Staff

Senior Pastor - Dr. C. Mike Purdy

Dr. Mike Purdy was called as pastor of Forest Heights Baptist Church in October of 1996. He is a native of Rome, Georgia. Pastor Mike received his Bachelor of Arts degree from Criswell College in Dallas, Texas in 1977. He earned a Master of Divinity from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary in 1995 and a Doctor of Ministry degree from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary in 2003. He is currently working on his Doctor of Theology degree from the University of South Africa. Pastor Mike has served as pastor at churches in Georgia and Oklahoma.

Pastor Mike was saved and baptized under the preaching of Dr. Jerry Vines at West Rome Baptist Church in Rome, Georgia. He was ordained as a minister of the Gospel at Kennesaw First Baptist Church in Kennesaw, Georgia.

Pastor Mike is married to the former Debbie Allgood. They have been blessed with three sons and two daughters-in-law: Shane and Kate Purdy, Ben and Jamie Purdy, and Jeremy Purdy. They have been further blessed with three grandchildren: Isaac, McCord, and Jalyn Purdy.

Pastor Mike loves to impart the Word of God through expositional preaching and teaching. He relates the Word of God in a way that conveys the true meaning based upon the time and context in which it was written, yet he makes it applicable to our lives today. Pastor Mike enjoys the fellowship of the body of believers and desires to see God’s family grow together both in number and in spiritual maturity.

Dr. Purdy can be reached at pastor@forestheightsbaptist.org.

Minister to Youth / Office Administrator - Reverend Eric Jones

Rev. Eric Jones joined our ministerial staff in May of 1996. He is a native of the Athens area. He was born at St. Mary’s Hospital and graduated from Madison County High School in Danielsville, Georgia. He has an associate’s degree in secondary education from Gainesville State College.

In August of 1976 he received the Lord Jesus Christ as his personal Lord and Savior and was baptized at the Hull Baptist Church in Hull, Georgia. In 1986 he felt a calling upon his life to serve in ministry. Pastor Eric was ordained as deacon in the Hull Baptist Church in October of 1992. After a long personal journey of discovery, Pastor Eric accepted a call as then youth director of the Forest Heights Baptist Church. He was later ordained into the Gospel Ministry in May of 1997 at Hull Baptist Church. He as been serving faithfully here at Forest Heights Baptist Church for these many years.

He is married to the former Susan Davis. They were wed on January 8, 1994. In November of 1995 they were blessed with the arrival of their first child, Ariel Brooke Jones. Their first son, Aaron Gordon Jones, was born in July of 1999, and their second son, Alexander “Alex” Paul Jones was born in February of 2004.

Eric enjoys sharing God’s Word through expositional preaching and teaching. Eric uses relational ministry to share the love of Jesus Christ with students and adults.

Reverend Jones can be reached at fhbc@forestheightsbaptist.org.

Interim Minister of Music - Richard "Tank" Tankersley

Richard Tankersley is faithfully and masterfully serving as Forest Height's Minister of Music.

Church Custodian - Tommy Marable

Tommy Marable exemplifies Christ's teachings on servant-hood. Not only does Tommy labor behind the scenes to keep the facilities in top condition, he also labors in the Word and teaches Sunday school. In addition, Tommy can often be found in the kitchen preparing great food for special occasions. We are greatly appreciative of Tommy's diligence, expertise, and service.

Church Organist - Bobby Howington

Bobby Howington is a native of Athens, Georgia. He has been a member of Talmadge Heights/Forest Heights Baptist Church most of his life. He received Jesus Christ as his personal Lord and Savior at the age of 13. He is married to Dianne Hill of Toccoa, Georgia. They have two sons, David, 19, and Chris, 18. Bobby seeks to serve the Lord at Forest Heights through music, fellowship as a deacon, and through leadership in the Sunday school ministry. He also enjoys visitation and sharing with others what the Lord has done for him.

Bobby can be reached at kc4dog@gmail.com.