OUR STAFF

JASON EDWARDS
SENIOR PASTOR
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Believe it or not, sometimes the person who has the most difficult time finding a meaningful community in a church is the pastor, but that’s not true at Second Baptist. I tell people all the time that if I wasn’t a pastor and our family was looking for a church in Liberty; we’d choose Second Baptist. That is the honest truth. God called me into vocational ministry when I was 17 years old, and I treasure that calling. But for me, it is also a special treasure to be in a place where I can be more than a pastor serving a congregation. At Second Baptist, I also feel the freedom to simply be a person sharing a journey with God’s people, who are also our people. That is a refreshing gift, one that I hope you’ll come to know here as well.

I came to Second Baptist in 2009 from a Pastoral Residency program in Dallas, Texas. Before that, my wife Christy and I served overseas among immigrants and refugees, first in France, then in Thailand. I have also served as both a youth and a campus minister. I grew up in rural northeast Texas, and have earned degrees from East Baptist University (B.A. in Religion and English), Baylor University’s Truett Seminary (M.Div.), and Fuller Theological Seminary (D.Min.)  

My wife Christy and I met in seminary and were married on campus there in 2003. It is a gift to have Christy as a partner in life, family, and ministry, one that I try not to take for granted. Life has a depth and breadth with her that it never would without her. Christy and I enjoy the gift and privilege of parenting three wonderful children: Jackson, Luke, and Norah. God brings so much joy and insight into our lives through them.  

Finally, I am a big fan of college football (Sic ‘em Bears!), eating good Tex-Mex (in Missouri?), drinking good coffee (dark roast), experiencing new places (16 countries and counting), and enjoying good stories (watching, reading and hearing). I’d love to hear yours sometime soon.

CONSTANCE (CONNIE) MCNEILL (T, W,T; 8:30 - 4:30)
ASSOCIATE PASTOR OF ADMINISTRATION
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The love of travel and cross-cultural learning broaden my worldview and my culinary interests. I come from a great line of wonderful southern farm cooks, but my cooking interest is more global with a few family favorites thrown in. One of the most relaxing things I can do is spend time in the kitchen, adapting a recipe, and serving up dishes for family and friends. It is a sacred space to gather around the table together.

CHARLES SMITH
ASSOCIATE PASTOR FOR STUDENT MINISTRY
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For me, juggling is not only a hobby and easy source of entertainment but also a metaphor for life. Balancing ministry, faith, and family is an incredibly rewarding, and sometimes chaotic, experience. In Student Ministry I am blessed to have the opportunity to minister alongside students, helping them experience God’s love and grow and shape their faith and identity in God’s image. I also have three children: Finn, who blesses me with a non-stop stream of questions and excitement, and a set of twins, Eleanor and Asher, who bring their own mix of chaos and love to my life. Between ministry, three kids, one dog (Wrigley), and one cat (Phog), I have a lot of balls in the air. But I juggle them all with joy and love.

In my downtime I greatly enjoy reading classic and fantasy literature: Faulkner, Hemingway, and Vonnegut, as well as Harry Potter, LOTR, and all things Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman. I drown myself in sardonic comedies, crossword puzzles, trivia games, and traveling anywhere and everywhere. In my life the balancing act continues, and I wouldn’t have it any other way.

CHIP HANDRICH
ASSOCIATE PASTOR OF WORSHIP AND MUSIC
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I was born and raised in Massillon, Ohio (go Buckeyes!) My lifelong love of music, especially vocal and choral music, and my calling to ministry created my desire to serve in a church that places high value on the ministry of music which is one of the reasons that I love Second Baptist. Since moving to Liberty in 2018, I have considered it a joy and privilege to conduct our excellent choir, as well as to work with so many outstanding instrumentalists and directors of the student choir, three children’s choirs, and three handbell choirs. I even get to lead the contemporary worship service (using my 1994 Taylor 714). My wife, Marcie, and I have found Second to be a place of loving community and great vision for ministry. We have three grown sons, Jason, Aaron and Jared, and seven grandchildren. In addition to music, I love antiquing, taking long drives, camping, reading, and the beach.

ANGIE FULLER
CHILDREN’S PASTOR
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My education background provided seventeen formative years of teaching at multiple age levels from three-year-olds through eighth grade. But I have also been shaped through 30 years of volunteering in various children’s and music ministries in church congregations. What a joy and honor it is to follow God’s call to use my skills and passions in new ways to influence younger generations in my own church! I love that Second Baptist values children—affirming their wiggles, imaginations, and questions—and allows them to experience a church family where different abilities, experiences, and opinions all are recognized and used for the greater good.

Family is one of my most treasured gifts—from my upbringing in Iowa to the home I now share with my husband and two children. Parenting continues to help my husband and I learn, laugh, and stay active as we enthusiastically support our children here at church and in their academics, sports, and music activities at Liberty High School. What else feeds my soul? Jogging or walking at sunrise, being in the mountains or at a lake, baking, music, games, mysteries, and dark chocolate—especially in warm oatmeal peanut butter chocolate chip cookies!

ALENA VAUGHN
PASTORAL RESIDENT
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I am an alumna of East Texas Baptist University and hold an M.Div. from Logsdon Seminary. I have served in many varying types of ministries, all leading me to discern my calling to be a Senior Pastor. I love to study and contemplate the creativity of the Divine– to appreciate the imagination of God seen in all of humanity, in the marvels of our environment, in proactive innovation, and beyond. 

