Our Staff

Rev. Aaron Austin

Rev. Aaron Austin

Associate Pastor of Worship

From writing songs for worship to designing websites and producing podcasts, Aaron enjoys any opportunity to be creative. He graduated with a Master of Divinity from Baptist Seminary of Kentucky in 2008.

He has served as Worship Leader at Calvary Baptist Church in Lexington, KY, Worship Pastor at Christ Covenant North in Polkville, NC, and Minister to Youth & College Students at First Baptist Church in Williamsburg, KY. In addition to his ministry jobs, Aaron has worked in a variety of settings, from a university ESL program to tech startups.

He and Melissa live in Richmond, KY with their two children, Alex and Jake, and their cats Ace and Dot. He's most at home on the back porch writing songs, stories, poems or alliterative grocery lists.

Rev. Charles Conkin

Rev. Charles Conkin

Associate Pastor

Charles has been a part of the pastoral staff since 2013. He brings a fresh perspective to the issues of many progressive Baptist congregations.

Charles finished his Master of Divinity degree from Truett Seminary at Baylor University in 2008. He then served as Minister to Youth at Lake Shore Baptist Church in Waco, TX for several years before coming home to the bluegrass.

He enjoys cycling, cooking and keeping up with pop-culture.

Lois Birdwell

Lois Birdwell

Music Director

A native of Carrier Mills in Southern Illinois, Ms. Birdwell grew up in the First Baptist Church where her father was the Choir Director. She holds a Bachelor's Degree from Union University (TN) and Master's Degree in music from Southern Illinois University in Carbondale.

Lois has taught school music at all levels, from elementary to middle school, high school and college. She began teaching music in Kentucky public schools in 2000 and most recently served as Choral Director and General Music teacher at Beaumont Middle School in Lexington.

Since 1987, Lois has accompanied and directed church music in Baptist, Presbyterian, Episcopal, and Christian / Disciples of Christ churches in various locations.

She resides in Lexington with her husband Dr. John Cody Birdwell, who is the Director of Bands for the University of Kentucky. She has two grown children, Jonathan and Kelly, and a stepdaughter Maire.

Mark de Alba

Mark de Alba

Organist

Juliette Wallace

Juliette Wallace

Assistant to the Ministerial Staff

Thomas Lyons

Thomas Lyons

Custodian

Thomas Lyons is the custodian at Central Baptist Church, responsible for keeping our building and facilities in clean working order. He has been part of the CBC staff for 18 years.

Thomas is also very talented as an artist and enjoys building and flying modular aircraft.

Kathy Keaton

Financial Recorder

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