Staff

Pastor David is a Missouri native who has been serving at STJOEFBC as Lead Pastor since August 2019 coming to us from Marceline, MO where he had previously served as Pastor of Bethany Baptist Church for 12.5 years. Before that Pastor David served for over 7 years as the Bi-Vocational Pastor of Oakland Baptist Church of Clarksburg, MO. David was born in 1975 and he graduated High School in 1993. David came to faith in Jesus Christ at the age of 7 and was baptized shortly thereafter. David attended what is now Missouri State University out of Springfield, MO for 2.5 years pursuing a degree in Computer Science before completing several years later an Associate of Theology Degree and then a Bachelor of Theology Degree from Slidell Baptist Seminary after spending several years in restaurant management. David has since completed his Masters of Divinity (MDiv) during his time at STJOEFBC. David married his wife Adrienne in 1996 and they have two adult daughters, Kimberley and Rebecka. Feeling the call into the Gospel Ministry while working as a Restaurant Manager David surrendered to preach and was licensed into the ministry in 1998 and later ordained in 2001. David has been pastoring since January 2000 striving to serve God and His people in a down-to-earth fashion in the ways and Truth of God to the best of his abilities in the power of God. The heart of Pastor David is to connect people to God and one another in a growing and real fashion through a local group of believers doing life together to know God more and to make Him more known. David looks forward to the opportunity to do just that with people like you all over St. Joe and beyond for years to come.

Pastor Matt was born in Chicago but has called Missouri home since 1984. He began serving at STJOEFBC in August of 2023. Matt has held various roles in churches throughout Missouri ranging from youth pastor to senior pastor and seemingly everything in between.

Matt has an education degree from Northwest Missouri State University in Maryville and has spent the greater part of the past 30 years in education. Additionally, Matt has a Master’s Degree in Biblical Studies from Calvary Theological Seminary and is currently pursuing a second Master’s Degree in Applied Theology from Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. In addition to his work at STJOEFBC, Matt serves in the Learning Center at Smithville High School where he works helping students recover lost credits and prepare for taking the High School Equivalency Tests.

Matt and his wife JoEllen were married in 1995 and have four sons: Nate, Sam, Jake, and Eli.

Matt feels called to engage the youth and congregation in ministry that leads them towards deeper maturity in Christ, lives of service, and a connection with this particular body of Christ.

Lydia Embrey was born in St. Joseph, Missouri, and raised in a Christian home. She graduated from Lafayette High School and Missouri Western State University with a teaching degree.

She taught elementary school for two years and married Josh Embrey before starting her family as a stay-at-home mother. She currently homeschools 6 of her 7 children; one having graduated.

Lydia has led music in several churches in the area starting at Faith United Baptist Church where her father pastored. She has a heart for serving the Lord, leading her children to the Lord,  and pleasing God’s Church to worship God in a way that glorifies and proclaims Him.

Jane is the Ministry Assistant and Administrative Assistant at STJOEFBC all rolled into one completing all of the day-to-day tasks around the Church Office. Before coming to STJOEFBC in 2001 she worked for the State of Missouri in an administrative support role. She is a graduate of South Harrison High School and Platt College. The contributions that Jane makes each day to the ministry of STJOEFBC are incredible and we are grateful to have her wealth of experience and her servant’s heart supporting our ministerial staff and the whole church every day.

Rose is our Church Custodian and she has been serving STJOEFBC since 2008 where she has also been a faithful member since 2009. Rose is a local graduate from Benton High School and she brings a wide variety of experience to her service here at STJOEFBC having most previously worked as custodian at Patee Park Baptist Church. Many of the contributions that Rose makes each week are done behind the scenes, but the results are always front and center. Her efforts and heart of humble service is always appreciated even if not stated nearly enough.