A few fun facts about me: I am the proud dog mom to Pax, my rambunctious Sheepadoodle. And, there are only a few truths I hold as absolute-- 1) standup comedy is inspired, 2) one can never have too many potted plants, 3) movies watched in silence are awkward, and 4) the world would be a better place if we all strived to be as kind as Paul Rudd.

RACHEL MUMAW-SCHWESER
PASTORAL RESIDENT
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Rachel was born and raised in Portland, OR but has lived in Dallas for eight years where she graduated from SMU’s Perkins School of Theology as part of their Baptist House of Studies program. She worked in college campus ministry with UKirk at Southern Methodist University and Synergy Wesley at the University of Texas at Dallas. During seminary, she also worked as director of family ministries at Ash Lane UMC and with young adults at White's Chapel.

And now, the fun stuff ...

• Prefers Star Trek to Star Wars

• Has two cats named Andromeda and Cassiopeia (aka Andy and Cassie)

• Favorite board game: Azul

• Favorite book: "The Book Thief" by Markus Zusak

• Favorite candle scents: cashmere and lavender (not necessarily together)

• Favorite tea: cinnamon

• Favorite cookie: snickerdoodle

• Favorite holiday: Christmas!

CHARLIE HUGHES
SENIOR ADULT MINISTRIES COORDINATOR
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I began bike riding in earnest in the early ‘70s. My children and I have ridden multiple MS150s with Ed Chasteen. We’ve also taken biking vacations in Vermont and Europe. Hanging in the entryway at home is a poster that says, “The Journey is the Destination.” I am learning to live my life in this way.

JANE BACKENSTOSS  (M and F; 8:30 – 4:30)
MINISTRY ASSISTANT FOR CONGREGATIONAL SUPPORT
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I have four amazing children and am the very proud Yaya of eleven grandchildren.  They are great treasures, and I love being involved with and attending all the kid’s activities, including volleyball, soccer, gymnastics, and music classes with the younger ones.

Some people might consider me to be a crazy dog lady as one of my life goals “is to pet all the dogs.”  My Flat-Coated Retriever, Beethoven, and I love our walks. We spend lots of time throwing and retrieving tennis balls.

I love traveling and have visited some amazing places.  When not on the road, I really enjoy sewing and reading.  Making costumes and reading historical fiction is great fun!

KARRI GEORGE (T, W, TH; 8:30 – 4:30)
MINISTRY ASSISTANT FOR FINANCE
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Christmas is my favorite holiday! I can be found year-round organizing The Christmas Store at 2BC for families who can use a little extra help during that time of year. I also work part-time as the Ministry Assistant for Finance.

HEATHER LEWIS (M – TH; 9:00 – 2:00)
MINISTRY ASSISTANT COMMUNICATIONS TEAM LEADER
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I’m a busy mom to two boys and wife to Nathan. My days are filled with carpool, running the boys to music lessons and sports practices, breaking up Nerf gun wars, and listening to stories about video games and Minecraft. Even in the middle of this busy season of life, I remain a devoted bookworm. If I have a quiet moment, you’ll find me curled up with a book or trying a new recipe.

JANET HILL (M and W; 10:00 – 2:00)
MINISTRY ASSISTANT COMMUNICATIONS TEAM
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Jerry and I spent many hours on sports fields of all kinds, watching our two sons and one daughter play everything. By far and away, my favorite sport is baseball, and my favorite team, of course, is the Kansas City Royals. With six grandchildren, I see hours of sitting in the sun, rain, cold, and heat cheering on sports teams with small players in my future. I even bought new camp chairs just for the games to come.

LISA KOPALA (T, W, TH; 8:30 – 4:30)
MINISTRY ASSISTANT FOR CONGREGATIONAL SUPPORT
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I think my cell phone thinks it’s smarter than me. It changes the texts that people see. This never happens when I write with a pen. UGH! AutoCorrect strikes again!

JULIE WILLIAMS
ORGANIST

Julie has been joyfully leading the congregation from the organ bench since January of 2019. She has also served as one of the directors of the children’s choirs and enjoys volunteering for VBS and Masterpiece Arts Camp.

Julie is in her 11th year of teaching and is currently the music director at Franklin Elementary in Liberty. When she’s not in the middle of a project or craft, she can probably be found searching Pinterest for a new idea to begin! Julie doesn’t sit down too often but when she does, it’s to hold a sweet baby or spend time with her big girls.

SUZIE GOERTZ
VOLUNTEER DIRECTOR OF HOSPITALITY
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Coffee cups have a handle that makes them helpful and they contain something warm and inviting. That’s how we hope to be on the Hospitality team here at 2BC – warm, inviting, and helpful.

I have been a teacher for a very long time. It brings me great joy! When I retired the second time, I decided I still wasn’t finished teaching, so I chose a puppy and named her Juneau. I still get to teach and, thankfully, she brings me great joy!

BECKY GOSSETT
SECOND FRIENDS DIRECTOR
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I have been married for 37 years and have three grown children. Before coming to Second Friends, I worked as a special education teacher, preschool teacher, parent educator, and public school administrator. I am happiest when I am with friends and family, traveling, or working with young children.

LAURIE SUTTON
KITCHEN COORDINATOR
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Laurie is married to Jerry, and they have two grown children. They also have two wonderful grandsons. In her spare time, Laurie enjoys spending time with her family, cooking, reading, and serving others. If you need help with food for an event, contact Laurie