Our Pastors

Jay began attending the Akron Baptist Temple at age eight through their bus ministry and was saved and baptized shortly thereafter through the Sunday School ministry there. He earned his Bachelor’s of Education degree from Liberty University in Lynchburg, Virginia in 1992 and a Master of School Administration from the University of Akron in 2000. He then completed four years of training, graduating from the Jackson Bible Institute and School of Ministry in 2004. After working 9 years as a public school teacher and 9 as an administrator for the Northwest Local School District in Canal Fulton, Jay surrendered to full-time ministry in August 2011 and was ordained a Baptist minister at the First Baptist Church of Jackson in 2012. He has served in many capacities as a youth director/pastor, worship leader, and associate pastor for over 20 years. Pastor Jay and his wife Courtney have two children, Emily and Jared.

Rufus was born in Beaver Falls, PA before moving to Ohio when he was eight years old. He graduated from Malone College with a bachelor’s degree in religion, then earned a Master of Divinity in Psychology and Counseling, and a Master of Arts in New Testament Greek at the Ashland Theological Seminary in 1979. Rufus was obedient to follow the Lord into full-time ministry and served as an Associate Pastor and Senior Pastor through several churches for over 30 years. He officially retired from full-time ministry September 2017. Rufus continues to serve alongside his wife Bea within our church body at GBC.