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 | Church Staff |
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James A. "Jim" Bennett, Pastor
jbennett@midwayroadchurch.com
Jim is a native of Lakeland, Florida. His early life was spent in Rome and Marietta, Georgia. He became a Christian at the age of 12 in the Floyd County Baptist Association Camp at Shorter College in Rome.
Jim is a veteran having served with the United States Army at the Tan Son Nhut Mortuary in Saigon. He was awarded the Bronze Star, the Republic of Vietnam Service Medal, the Vietnam Campaign Medal, the National Defense Service Medal and the Good Conduct Medal. He is a life member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars and the Disabled American Veterans.
Jim is a graduate of Kentucky School of Mortuary Science, Louisville, Kentucky, and is a licensed Funeral Director and Embalmer in Georgia and Florida. He was recently recognized by the Georgia Funeral Directors Association for having been licensed as an Embalmer for 40 years. Starting at the age of 16, Jim just recently retired after 46 years in funeral service. Eighteen of those years he owned and operated the James A. Bennett Funeral Home in Pahokee, Florida. While serving the Pahokee community, he was recognized by the Chamber of Commerce with their Citizen of the Year Award in 1988 and was also recognized with their Distinguished Service Award, Volunteer of the Year Award and Business of the Year Award. He holds the distinction of being the only person to receive all four of the Chamber awards.
Jim is a major fan of Southern Gospel Music. His collection of gospel recordings includes over 1000 vintage 33 1/3 records. He has just about every one of Bill Gaither's videos/dvd's along with many others in his collection. Jim at one time hosted a gospel music program on WZOT-FM out of Rockmart, Georgia, on Sunday nights from 9 until midnight. He even did some concert promoting in Rome, Georgia, back in the early 70's with the Florida Boys, Wendy Bagwell and the Sunlighters, Oak Ridge Boys, and others.
Jim has served several Georgia churches as Minister of Education and/or Youth and has also pastored in Georgia. He served Canal Point Baptist Church in Canal Point, Florida, for eight and a half years as pastor. Jim also served the Big Lake Baptist Association as Brotherhood Director for five years and two terms as Moderator. Jim has served the Florida Baptist Convention on the Committee on Nominations for the 2207-2008 and 2008-2009 terms. He has served Midway Road since 2004, first as bi-vocational pastor and since July 2008 as full-time pastor.
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 | James "Jim" Kepler, Minister of Music
jkepler@midwayroadchurch.com
Jim accepted the Lord at the age of sixteen in a revival meeting being held at Niantic Southern Missionary Baptist Church. He was dating his wife at the time and a few years later in 1973 they were married. In 1976 Jim felt the call to the ministry and soon after started preaching and singing throughout Central Baptist Association in Illinois. During the next few years the Lord blessed Jim and his wife Debbie with a son, Tracy Allen, and a daughter, Crystal Dawn and when the children were 11 and 7 the Lord moved them to college in Hannibal, Missouri where Jim received his Bachelor of Church music degree. After graduating from college Jim and his family moved back to Decatur, Il where he worked and served at Argenta Baptist church as their Director of Music. It was from here he was called to Florida in 1992 to serve as Director of Music at First Baptist Church of Wabasso. Since arriving here he has served as interim pastor, as well as music director in churches and also served as pastor of First Baptist Church of Winter Beach for five years. He comes to us from Glendale Baptist Church where we served as Minister of Music and Associate Pastor until this winter. We feel God has some great things to accomplish here at Midway Road Baptist Church and eagerly wait to see just how God will be using us as His instruments. |
 | James "Jim" Laseter, Church Treasurer and Southern Gospel Sing Coordinator
jlaseter@midwayroadchurch.com
Jim is a long time resident of Fort Pierce. He made his profession of faith in 1966 at Second Baptist Church in Amarillo, Texas, while in basic training. He has served in many positions in the church including that of soloist, congregational song leader, choir member, teacher, department director, church treasurer and trustee. For almost 25 years Jim has taught a teleconference Bible study class for individuals who are homebound and unable to attend church.
An Air Force veteran, Jim served in Vietnam.
Jim is a graduate of Dan McCarty High School in Fort Pierce, Indian River Community College and Barry University. He is the former Executive Director of Hospice of the Treasure Coast and Suncoast Mental Health Center and was Information Systems manager for Hospice of Palm Beach County. Jim just recently retired as accountant for Yates Funeral Home.
Jim is married to our church pianist, Norma. They have two sons, Matthew and Devin and three grandsons. As a team the Laseters have been involved in the music program of each church where they have been members. They have served churches in Alabama, Mississippi, Tennessee and Florida. Jim served as Minister of Music from 2005 until his retirement in in May of this year (2010). Jim continues to be active in our music ministry and continues to coordinate our Third Sunday Southern Gospel Sing. He is currently serving as our Church Treasurer.
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 | Norma Laseter, Pianist
Norma made a profession of faith on her 13th birthday at the closing a a revival service at Bethel Baptist Church in Fort Deposit, Alabama. She began serving in the music program as an accompanist at the age of 16. She has served several Southern Baptist churches as a choir member, pianist, organist, and was a church secretary for more than 20 years.
Norma is married to our Minister of Music, Jim. They have two sons, Matthew and Devin, and three grandsons.
Norma came to us in 2005. |
 | Debbie Kepler, Organist
I accepted the Lord at the age of 7 after a revival meeting. We just got home and I knew that I could not go to bed before I talked with the Lord and my mother and dad lead me to the Lord. I started taking piano lessons at the age of 5 and started playing in church at the age of 12. After getting married and two children later we went to college. Had a few more private lessons and took a year on the organ. I graduated with a degree in Early Childhood Development. I worked as a preschool teacher for almost 10 years and was even a director for about nine months before the Lord moved us to another church. I have always loved serving the Lord, and I am glad He has brought us here to serve at Midway Road Baptist Church. |
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