ABC Staff

Jimmy Withers
Pastor
 
Bio: Jimmy Withers was born in a Christian home on April 18, 1952, one of five children and the only son of Weldon and Wilma Withers. It was a Christian home where Christ was taught, loved and lived. The Withers family attended Calvary Baptist Church in Grand Prairie, Texas, where Dr. Earl K. Oldham was pastor. At age 12, Jimmy was born again and at age 20 he surrendered to the Gospel ministry. Jimmy’s education includes Mountainview Community College, Arlington Baptist College, post graduate work at BMA Theological Seminary. Upon graduation from Arlington Baptist in 1976, he became Minister of Youth and Music at the Calvary Baptist Church in Palestine.
 
In Palestine, Jimmy met the love of his life, Brenda Sims. They were married and now have 2 sons, Joshua and Jacob , a daughter named April, and 9 awesome grandchildren. In 1987 the Lord called Brenda and Jimmy to pastor the Aurora Baptist Church, where they still live and have ministered faithfully. God has richly blessed the ministry at Aurora with 1,000’s being saved and baptized. The Church has not only grown numerically, but spiritually as well. Bro. Withers loves to preach, see souls saved and lives dedicated to the service of the Lord Jesus Christ.
 
 
Rick & Pam Stokes
Associate Pastor & Administrative Assist. to Pastor/Ladies Ministry
 
Bio: Rick and Pam, along with daughters Jennifer and Stefanie, were called to Aurora Baptist Church in August 1995 as Youth Ministers. They came from Calvary Baptist Church in Grand Prairie, Texas, where they had attended and served in several different capacities including bus ministry and youth for many years. Rick was called into the ministry in his thirties at this church under Dr. Earl K. Oldham’s ministry. He then attended and graduated from Arlington Baptist College. Rick’s education also includes Troy State University, the University of Texas at Arlington, and the Fort Worth Theological Seminary. Rick and Pam were raised in good, godly Christian homes and have strived to pass this heritage down to their children and children’s children. Both of their dads were in the military so they grew up living all across the United States. However, Rick claims Alabama as his home state and Pam claims Texas. Rick and Pam love the LORD and His people and their heart’s desire is to serve Him continually “with gladness.” They reside in Haslet, Texas, and have three beautiful granddaughters named Lucy, Lilly, and Bridget. God has richly blessed them during their tenure at Aurora. They love the people and are so thankful God sent them here.
 
Andrew Vandergriff
Student Pastor
 
Bio: Andrew and Stacey have dedicated their lives to help spread the gospel of Jesus Christ. They encourage students to begin and strengthen their relationship with Jesus. Andrew attended and graduated from Northwest High School and later earned his bachelor’s degree in Bible/Pastoral Ministries from Arlington Baptist University. Stacey received her diploma from Boyd High School and is the receptionist at Northwest High School. By God’s mercy, Andrew began an incredible relationship with Jesus Christ. God began to stir in his heart about ministering to a culture in desperate need of Jesus Christ. In 1998 Andrew taught his first Sunday School class and in 2000 he began his tenure at Aurora Baptist Church and became the Student Pastor in 2002. Nearly two decades of youth ministry experience has made a wonderful impact on the teens in Wise County.
 
Andrew tries to establish and maintain a personal relationship with each student of his group and in doing so is able to lead them into a greater knowledge of the Lord and His Word. Andrew and Stacey are constantly available to any teen in need and sacrifices his time, energy and home to prove that. They are loved and respected by all of his students and they love each one of them with the love of Jesus and will continue to be amazing examples of Christ.
 
David Jacob
Worship Pastor
 
Bio: David was born and raised in a Christian home in Northern Virginia. At a young age he accepted Christ as his Lord and Savior. Through David’s teen years, God began to develop in him a keen interest in music and provided opportunities to serve in various ministry settings.
 
David earned a four-year music degree from George Mason University in Fairfax, Virginia. During his senior year, God developed in him a deepening passion for worship and opened the door for David to attend Liberty University in Lynchburg, Virginia to pursue a Master of Arts in Worship Studies.
 
While at Liberty, David met a psychology student named Kayla and the two were married in September of 2011. Shortly after their wedding, the couple made their home in the Niagara Region of Canada to help launch a church plant, where they served for almost a decade. In January of 2021, David and his family moved to Aurora, TX, where David became the Worship Pastor of the Aurora Baptist Church. David and Kayla share a heart for the Lord and a desire to raise their children to know and serve Christ. They have four daughters, Lily, Ivy, Garland, and Poppy, and two sons, Abram and Noble. Contact: david@aurorabaptistchurch.com
Jacob Withers
Children’s Pastor
 
Bio: Jacob was born into the home of Jimmy and Brenda Withers on February 26, 1989. From that time on he attended Aurora Baptist Church. At age 5 Jacob asked Jesus Christ to be his personal Savior. By age 1 2 Jacob knew he was called to full time vocational ministry. Then, at age 18 Jacob started studying at Liberty University in Lynchburg, Virginia where he graduated in 2011with a Bachelors of Science in Religion with a focus on Youth Ministry. He is currently completing his Master’s Degree. While Studying at Liberty he met the love of his life Alyssa and the married in June of 2011. In August they came on full time at Aurora to work with the children. Jake and Alyssa have 5 children Karlee, Jakelyn, Autumn, Walker, and Bentley . Jake and Alyssa love kids and love to share the gospel to our kids in a safe, fun and exciting way.
 
Cade Capps
Mission’s and Ministry Intern
 
Bio: Cade and his beautiful wife Judith have felt the call of the Lord on their lives to be full time missionaries. While Cade finishes his degree and some mission training he is serving at the Aurora Baptist Church. Cade was saved at 8 years old in a chapel service at Minnetonka Christian Camp. At age 17 he felt the call of the Lord to full-time vocational ministry and at age 20 God revealed His calling to the mission field while on a mission trip, with his then fiancée, in Mexico. Judith and Cade are gifted musicians, skilled teachers and great servants to the Lord and His Church. Aurora Baptist Church is blessed to have them for this season in their lives.