Staff Members

Welcome to the Church at Wieuca!

Get to know the wonderful staff that make up Church at Wieuca, Camp Wieuca, and Wieuca Day School.
*Staff are listed in alphabetical order by last name.

Pastoral Staff:

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Rev. Rick Cobb joined the Church at Wieuca staff as the Minister of Worship Arts & Pastoral Care in August 2022. Rick studied at Georgia State University majoring in Vocal Performance & Choral Conducting. Rick has served in various churches in the Atlanta area and Indianapolis, Indiana. As a young boy, he developed a deep appreciation and love for two factors that have shaped how he views the church, pastoral ministry, and the world. These governing forces are song and story. The way God has interacted with His people throughout the ages demonstrates the importance of song and story. God uses the song of the Church and people's stories in building up the body of Christ as a communal organism. Rick is married to Trish and they have three boys. Reading, camping, tennis, and golf are some of his favorite activities.

Email: RCobb@wieuca.org

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Angie Durden joined the Church at Wieuca staff as the Minister of Children and Families in September 2015. While serving at Wieuca, she realized a need to reach out to ladies in our church and community. She now leads a Ladies’ Ministry team called Blooming at Wieuca! Angie previously served in various preschool/children and women’s ministry positions throughout Georgia, Virginia, Oklahoma, and Texas. She is a native Texan and graduated from Texas Tech University and Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. She is passionate about helping children learn about Jesus while developing a loving and safe place for children to learn through play, games, arts, visual images. Angie and her husband Glenn have two children, West and Jewels. During her free time, she enjoys spending time with her family, walking, and exploring new antique stores. Her favorite scripture is Jeremiah 29:11 “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”

Email: ADurden@Wieuca.org

Ashley Guthas joined the Church at Wieuca staff as the Youth Ministry Intern in September 2021. Ashley is a graduate of the State University of West Georgia with a bachelor’s degree in Spanish. Currently, she is a Glen Harold Stassen Fellow in the MDiv program at McAfee School of Theology. Since 2001, she has consistently lived out her calling to serve pre-teens and young adults within the walls of the church and beyond. She is passionate about cultivating an atmosphere where all embrace their worth in Christ and discipling students to live out 1 Timothy 4:12. One of her greatest joys in student ministry is being an ongoing part of individual lives even as their student ministry days are far behind them. Ashley and her husband Matthew reside in Powder Springs, GA and are the proud parents of two exuberant daughters, Jersi and Shiloh. They have one chubby guinea pig named Bugsy and a Border Collie named Maira Savage Guthas.

Email: AGuthas@wieuca.org

Dr. Barry Howard joined the Church at Wieuca staff as the Lead Pastor in December 2019. Dr. Barry Howard's pastoral objective is to encourage and equip Church at Wieuca with innovative and healthy practices that lead to effective ministry in the Buckhead/Atlanta area.
Originally from Anniston, Alabama, Barry has served churches in Alabama, Kentucky, Florida, and Georgia. He completed his undergraduate studies at Jacksonville State University, then received a Master of Divinity in 1991 from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary and earned a Doctorate of Ministry in 1998 from Columbia Seminary. Barry most recently served as the Senior Pastor of First Baptist Church in Pensacola, FL from 2005-2017. In recent years, he has served with the Center for Healthy Churches as a leadership coach and columnist. He and his wife Amanda live in nearby Brookhaven. His interests include golf, travel, and writing. His columns are frequently featured in Good Faith Media, Church Leadership, Baptist News Global, and Nurturing Faith magazine. His favorite Bible verse is Galatians 6:9: "And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up."

You can check out his blog and follow him on Twitter at @barrysnotes.
Email: BHoward@wieuca.org

Joel Mills joined the Church at Wieuca and Camp Wieuca staff as the Director of Activities in 2003. Previously, he had worked as a counselor with the Camp Wieuca program. Joel is a native of Spartanburg, SC, and is a graduate of the University of South Carolina at Spartanburg. Joel graduated from the McAfee School of Theology where he earned a Masters of Divinity. When Joel is not at Wieuca, he is with his wife, Rebecca, and their two children, Katherine and Joel Jr. Most importantly, Joel is an avid UNC basketball fan and enjoys watching the Braves.

