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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Rick has been serving the Church at Wieuca as Minister of Worship Arts & Pastoral Care since 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 staff for Church at Wieuca as Minister of Children and Families in September 2015. Angie previously served in various preschool/children 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 and developing an incredible place for children to learn. 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.

Email: ADurden@Wieuca.org

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 two chubby guinea pigs named Bugsy and Nibbit and their newest addition is a puppy named Maira Savage Guthas."

Email: AGuthas@wieuca.org

Dr. Howard serves as the Lead Pastor for Church at Wieuca. His ministry objective is to encourage and equip Church at Wieuca for innovative and healthy practices that lead to effective ministry in the Buckhead/Atlanta area. Born in Anniston, AL, Dr. Barry has had a rich life of ministry. He received a Master of Divinity in 1991 from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary and then a Doctorate of Ministry in 1998 from Columbia Seminary. Dr. Howard 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 in training future pastors. Dr. Barry Howard has a beautiful wife named Amanda. His interests include golf, travel, and writing.
Jeremiah 29:11 "For I know the plans I have for you," says the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."

Email: BHoward@wieuca.org

Joel Mills is Director of Activities for Church at Wieuca and Camp Wieuca since 2003. He also coordinates Wieuca Hoops, the church's basketball leagues for children and adults throughout the season, as well as church-wide social events. 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 degree. Joel is an avid UNC basketball fan and enjoys watching Braves baseball team.

Email: JMills@wieuca.org

Jamila Smith joined the staff for Church at Wieuca as a Pastoral Care Intern in January of 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, and most importantly, love on her nephew Shiloh. She is excited to embark on this new journey with 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

Joshua (Josh) Speight joined the staff for Church at Wieuca as the Associate Pastor in February 2021. Josh previously served as Manager of Leadership Development for the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship. Josh has a Master of Divinity - Theology from Truett Theological Seminary at Baylor University in Waco, Texas as well as a Bachelor of Science - Chemistry from Georgetown College in Georgetown, Kentucky. He is married to Rev. Rebecca (Becky) Caswell-Speight and they are proud parents of two daughters, Ainsley and Evelyn.

Email: JSpeight@wieuca.org

Dr. Wilbanks previously served as Wieuca’s fifth senior pastor 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 assists in maintaining and cleaning the building facilities at Church at Wieuca.

Rachel joined Camp Wieuca as the Administrative Director in January 2019 and then became the Communications Coordinator for Church at Wieuca in August 2019. Rachel assists the communications for Church at Wieuca through the website, printed materials, ad monitors, and social media to help ensure the congregation and public stay both informed and connected to all of Church at Wieuca's activities and events.

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 joined Church at Wieuca in May 2022. Her role is to maintain the cleanliness of the church by cleaning various areas of the church and helping with the setup and breakdown of different on-campus events.

David Huff has been serving the Church at Wieuca as their Financial Manager since 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 assists the music director in preparations for worship services each week.
Email: KHutchens@wieuca.org

Oliver joined the Church at Wieuca in September 2019 after 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 three beautiful kids: Sierra Grace, Samiya Faith, and Oliver Jackson Jr. 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 joined the Church at Wieuca staff in September 1998. Her duties include assisting the Pastor as well as the other Ministers on staff, overseeing any calendar items, and updating both membership details and Sunday school records online. Pam and her husband, Ken, joined Wieuca in 1986 and raised 3 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 moved from Jacksonville, Florida, to Atlanta in 2010. She has worked as an office administrative assistant for more than fifteen years. She is a flautist and was previously a part of the music ministry at First Baptist Atlanta, where she is a member of the church.
Email: BPadgett@wieuca.org

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Dylan assists in maintaining and cleaning the building facilities for Church at Wieuca as well as being a Camp Counselor for Camp Wieuca. Dylan grew up in Atlanta and attended the church as a kid. He is recently 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.

Steve oversees Church at Wieuca's landscaping.

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 has been an active member of Church at Wieuca in the Youth group during high school and 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 always eagerly anticipating the next season.
Email: BSims@wieuca.org

After School and Summer Camp Programs

Colleen Beall is the Assistant Director of Activities and Camp Wieuca since 2009. Colleen previously worked as a counselor at Camp Wieuca throughout college. She graduated from Georgia State University in 2008 with a Bachelors in Social Work. Colleen and her husband, Daniel, grew up in Atlanta and enjoy spending time with their family and their animals.
Email: camp@wieuca.org

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Jane Vlahos joined the staff of Church at Wieuca in January 2002 and currently serves as the Director of the Day School. 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.

Jane is married for 31 years and has one son who recently graduated college. During her free time she enjoys spending time with her family, cooking, reading, and volunteering at church.
Email: JVlahos@Wieuca.org

Deidre joined the Wieuca Day School 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 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.

Maria joined the Wieuca Day School in 2006 as a 3-year-old teacher in the Preschool program and then began teaching Pre-K in 2014. As of 2020, Maria works as the Day School's Director Assistant/Curriculum Specialist.
Email: MZepeda@wieuca.org

Next Worship Service

Wieuca Road Baptist Church

After School and Summer Camp Programs