mills

Finance Director

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

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.

Susan Edsall

Administrative Assistant to Minister to Adults 55+

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 Minister to Adults (55+).

Sue McAlexander

Administrative Assistant to Pastor Steve

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