PASTOR: SCOTT FERGUSONPASTOR: SCOTT FERGUSONScott has been pastor of Westview Baptist Church since July 2001 Prior to becoming our pastor, he served the Thomasville Baptist Church in Thomasville, Alabama as the Associate Pastor for Discipleship and Evangelism. Reaching people with the gospel of Jesus Christ and seeing them discipled into fully devoted followers of Christ, along with missions remain Scott's passions.
Scott is a graduate of the Auburn University College of Veterinary Medicine. He was a practicing veterinarian in Tennessee and Georgia for almost five years. During his days in veterinary practice, he knew that God was calling him to ministry in the local church. Resigning from his veterinary position in 1996, he enrolled in a "one of a kind" seminary-internship program developed by The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky and Lakeview Baptist Church in Auburn, Alabama, his home church. For three years, Scott served as a full-time staff member while pursuing his Master of Divinity degree.
Scott has been married to the world's greatest wife, Jennifer, since 1990. God has blessed them with six great kids: Justin (born in 1993), Tyler ('94) ,Kaleigh ('97), Allyson ('99), Graham ('01), and Camdyn ('03). Other than time together, the family enjoys hanging out with friends and almost all sports.
Shane Newton is our Minister to Students. Shane and his wife Anna have two children named Britany and Dylan. Shane was saved at the age of 10 and called to the gospel ministry in 1997. God has called him and gave him a heart for students. He loves to see teenagers sell out and live for God. Shane challenges the students to be real, and live for Jesus 24/7. He challenges them to make reading God's Word, praying, being part of a church family, and sharing your faith to be top priorities. God has gifted Shane in discipleship and he desires to let discipleship play a major role in seeing students grow in Christ. Shane loves to have fun and you never know what crazy things he will do. He loves having fun, but He understands that there has to be time to get serious and focus on God. Shane's heart is to reach students and live his life as an example before them. Shane joined WBC in August 2005.
Larry is our Minister to Senior Adults. He and his wife, Deb, have two children, Lance and Tanner. Lance is married to Traci and they live in Dothan. Tanner is married to Brittany and also lives in Dothan.Larry came to know Christ at the age of 30 and has been passionate about Him ever since. He joined our staff in 2009 to serve as Minister to Senior Adults after 3 years of volunteer work in that area. Larry desires to see Senior Adults come to know Christ as their Lord and Savior. He also desires to see and help them spend the remainder of their lives in service to Him. Larry has a compassion for people and feels Senior Adults need compassion, love and understanding. Larry is happy to be part of what Westview is doing in Opp and around the world. His prayer is that the Senior Adults of Westview and those they reach will faithfully live each day for Christ. He will quickly tell you that his favorite verse is Galatians 2:20. As he ministers at Westview he seeks to allow Christ to use Him to reach others with the gospel and prays that those in the Senior Adult Ministry will do the same.
Johnny is minister of discipleship and missions at Westview. He is married to Amy and has no kids at this time. Johnny's passion is to see people come to know and radically follow the Lord Jesus. His purpose is to see people from every country, tribe, and language come to worship our Great God! Johnny realizes that missions is both here in Opp and around the world. He desires for every member of Westview to be living missionally in this community and to the ends of the earth. His basis for discipleship is the Bible where we as believers are encouraged to invest our lives into others so that they also might teach others to follow the Lord.(2 Tim 2:2) Johnny's goal at Westview is to instill in our members a passion to do whatever it takes for people in Opp and around the world to know the un-surpassing greatness of our God.
Donna joined the staff of WBC in Sept, 2003 as Director of Preschool and Children's Ministries. Donna previously worked at SouthTrust Bank for 22 years. She has worked with children in the areas of Choir, Nursery, and Sunday School for several years. She taught 5th and 6th grade SS for four years and served as a Division Director for Children's SS for three years. Donna has been married to her best friend and biggest supporter, Scott Simmons for 26 years. God has blessed them with two wonderful sons, Brian (23) and Matthew (21). Brian is a graduate student at the Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas; he plans to go into Christian Counseling. Matt is a graduate student at the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary; he is a seminary intern at Lakeview Baptist Church in Auburn, AL. Donna has a passion for children and a passion for families. "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up." Although it is primarily the parent's responsibility to teach their children about God, I am thankful for the opportunities that God gives the church to instill His values.
Deb joined the staff at Westview i Deb joined the staff at Westview in 1992. She is married to Larry and they have two sons, Lance and Tanner. Lance and his wife, Traci, live in Dothan. Tanner and his wife, Brittany, also live in Dothan. Larry joined the Westview staff in 2009 as Minister to Senior Adults. Deb acknowledges that her job is a ministry opportunity. It is her desire to work with the Westview staff and church family to the glory of God. She seeks to show Christ's love to all people in which she comes in contact through her job.
