During a special business conference on Sunday, May 12, 2024, we voted to call Thomas Sewell to be our pastor. Thomas surrendered to the call of ministry at the age of 16. Thomas received his B.A. in Religion from East Texas Baptist University with an emphasis in Youth Ministry and Church Administration in December 2007. He graduated with his Masters of Theological Studies with a Concentration in Cross-Cultural Missions from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in December 2024. After serving as Minister to Students for 9 years in Texas, he served about 6 years as Student Minister at Central Baptist Church in NLR, before transitioning into his role as Associate Pastor of Missions, Operations, and Discipleship. Thomas’ two favorite things about ministry are seeing Christians lead others to Jesus and watching people grow on the mission field. He and his wife, Jenny, are the proud parents of three sons: Eason, Canon, and Judson and two daughters: Jordyn and Ivy. Thomas enjoys spending time with family, cowboy cooking, camping, and woodworking.
Micah joined our church staff as Interim Student Pastor on August 28, 2024. He grew up mostly in Jena, Louisiana in a Christian family with his father, a pastor, and his mother, a nurse. Micah is a middle child with an older sister and a younger brother. After several moves from his father serving different churches, his family moved to Lonoke, AR, where Micah graduated from Lonoke High School. He is currently a senior at Ouachita Baptist University. Some of his hobbies include playing and listening to music, fishing, playing games with friends, hiking, and anything else outdoors.
Scott began serving as the FBC Director of Music Ministries in February of 2017. He has been singing in church since the age of 3 and had 15 years of experience leading music in worship services before coming to Sheridan. In addition to leading praise and worship music during Sunday morning worship time, Scott directs our adult choir and leads our praise team. Scott is bi-vocational owning his own roofing business. He is married to Suzie, and they have three adult children: Katelyn, married to Taylor Beeman; Karis, married to Jace Shellnut; and Logan, married to Anna; along with two grandchildren: Presley and Brooks Beeman. In addition to music, Scott enjoys golfing, hunting, and fishing in his spare time.
Fara has served as the Director of our Children's Ministry since September 2000 after working several years in finance and as a homemaker. Her duties at FBC include leading TeamKID, Vacation Bible School, the children's Sunday School program, new Christian training classes, and children's summer activities. Fara is married to Keith, and they have one adult son, Alexander. He and his wife, Shelby, have blessed Fara with two grandsons, Benjamin and Samuel. In addition to her work at church, Fara enjoys traveling and fine dining.
Jannette retired from banking this past December 2023, from Peoples Bank in Sheridan as Sr. Vice President of Operations where she had been in banking for 45 years. Jannette has served FBC Sheridan as Church Treasurer and Preschool Teacher for several years. As of August 19, 2024, she was hired as our Director of Preschool Ministries. Jannette has been married to Charles, a local business owner, for 50 years, and they have two adult daughters: Beth Madar and Melissa Conaway, who is married to Jeff. Jannette and Charles have four grandchildren: Lydia Madar and Landry, Ayla, & Jones Conaway. In her spare time, Jannette enjoys watching football, volleyball, hiking to waterfalls, and spending time with her grandchildren.
Melissa is a former nurse and EMT who went back to college and obtained her degree in Management Information Systems from Central Baptist College in Conway. She began serving FBC as Church Administrative Assistant in February 2017. She welcomes all visitors to our church office as well as assists the pastor and other church staff members with day-to-day tasks. Melissa and her husband, Danny, enjoy traveling all around the state. Melissa also enjoys photographing nature, hydroponic gardening in her greenhouse, and reading.
Marla became the Director of Communications and Publications in August of 2015 after a 31-year career as a public school educator. She graduated from Ouachita Baptist University with a BSE in English in 1984 and later obtained MSE degrees at Henderson State University in elementary counseling and the University of Central Arkansas in library media. Her duties at FBC involve creating all paper and electronic communications of the church. Marla is a lifelong resident of Sheridan and a third generation member of FBC Sheridan. She and her husband, Mike, a high school baseball coach, have raised three children: Whitney, married to Cory Johnson; Landon Moore, married to Laney; and Sarah, married to Jacob Holloway. Marla and Mike have two grandchildren: Jake Allen Johnson and Courtney Johnson and two foster grandchildren. Marla enjoys reading, singing, camping, and going to ballgames.
Nikki graduated from Arkansas Tech University in 2012, where she obtained a degree in Accounting and Finance. She has been an accountant for the past few years at a local business. She began serving FBC as Church Finance Director in January 2020. She takes care of all financial matters related to the church. Nikki has been married to Jordan since March 2012. They have three sons: Isaac, Thomas, and Levi. She enjoys spending her spare time with her family.
Teri became the FBC Mother's Day Out Director in August 2022. She received her Associates of Arts Degree from SEARK and then continued in her studies at Henderson State University in Early Childhood Education. She has served in the MDO program since its beginnings 12 years ago. Teri has been married to Ray Owens since 2003, and they are members of Little Creek Missionary Baptist Church. In her spare time, Teri enjoys being with her nieces and nephews and attending their sporting events. She also enjoys photography.
