Ray Burks became pastor of Belmont First Baptist Church in August of 2009. Prior to that he was senior pastor at Lakeview Baptist Church in Selmer, TN for 10 years. He served as pastor of three other churches in Mississippi since 1986. Ray served for six years as a minister to students while completing his college and seminary education.
Ray married Amy in 1984 only 20 days after both graduated from Blue Mountain College in Northeast Mississippi. They have two adult sons, Matt and Taylor. Matt is a graduate of Union University in Jackson, TN (BBA), University of Southern Mississippi (MBA) and Canadian Southern Baptist Seminary (MDiv). He is married to Alisha, who is a graduate of William Carey University and New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. They currently live in New Orleans, LA where Matt is a Ph. D. student at the New Orleans Baptist Seminary. They are the parents of the greatest grand children, Judah, Elizabeth and Truman. Taylor and his wife, Emily, are both graduates of Delta State University in Cleveland, MS with a Bachelor of Music. They currently live in Omaha, Nebraska where Taylor is a Graduate Assistant and Graduate Student at the University of Nebraska at Omaha and Emily is a School Band Director in Omaha.
Ray counts it a great privilege to serve as pastor of a church like FBC Belmont. Since surrendering to the call to preach at age 16, it has been his desire to follow God's will as a preacher of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Ray has published several books. You can purchase them from Amazon.com
Susan Riley Sparks Bolding is a 1975 honor graduate of Amory High School and a 1979 graduate of Blue Mountain College with a B.A. degree in Bible and minors in Psychology and Art. She married Edwin Bolding in May, 1976. Edwin currently serves as a Deacon here at FBC, Belmont. He is in a management position with a local retail/wholesale business. They have 2 daughters, Erica Suzanne Lundy (Josh) and Natalie Lenore Copeland (Matt). Erica is a graduate of Mississippi State University with a degree in Animal & Dairy Science and she also holds an AA degree in AgriBusiness from Northwest Mississippi Community College. Natalie is a graduate of Blue Mountain College with a BA degree in Bible & Psychology. Susan enjoys her granddaughters, Riley Elizabeth ("Riley Beth") Lundy , Tallie Grace Bird, and Maddie Copeland. Susan & Edwin also have two grandsons whom they enjoy: Bo Lundy and Landt Copeland. Susan served as Church Secretary from 1994-1996 and then came back in October of 2002 to serve as Ministerial Assistant. Susan is also the Preschool Director of First Baptist Preschool ~ a program she has headed up since 1986. Years ago, Susan served at various churches and also in the Tishomingo Baptist Association as Minister of Music and Youth. Susan loves her church and thanks God for the opportunity to serve the people of this church. She currently serves as the Women's Ministry coordinator as well as the Nursery coordinator. |