MEET OUR STAFF

Phillip Jones - Senior Pastor

Phillip Jones has served as the Senior Pastor of Friendly Community Baptist Church since June of 2001.  As a native of Wilmington, North Carolina, he holds a Bachelors degree in Church Ministries and a Masters Degree in Theology from Liberty Baptist Theological Seminary, Lynchburg, VA.    Surrendering to the call to preach at the age of 16, Pastor Phillip is living his lifelong dream of full-time pastoral ministry in a local church.   Under his leadership Friendly Community Baptist Church has experienced steady growth and the birth of numerous ministries.  

Pastor Phillip’s passion includes taking the Church to the community and encouraging believers to reach their full potential for Jesus Christ.   He is blessed to work alongside some of the best church staff anywhere and one of his greatest joys in life is found in serving the good folks of Friendly Community Baptist Church.

He is married to the former Miss Kelly Renee Woolard of Sneads Ferry, NC; he and Kelly are blessed with three incredible sons: Phillip, Samuel, and Jacob.    Phillip’s hobbies include anything outdoors, especially fishing; he enjoys quality time with his family, and watching Sunday night baseball.  

Aaron Cramer - Associate Pastor

Pastor Aaron Cramer has been with Friendly since June of 2006.  He is Associate Pastor of Students and Missions.  Pastor Aaron offers leadership to Junior High and Senior High Ministries here.  He loves to lead worship with his guitar, plan events, hang-out with the students, and teach practical lessons that speak with, not at the students.  His other areas of responsibility include overseeing the Global Missions ministries.  He is also the teacher for the Adult Bible study on Wednesday Evenings. 

He was saved at a young age and called to ministry while on a mission trip to Peru, South America in 2002.  He is originally from Egg Harbor City, NJ and came to us from Winston-Salem, NC where he was attending college and active in the Student Ministries of Triad Baptist Church. 

Pastor Aaron majored in Missionary Aviation and Bible with a missions minor from Piedmont Baptist College.  He is currently working on his Master’s Degree from Liberty Theological Seminary.

Aaron and his wife Wendy met while working as counselors at Lake Ann Baptist Camp in Northern MI.  She is a 2nd grade teacher and they have 2 dogs:  Darcey and Lucy!

Michelle Mills - Ministerial Assistant

Mechelle grew up in Monroe, NC and moved to Pender County in 1989 after graduating with a Bachelor of Fine Arts from Maryland Institute College of Art in Baltimore. Mechelle has attended Friendly since 2004 and serving in the position of Church Secretary since January 2005. Currently, Mechelle is the Commander of our Awana Clubs, which ministers to about 30 children ages 3yrs through 5th grades. Mechelle areas of ministry include working alongside and assisting all Pastors, coordinating the media and public relations for the church. Contact Mechelle for prayer requests, bulletin announcements, facilities scheduling, church supplies, etc.

Mechelle and husband, David were married in August 1995 and they have one daughter, Eden born in 2001 and one son, Jade born in 2002. David currently serves as a deacon here at Friendly.

Gwen Balkcum - Worship Leader / Financial Analyst

Gwen Balkcum has been a member of Friendly Community Baptist Church since 2002.  She grew up in Duplin County, NC and has been singing since she was a child. She was saved at an early age and has always been involved in church worship ministry.   She has traveled the Southeast United States singing with various southern gospel groups.                                               

Since first attending Friendly, Gwen has been active in several ministries, including worship, children, and youth. In 2009 she joined the church staff as the worship leader.  She also assumed the role of  church business administrator, bringing with her more than 15 years of accounting and administration experience. Gwen and her husband, Mark, have two children and live on the Northeast Cape Fear river in Burgaw.

Nancy Kocsi - Children's Enrichment Ministries Director

Nancy Jones Kocsi is a native of Pender County.  Nancy has a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Management and is a certified Parents As Teachers Educator.  Her background is in Early Childhood Education which includes Child Care Resource and Referral Director, Parent Specialist, Quality Enhancement Coordinator for Child Care Centers, and facilitator of the Grandparent Support Group program in Sampson County which was presented as a state model at the North Carolina Department of Aging Conference for the fiscal year 2003-2004 and to the U.S. Senate.

Nancy’s vision for preschool ministry  is first, to build relationships with children, parents, and teachers in order to help them experience God’s love and second, to create an environment where children can grow, learn, and develop as God intends.  Her ministry reflects the desire to bring families of the congregation and the surrounding communities into a closer relationship with Jesus Christ.

Nancy’s enjoys spending time with her family. She is inspired daily by the faithfulness of Friendly’s staff and church family as they join their efforts to grow God’s Kingdom.

Joe Patterson - Minister of Education

Joe Patterson joined the staff of Friendly Community Baptist Church in 2009.  He has a Bachelors degree in Theology and is working on his Masters Degree in Theology from Andersonville Theological Seminary.  Joe received the Founder’s Medal for Outstanding Leadership at Langston Bible Institute in 2006-2007. 

Joe has a strong passion for leading lost souls to the saving knowledge of Jesus.   He teaches Sunday School, leads small groups, and preaches at every available opportunity.  Joe organized and started the C∙A∙R∙E (Christians Actively Reaching Everyone) Ministry at Friendly.  He leads the C∙A∙R∙E Ministry by actively demonstrating compassion for others.   He has attended numerous Evangelism and Sunday School Conferences and willingly shares his love of our Savior. 

Joe is married to Joanne Patterson.  They have three children, six grandchildren, one great grandchild and a dog named Lady.