Email: JMills@wieuca.org

Jamila Smith joined the Church at Wieuca staff as the Pastoral Care Intern in January 2022. She obtained a Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology at Kennesaw State University, and she is currently enrolled at Mercer University’s McAfee School of Theology, pursuing her Master of Divinity. Jamila has a true heart to love God’s people deeply and tries her best to meet the needs of the community. During her free time, she loves to write music, dance, spend time with friends and family, love her nephew Shiloh, and be near the water. She is grateful to serve alongside the Wieuca family. Here is one of her favorite Bible verses: Psalm 139:23-24: “Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting!”

Email: JSmith@wieuca.org

Rev. Joshua Speight joined the Church at Wieuca staff as the Associate Pastor in February 2021. Josh previously served for over twelve years in denominational work for CBF in Kentucky and for CBF Global by serving congregations and ministers in missions and leadership development. He has a love for mentoring and walking alongside young ministers. Josh has also pastored congregations in Texas, Virginia, and Kentucky. Josh received his Master of Divinity (Theology) from Truett Theological Seminary at Baylor University in Waco, Texas and a Bachelor of Science (Chemistry) from Georgetown College in Georgetown, Kentucky. He is married to Rev. Rebecca (Becky) Caswell-Speight who serves as Associate Pastor at Smoke Rise Baptist Church in Stone Mountain, Georgia. Together they manage the extensive social calendar for their daughter’s Ainsley and Evelyn as well as their pets: Toby, Charlie, and Billie. Josh and Becky have been a ministry team since 1999. Josh is a native Texan who cheers passionately for the Dallas Cowboys as well as the Baylor Bears, the Louisville Cardinals, and the Atlanta Braves. He loves to go to concerts, travel with his family, and enjoy a quiet day at home with his family.

Email: JSpeight@wieuca.org

Dr. Mark Wilbanks previously served as Wieuca’s fifth senior pastor beginning in February of 2012. Mark’s father, Oliver Wilbanks, was the Associate Pastor for Church at Wieuca from 1966 to 1982. Wieuca has had a tremendous influence in shaping Mark’s call to ministry during his teenage and young adult years. A graduate of both Southern and New Orleans Baptist Theological seminaries, Mark has served churches in Kentucky, Florida, and Georgia. He previously pastored Southside Baptist Church in Jacksonville, Florida for 17 years and Bradfordville First Baptist Church in Tallahassee, Florida for ten years. He and his wife, Kim, were married in 1979 and have two sons, Andy and Jordan. Andy is married to Lindsay and they have three beautiful children: Cade, Ruthie, and Samuel.

Support Staff:

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Quenson Beavers joined the Church at Wieuca staff on the Facilities Care Team in March 1995. Quenson has an eye for detail and ensures that Wieuca is ready for various events and activities during the year through set up and tear down. He and the other Facilities Care staff work to keep the buildings cleaned and maintained. Quenson loves to help people. He also enjoys listening to music and watching sports on his off time.

Rachel Crews joined the Camp Wieuca Staff as the Administrative Director in January 2019 and then the Church at Wieuca staff as Communications Coordinator in August 2019. Rachel helps oversee and coordinate Camp Wieuca's programs throughout the year while also managing Church at Wieuca's communications through the website, print materials, ad monitors, and social media. Rachel has a bachelor's degree in International Studies with a minor focused in Education from the University of West Florida. Rachel previously served as the Business Manager for Wild Honey Frozen Yogurt in Pensacola, FL. She has also served in various children's ministry and international/local missions roles since 2010. Rachel's favorite Bible verse is Hebrews 11:1 "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, and the evidence of things not seen."

