West End Baptist Church is blessed with a dedicated staff. Although our senior pastor position is vacant, we have an intentional interim pastor who, along with the rest of our staff, is leading the church effectively during the interim. The church is growing and ministering thanks to the dedication of our members and the hard work of our staff. Here are some of the folks you will want to know:
Dr. John Tadlock
John Tadlock is the Intentional Interim Pastor. After more than 23 years on the staff of the Virginia Baptist Mission Board, 17 ½ of those years as Team Leader for the Collegiate Ministries Group, Tad retired on July 31, 2008. Since February 1, 2003, he served as Congregational Health Specialist with a primary focus on conflict resolution and the Intentional Interim Ministry process.
A native Mississippian, Tad holds degrees from Mississippi College, the New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary and Jacksonville (AL) State University. He also did post-graduate studies at Southern Baptist Theological and Union Theological Seminary. He was awarded an honorary doctorate from Miles College in Birmingham, Alabama in 1979, in recognition of his work with African-American college students in Alabama.
Tad is a Fellow in the National Association of Church Business Administration and he has coordinated the Crisis Care Chaplaincy for the VBMB Disaster Relief Ministry. He has led leadership retreats and seminars throughout the U.S.A., as well as in South Africa, Germany, and Switzerland. A licensed counselor, he holds national and international certifications in Intentional Interim Ministry, Mediation Skills/Conflict Management, Conflict Resolution Network in Virginia and the Mindframes Instrument. He is the author of Listen Up! Developing Effective Listening Skills. His book, When Its Rush Hour All Day Long: Finding Peace in a Hurry-Sick World, was released in October 2003.
Tad is married to the former Lacey Hunter of Cleveland, Mississippi, a retired teacher. They are the parents of two grown children and two grandchildren. His hobbies include playing a variety of musical instruments, writing, reading, sports and spoiling his grandchildren (not necessarily in that order).
Education and Youth--(currently vacant)
Dr. Matthew Smith
Matt has been on staff at West End since September 2000, when he was hired as the church pianist. In July 2002, he took on the role of Interim Choir Director, and in January 2003, he was offered the opportunity to be the church's permanent Music Director. Currently, he directs the Adult and Youth Choirs, Men's and Ladies' Ensembles, and two handbell choirs: the West End Ringers and the West End Crescendos. In addition, he continuines his duties as the church pianist.
Matt worked for 9 years as an educator in several Virginia high schools, where he taught music, math, and physics. He recently completed his Ph.D. in Biomedical Engineering at VCU, and he currently works as a post-doctoral fellow in immunotoxicology at VCU. In addition to playing the piano and singing, he enjoys reading, traveling, and theatre. He and his wife Donna live in Dinwiddie and are anxiously awaiting a referral from China for the adoption of their first child.
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Mr. Brett Neville
Brett Neville is currently serving as church organist. He is a graduate of Virginia Commonwealth University in the Nursing program. He earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Biology from Hampden-Sydney College. He started his music training with piano lessons when he was only eight years old and began studying organ when he was fifteen. Brett was an active member of the Men's Chorus at Hampden-Sydney and participated in two European singing tours.
Currently Brett is engaged in theological training at Baptist Theological Seminary at Richmond. For fun, Brett enjoys spending time with his family and friends. He also enjoys swimming, tennis, camping, and traveling.
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