Our Team
Ministry Staff
Dr. Kenneth Keathley
Interim Senior Pastor
Since 2006, Dr. Keathley has served on the faculty of Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary, where he has held roles as Senior Associate Dean, Senior Vice President/Dean of Faculty, Director of the L. Russ Bush Center for Faith and Culture, and currently as Research Professor of Theology, working closely with Ph.D. students. Prior to Southeastern, he served as Professor and Dean at both Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary and New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary.
Before entering the classroom, Dr. Keathley pastored for 13 years. Since then, he has faithfully served as Interim Pastor in churches across North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, Missouri, Mississippi, and Louisiana for more than 30 years.
Dr. Keathley holds a BA in Bible from Tennessee Temple University, an MNS in Mathematics from Southeast Missouri State University, an M.Div. with languages, and a Ph.D. in Theology from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary.
He and his wife, Penny, have been married since 1980. They are blessed with a son and daughter, both married, and four grandchildren.
Matthew Young
Music and Worship Minister
Matthew has been a member of First Baptist Church from infancy and has faithfully served in the church’s music ministry since 2017.
He holds a Bachelor's degree in Piano Performance and a Master's degree in Collaborative Piano from East Carolina University. Matthew has also been involved with the Collaborative Piano Institute and has performed with vocalists from institutions such as the Cincinnati Conservatory, the University of Michigan, and the Metropolitan Opera.
Beyond his church involvement, Matthew regularly plays for voice competitions and accompanies multiple choirs each semester, including the Tar River Chorus, ECU Combined Choir, ECU Collegiate Choir, ECU Chamber Singers, Wesleyan Singers, and the North Carolina Choral Artists.
Matthew believes that music is one of the greatest gifts God has given us. He sees it as a communicative tool that allows us to express the inexpressible, draw nearer to God, and join with one another in glorifying Him. Through every note and melody, he strives to point others to the beauty, truth, and presence of God.
Bob Britt
Homebound Minister
Bob was called to serve First Baptist as Minister to Homebound in 2003. Bob retired after 38 years in the mortgage banking industry and held positions in several different companies before being called to First Baptist. He and wife Susan have two daughters, who are both married, and eight grandchildren.
Bob feels a special calling to minister to sick and homebound members. He wants them to be nurtured and prayed for, allowing them to know that they are valuable members of First Baptist even though they are no longer physically able to attend.
