LEADERSHIP TEAM
Our leadership team recognizes the authority of God, and realizes that we are shepherds who serve under the Chief Shepherd, Jesus Christ. We desire to devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the Word. Our passion and goal is to equip the believers for the work of the ministry until we all attain maturity in the fullness of Christ.
Ken Clark
Senior Pastor - oakwoodpastor@epbfi.com
Pastor Ken Clark has been in ministry for over thirty years. Serving over twenty of those here at Oakwood Baptist.
“Oakwood is an awesome family and I love being a part of it.”
Pastor Ken has been married to his best friend, Pat, since 1990.
“We have two great sons, Nathan and Joseph, who both attend Oakwood with their families”
Nathan is married to Bethany and they have four children Thatcher, Emeline, Adelaide, & Archer. Joseph is married to Lexi and they have one daughter, Lilah.
Pastor Ken is originally from Texas and has a love for sports, especially Texas sports teams. He is an avid fan of both the Dallas Cowboys, Texas Longhorns, and the 2023 World Champions Texas Rangers.
“Pat tells me that it is more of a disease that I have than just being a fan.”
Pastor Ken loves pastoring, teaching, and encouraging others.
“I want to use these gifts to know God, to grow believers, and to impact our world for Christ.”
Grady Dishroon
Associate Pastor - oakwoodassociate@epbfi.com
“Growing up, I never dreamt that I would be where God has me now. Like many people, I thought I would get a college degree, make a lot of money, marry a beautiful woman, and have a couple of strong, athletic, handsome boys. And some of that did happen. While getting a BS degree in Computer Science at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, I met a beautiful girl named Kim. We were married in 1988 and later had a couple of strong, athletic/artistic, beautiful…girls (Kara and Kelsey). “
“I joined and began serving in the church where my wife, her father, her grandparents and her great grandparents had grown up. In fact, my children are fifth generation active members at Oakwood. I fell in love with the body of believers here at Oakwood and they quickly became a part of my family.”
“After doing pretty well in ‘my’ chosen career, God began to show me what ‘He’ had planned for me. He tugged at my heart as I worked with the children and then with the youth and in the music ministries of the church. I soon found myself serving as the interim ministers of music and youth. After a while I was asked to serve as the permanent, part-time Minister of music. “
“After six years of working two jobs, I began to question what it was that I was supposed to be doing in this world. I made the decision to resign the part-time position of Minister of Music and concentrate on my career. That seemed only logical since my career is what provided the means to the lifestyle we had grown accustomed to. “
“But, God had other plans for my life. On the Friday immediately following the Sunday in which I resigned from the church, I was informed that multiple key positions in my company were being eliminated. My position was one of them. It was as if God was saying, “You dummy, you quit the wrong job!” It was not long before God opened the door for a full-time ministry position at the church I loved. “
“So, in February of 2004, I became the Minister of Church Growth and Development here at Oakwood and was ordained in April of 2007. Since then, I have filled in between Ministers of Music and Youth Ministers. During this time, I also received my Seminary degree from Liberty University Theological Seminary. And in April of 2017 I was officially named the Associate Pastor of Oakwood Baptist Church. I truly never saw that coming! God is Good!”
Student Ministry Team
Interim Director of Students - Zachary Owens
Our Student Ministry Team is a group of faithful leaders, dedicated to serving and discipling our middle and high school students.
The goal of Student Ministry is to reach students with the Gospel of Christ, disciple students, and encourage students in their faith and to share their faith with others.
We want to teach students to live out Colossians 1:10
“That you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God;”
Pepper Wilson
Children’s ministry director - oakwoodchildren@epbfi.com
Pepper joined the staff in January of 2017. Pepper has an education degree from The University of the Cumberlands and a Masters from the University of TN and she loves the Lord and kids. She is in charge of planning and coordinating all children ministries as well as teaching and nurturing the children of Oakwood using high standards and an abundance of love.
“I’m a Christ follower, wife of Tim, mom to Jamie and Jacob, and Director of Children’s Ministry at Oakwood. My family has been part of the Oakwood family since 2014 and I joined the staff in January of 2017. “
“We love our Oakwood family! God gave me a heart for children and a desire to teach. Before becoming a homeschooling mama, I taught fourth grade for several years. My desire as Children’s Director is to help equip parents, support our children’s ministry leaders, and teach our kids about Jesus and His Love.”
Bailey Owens
Ministry Assistant - oakwoodchatt@gmail.com
Bailey has grown up at Oakwood Baptist Church, serving and being involved in many different areas over the years, in 2019 she began working in the Church Office offering assistance to the pastoral staff and Church members as needed.
Bailey’s desire is to support the ministries of Oakwood Baptist Church and to live life fully devoted to Christ as it says in Galatians 2:20
“I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.”