Our Staff

Ministerial Staff

Gil McKee

Senior Pastor

Gil McKee began his ministry as Senior Pastor of First Baptist Church, Tuscaloosa in March 2000. He surrendered to the call of God into vocational ministry in 1978. “God changed the direction of my call from music to preaching in 1983. Next to salvation, the call of God to serve him in full-time vocational ministry is the most humbling privilege of my life.”

He earned a Bachelor of Music (B.M.) degree from Hardin-Simmons University in Abilene, Texas; a Master of Divinity (M.Div.) from Southwestern Baptist Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas and a Doctor of Ministry (D.Min.) from Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Kansas City, Missouri.

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Kris Sullivan

Executive Pastor

After 24 years in the business world, Kris Sullivan was called to First Baptist Church in 2007 following what Kris refers to as “a season of earnest prayer and surrender to the Lord asking Him to show me His will for my life. When I look over my shoulder, I clearly see the reasons He has called me here and I know He is preparing me for things to come.”

Kris earned a Bachelors of Science degree in Commerce and Business Administration from the University of Alabama in 1983. He earned the SPHR credential in the field of Human Resources in 2003 and was re-certified in 2006.

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Keith Pugh

Associate Pastor | Seniors

Keith Pugh joined the First Baptist family as the associate pastor of our missions and mens' ministries in January of 2019. Keith joins First Baptist after a long line of serving the Lord in ministry, including as the co-pastor of Alberta Baptist Church in Tuscaloosa. He graduated from the University of Alabama with a bachelors in general business education, and received a Masters of Divinity from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. He and his wife Teresa have three children: Keith, Jr., Katie, and Kameron, and eleven grandchildren.

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Joe Ziegler

Worship Pastor

Joe Ziegler began serving as Minister of Music and Worship at First Baptist August 5, 2012. In addition to leading worship and directing the Worship Choir, Joe also leads the Prime Time Singers (senior adult choir) and the Revelation Student Choir.
A native of Decatur, AL, Joe has served churches in Alabama and Tennessee. He completed his undergraduate degree from Samford University in 1995 and graduate degree from Southwestern Seminary in 1998.

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Joe Armour

Connections Pastor

Since the fall of 1987 Joe Armour has served on church staffs in the ministry areas of adult education, administration, and outreach in Mississippi, Kentucky, Tennessee, and Alabama. He began his ministry as the Minister to Adults and Outreach at First Baptist Church – Tuscaloosa, AL, in the summer of 2006. His primary responsibilities at First Baptist Church include the Life Groups Ministry for adults and small group Bible studies for adults on Sunday and Wednesday evenings. Other responsibilities include the Discover First Ministry and the First Impressions Ministry.

He earned a BS and an MS degree in Agronomy from Mississippi State University, and also holds two degrees from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary: Master of Arts in Religious Education and Master of Divinity.

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Beth Yates

Minister to Women

Beth Yates joined the staff of First Baptist Church in 2004. She is responsible for our ministry to and with women.

She earned a Masters of Music in Church Music from Ouachita Baptist University in 1985 and a Masters of Education in Childhood Education from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in 1988. After graduation from seminary, she spent 25 years in preschool and children’s ministry, the last 10 of those years at First Baptist Tuscaloosa. In 2014 Beth transitioned to leading First Baptist’s Women’s Ministry.

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RJ Voorhees

Spiritual Development Pastor

RJ Voorhees began his ministry as College Pastor at First Baptist in August 2016. He previously served as College Minister at First Baptist Church in Columbia, South Carolina.

RJ has a Bachelor of Science in Sociology from the Florida State University, Master of Divinity degree from Samford University’s Beeson Divinity School, and a Doctorate of Ministry in Strategic Leadership and Executive Administration from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary.

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Jody Gambrell

Student Pastor

Jody Gambrell began his ministry as Student Pastor at First Baptist in February 2014 after serving churches in Birmingham, Alabama and Pensacola, Florida. Jody’s area of ministry includes middle school and high school students.

Jody has a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Alabama at Birmingham and a Master of Divinity degree from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary.

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David Jennings

Children's Pastor

David joined the ministry team at First Baptist Tuscaloosa in 2018. Prior to his service here, David was the Children’s minister at First Baptist Baton Rouge. David also worked at Group Publishing where he aided in the development of Children’s level curriculum.

David received his bachelor’s degree from Jacksonville State University in Jacksonville, AL.

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Nathan Verghese

College Pastor

Nathan graduated from the University of Alabama in 2020 with a B.S. in Psychology . In August 2020 he began pursuing a Master of Divinity from Beeson Divinity School. During his years as a student at Alabama, Nathan was involved on our college student leadership team and also served on staff with our student ministry at FBCT.

After serving for 2 years in our Fellowship program, Nathan joined our staff as an Associate minster in June 2022. In Summer 2023, Nathan became the college pastor at First Baptist Church Tuscaloosa.

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