Email: RCrews@wieuca.org

Patricia Crocket joined the Church at Wieuca staff on the Facilities Care Team in May 2022. Patricia works with the Facilities Care staff in ensuring Wieuca is ready for various events throughout the year. She was born and raised in Augusta, Georgia and then moved to Atlanta when she was 9 years old. She has two sons and one grandson. Her favorite time is being around family and she enjoys serving and entertaining people. Her favorite color is pink and her favorite Bible verse is Isaiah 54:17 "No weapon formed against you shall prosper..."

David Huff joined the Church at Wieuca staff as the Financial Manager in May 2021. He is a graduate of the University of West Florida, and is both a CPA and an Ordained Minister. In those roles he serves many individual, business and nonprofit clients through his CPA practice, and also has a broad ministry background as a pianist, worship leader, minister of music, and executive pastor. He is married to his high school sweetheart June, and they have four children and (so far) ten grandchildren. David enjoys opportunities to teach and speak, and is an avid reader and runner.

Email: DHuff@wieuca.org

Kathy Hutchens joined the Church at Wieuca staff as the Music Administrative Assistant in July 2013. She graduated from Samford University in 1981, and spent most of her career supporting computer applications for the Bell System companies while living in Alabama, Mississippi, and, finally, Georgia. She has been involved in music her whole life, mostly choral at the beginning, but later by playing timpani, bells, and chimes at Briarlake Baptist in their church orchestra. Currently, Kathy manages the screens that are displayed during the church service on Sundays as well as all music and records for the Wieuca Choir. She and her husband Wayne have four cats that were all rescues from the Atlanta area. In their spare time, they enjoy travel and eating out with friends.

Email: KHutchens@wieuca.org

Oliver Jackson joined the Church at Wieuca staff as the Director of Facilities in September 2019. Oliver previously working for the City of Refuge, where he served as the Facilities Director. Oliver has a variety of experiences that include culinary, administrative assistance, as well as facilities and maintenance management. He was born and raised in Atlanta, GA and is 1 of 13 kids. Oliver met his beautiful bride, April, in 5^th grade and they used to walk to school together. Oliver's family resides in Douglasville, GA with their four beautiful kids: Sierra Grace, Samiya Faith, Oliver Jackson Jr., and Serenity Hope. In Oliver's free time he loves to read, hangout with his family, and watch the Georgia Bulldogs. Oliver's favorite bible passage is the "The Parable of the Lost Sheep" (Luke 15:1-7)

Email: OJackson@wieuca.org

Pam Jernigan joined the Church at Wieuca staff as the Administrative Assistant to Pastor in September 1998. Her duties include assisting the Pastor as well as the other Ministers on staff, overseeing any calendar items, handling membership details, and the @Wieuca Newsletter. She semi-retired in February 2022 and currently works part-time. Pam and her husband, Ken, joined Wieuca in 1986 and raised three children in the church. One of her favorite Bible verses is Psalm 118:24: "This is the day which the LORD has made; Let us rejoice and be glad in it."

Email: PJernigan@wieuca.org

Barbara Padgett joined the Church at Wieuca staff as the Office Administrative Assistant in February 2022. Barbara moved from Jacksonville, Florida, to Atlanta in 2010. She has worked as an office administrative assistant for more than fifteen years. She works hard to help the various ministry areas of Wieuca in their administrative needs such as worship guides, attendance records, curriculum preparation, and more. She is a flautist and was previously a part of the music ministry at First Baptist Atlanta, where she is currently a member.

Email: BPadgett@wieuca.org

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Dylan Picard attended Church at Wieuca and the Camp Wieuca programs as a child. He currently works as a Camp Wieuca Counselor and is on the Facilities Care team. Dylan wears many hats by being a driver, teacher, and handyman. He works with the Facilities Care team to ensure Wieuca's buildings are maintained and ready for ministry throughout the year. Dylan grew up in Atlanta and is engaged to his beautiful fiancé, Kristin. In their free time they both love going on hikes with their handsome dog, Beasley, as well as kayaking and paddle boarding on the Chattahoochee River.

