Matthew Kelley Lead Pastor

After several years in addiction, Matthew finally committed his life to serving  Jesus Christ, on June 14th, 1998. God has restored his life with his wife Lydia of now 20 years, and a renewed and consistent relationship with his two daughters and their husbands. Daughter Madison came with Lydia to complete their family as one. Matt and Lydia are most proud, however, of their grandchildren Judah and Anna Reid!

Matt began his ministry in 1999 and served as youth pastor at Livingston First Baptist before committing to the full-time pastorate at Christian Valley Baptist Church where he served 15 years before resigning to start Equip Ministries, Inc. in 2016. In 2017 Matt came here to Forest Hill and preached a sermon as a supply preacher, and he and Lydia never left! 

Matt is now serving Forest Hill Baptist Church as pastor and Lydia serves the supporting role of being a pastor’s wife serving the church in any way needed.

Matt earned his Bachelor’s Degree in Christian Ministry from Leavell College, of New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary in 2010. Currently he is earning his Master’s Degree in Substance Abuse Counsel from Liberty University.

John Sommers, born on July 15, 1983, in Selma, Alabama, grew up in Gastonburg and graduated from Catherine Academy in 2001. He has spent 17 years working as a Project Manager for the Alabama Department of Transportation (ALDOT), overseeing key infrastructure projects. In addition to his professional role, John serves as the Youth Pastor at Forest Hill Baptist Church, where he mentors and guides young people in their spiritual journeys. Currently residing in Sweet Water, John is also pursuing an Associate Degree in Christian Ministry at Leavell College to further strengthen his ability to serve both his community and his church. He has been married to his wife, Michele for 17 years and they have two sons, Tyler and Chris. 

Stacey Phillips is a devoted wife of nearly 33 years, proud mother of five sons (two now with Jesus), and grandmother to two granddaughters. Saved at 28, her life was transformed to glorify God. A former All-American cheerleader, Stacey’s passion for worship shines as she leads others in praise. Singing since age 5, she has performed in choirs, church teams, and recorded four albums, including two with The Dixie Echoes. With Jesus as her foundation and His Word as her guide, she gives all glory to the Lord God Almighty.

Angie Jones serves as the Nursery/Preschool Coordinator.  With a deep commitment to creating a safe and loving environment, Angie’s goal is to ensure that parents can worship the Lord and fellowship without worry.  Angie brings 12 years of experience in child safety, blending her love of children and dedication to serving the church community.  Beyond her role in the Nursery, Angie also teaches 1st-3rd grade Mission Friends on Wednesday nights, serves as one of the VBS directors, and sings on the praise team.  Angie and her husband, Wayne, have been attending and serving at Forest Hill Baptist Church since 2021.  They are parents to three boys: Thomas, Wren, and Cole.

Sarah Stephens serves as our 1st-6th Grade Children’s Coordinator. Her heartfelt desire is for children to worship God not only on Sundays and Wednesdays but every day of the week. While she enjoys teaching her 4th-6th grade Sunday School class, her greatest passion is Vacation Bible School (VBS). She shares, “VBS is like a revival to me. Seeing the children’s excitement and their heartfelt worship of our Lord and Savior all week long always brings tears of joy to my eyes.” Sarah and her husband, Jon Michael, have been faithfully serving in various roles at Forest Hill since 2011. They are proud parents of two sons, Alan and Eli. One of her favorite Bible passages is Colossians 1:9-14