Our Staff
Lead Pastor
Dr. Steve Blakemore
A native of southwestern Virginia, Dr. Blakemore was reared in the small mountain coal-mining town named Appalachia. It was there that he says he "learned life’s most important truths from godly Methodist parents, surrounded by of some of the greatest folks -- neighbors and friends -- I have ever known." Most significanly, Steve is married to Carolyn Berg-Blakemore and they have four sons.
Professionally, Dr. Blakemore served in pastoral ministry 18 years, as well as having been a college chaplain. Throughout his ministry he has preached, lectured, and taught a variety of audiences: camp meetings, revivals, pastors’ schools, college courses, seminary lectures, youth conferences and camps, and college conventions. Additionally, he has enjoyed the pleasure of a modest ministry of music as a vocalist across the years in many of these same settings.
Pastor of Worship
Marty Parks
Marty Parks is Worship Pastor for Wesley Chapel where he oversees and leads worship services and directs the choir and instrumentalists. He is a composer, producer and arranger with over 500 songs and arrangements in print. In addition to being a product developer for a major Christian publishing company, he is a frequent workshop leader and conference speaker. He and his wife, Vicki, have four children and live in Madison.
Youth/College Pastor
Samuel Bolen
Born and raised in the metro Jackson area, Samuel received his B.A. in Psychology and Religious Studies from the Sally Mcdonnell Barksdale Honors College at the University of Mississippi. As an undergraduate, he served as the assistant basketball coach at Oxford Middle School and volunteered as the middle school team leader for Young Life, a world-wide organziation dedicated to discipling and outreach to youth. Samuel is also a student at Wesley Biblical Seminary, and he is the Director of Health and Wellness for the Crossroads Community Center in Jackson, MS, which offers mentoring programs through sports and partnerships with local area schools.
