Pastor, Speaker, Biblical Counselor, Mentor

Deron serves as the Discipleship Pastor at First Baptist Church, Columbia, TN. He served in Student Ministry and Young Adult Ministry for over 30 years, transitioning to Discipleship Ministry in 2023. Prior to coming to First Baptist, he was the Student Pastor at Immanuel Baptist Church in Lebanon, TN.

Deron grew up in Norwood, OH (just outside of Cincinnati), and is a die-hard Cincinnati Reds fan. Deron’s first love was baseball, which led him to move to Tennessee and play at the college level.

In 1990, while serving as a chaperone at a summer camp, Deron felt God’s call to preach. It would take Deron several years, but finally, in 1998, he surrendered his life to preaching the gospel to anyone who would listen.

While in college at Cumberland University, Deron met the love of his life, Lourae, and has been married since 1993. Together, they have 2 boys, Stephen & Luke. Stephen is a Worship Pastor, married to Sunny, and Luke is a Fireman, married to Ashley. He also has two practically-perfect grandchildren, Wyatt & Maeve (MJ).

Deron is a gifted communicator and is passionate about preaching God’s word, seeing others transformed by the gospel message of Jesus Christ, and watching people grow in their faith. He loves to hang out with his family, work out, and drink large amounts of coffee and Diet Mountain Dew. Deron also has an unhealthy addiction to Angilo’s Pizza and Skyline Chili…it’s a Cincinnati thing that most people just don’t understand.

Deron received his Undergraduate Degree in Physical Education and a Master’s Degree in Education from Cumberland University. He then earned a Master of Theological Studies and a Doctorate of Educational Ministry in Biblical Counseling (DEdMin) from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary (SWBTS).

Deron’s greatest thrill, aside from watching his children & grandchildren live out their God-given dreams, is seeing others surrender to the call of God in their lives.

FAMILY