Email: DPicard@wieuca.org

Betsy Sims joined the Church at Wieuca staff as the Finance Assistant in February 2022. Betsy graduated from Auburn University with a major in Accounting. Having graduated from Walton High School in East Cobb she knew she would return to Atlanta to start her adult life. She was an active member of Church at Wieuca in the Youth group during high school and then the Singles group when returning from college. After a 20-year career with Coca-Cola in Corporate Finance focusing on support of Accounting and Financial Reporting software, she said goodbye to the full-time corporate world. She is excited to now focus on work that provides inspiring relationships in her life within an organization whose mission is the spiritual growth and well-being of the community. As a resident of Buckhead, she knows that only God could have created this opportunity merging her years of training with work for an organization that is an integral part of her history – and just happens to be .5 mile from home! In her free time, she loves to travel, enjoys volunteering at her home church Dunwoody Baptist Church, and is an avid college football fan, eagerly anticipating the next season.

Email: BSims@wieuca.org

After School and Summer Camp Programs

Colleen Beall joined the Camp Wieuca staff as the Assistant Director in 2009. Colleen previously worked as a counselor at Camp Wieuca throughout college. She has a Bachelors in Social Work from Georgia State University. Colleen grew up in Atlanta and is a loyal Braves fan. She and her husband, Daniel, have a beautiful daughter named Eden.

Email: camp@wieuca.org

Rachel Crews joined the Camp Wieuca Staff as the Administrative Director in January 2019 and then the Church at Wieuca staff as Communications Coordinator in August 2019. Rachel helps oversee and coordinate Camp Wieuca's programs throughout the year while also managing Church at Wieuca's communications through the website, print materials, ad monitors, and social media. Rachel has a bachelors in International Studies with a minor focused in Education from the University of West Florida. Rachel previously served as the Business Manager for Wild Honey Frozen Yogurt in Pensacola, FL. She has also served in various children's ministry and international/local missions roles since 2010. Rachel's favorite Bible verse is Hebrews 11:1 "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, and the evidence of things not seen."

Email: RCrews@wieuca.org

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Jane Vlahos joined the Church at Wieuca staff as the Day School Director in January 2002. She has worked with young children for over 25 years. Jane holds a BA degree from Hofstra University in Speech and Language Pathology and attended Hofstra’s MA program of Special Education. She has a genuine love and passion for working with children and their families. During her free time she enjoys spending time with her family, cooking, reading, and volunteering at church.

Email: JVlahos@Wieuca.org

Deidre Simmons joined the Wieuca Day School staff as the Assistant Director/Logistics in October 2018. Deidre is a proud graduate of Tuskegee University and has a degree in Social Work. Prior to coming to Wieuca, she worked as a Preschool Teacher and an After School teacher. Deidre enjoys working with children of all ages. Before becoming a teacher, she was a juvenile probation officer with the State of Georgia for several years. During her time as a probation officer, she became the first school-based officer in Athens-Clark County and started a prevention initiative. In Deidre's free time, she enjoys being a mentor, dancing, playing sports, skating, and spending time with her family and friends.

Email: DSimmons@wieuca.org

Maria Zepeda joined the Wieuca Day School staff as the Director Assistant/Curriculum Specialist in 2020. Previously she had worked as the 3-year-old teacher in the Day School's preschool program starting in 2006 and then taught Pre-K in 2014. Maria is originally from Mexico City, Mexico. She grew up in Poughkeepsie, New York, and in Toronto, Canada. She has a BS in International Relations and is a certified ESL (English as a Second Language) teacher for children and adults. Maria has worked with children and families for more than 20 years as both a teacher and an English Coordinator in Mexico City, and Guadalajara in Mexico. She started her teaching career as an elementary school teacher and found her passion as an Early Childhood teacher working for the American School Foundation of Guadalajara, Mexico.

Email: MZepeda@wieuca.org

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Next Worship Service

Wieuca Road Baptist Church

After School and Summer Camp Programs