Pastor
Chris Sheppard
Chris was converted to Christ at the age of 19 and started attending Highland Baptist Church in Laurel, Mississippi. Under biblical preaching and teaching from God's word, God grew him as a Christian and called him into vocational ministry at the age of 25. For 10 years he served two different churches as a student minister before becoming pastor of Nola Baptist Church. Since 2003, Chris has also been the Camp Director and Pastor of Glory Days Student Summer Camp. He holds a BA with a major in Christian Ministry from Leavell College of New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. He has been married to Christy since 1996, and they have two daughters, Annie and Maggie. In his spare time, he enjoys reading and deer hunting.
Worship Pastor
Keith Stovall
The Lord saved Keith in March of 2003 at the age of 26. After God's calling, he surrendered to the ministry in April of 2010 and became the worship pastor in 2012. He fills the pulpit when Chris is out as well as teaches weekly bible study to students. He received his BS from William Carey College with a major in psychology. He holds a MS in counseling from the University of Southern Mississippi and is also a Licensed Practicing Counselor. He is a Social Science Instructor at Copiah-Lincoln Community College. He and his wife Teresa were married in 1999, and they have three children, Ramie, Isaac, and Camp. Keith is an avid runner and enjoys spending time with his family.
Elder
Tommy Alderman
Tommy was born again in December of 1992 at the age of 29. After spending nearly 20 years in Law Enforcement in both Louisiana and Mississippi, he entered the private sector as a salesman and project manager for a public safety software company, where he spent 17 years, before launching his own company with three other men. Tommy has served as pulpit supply for a handful of local churches, as well as interim pastor in one location, before the Lord moved him and his wife, Patti, to Grace Life Church where he serves in the small group ministry and preaches occasionally. Tommy and Patti have been married since 1987, have two sons, two daughters, two daughters-in-law, one son-in-law, and six grandchildren.
Elder
Jared Walters
Jared is a native of Laurel, MS and came to Christ as a teenager in 1998. He has served as a volunteer in youth ministry and as a worship leader for several decades. Jared and his wife Meagan felt called to be a part of the ministry of Grace Life Church of Brookhaven and in 2020 they made the move to Brookhaven. Jared leads the "Young Guns" small group and occasionally fills in as a worship leader. He and Meagan have two boys, John Paton and Jude.