Leadership Staff
Mike Sisson
Executive Minister
304-422-6449
sisson@wvbc.org
Mike Sisson is a native of West Virginia. He served as the Senior Pastor of the Crab Orchard Baptist Church, a growing, missional-minded congregation located in Crab Orchard. Prior to coming to Crab Orchard, he served the pastorates of Sutton Baptist Church in Sutton and New Life Baptist Church in Shady Spring. In addition to his twenty years in pastoral ministry, Mike was the owner and operator of Mike’s Distributing, a wholesale franchise for McKee Foods for 18 years.
Mike’s passion for ministry is directed toward the transformation and strengthening of the local church. He strives to use the gifts God has equipped him with as leader, teacher and communicator to assist the local church and its leaders to become missional-minded, intentionally sharing the love of God and the message of hope found in Jesus Christ in their local communities.
Mike’s leadership experience includes having served as the president of the West Virginia Baptist Convention and president of the Pastors 4 Pastors: The West Virginia Baptist Ministers’ Council. Mike served as chair of the West Virginia Baptist Convention School of Christian Studies and on the Board of Admissions for the Palmer Seminary Doctor of Ministry in Contextual Leadership. He has served on many boards and committees within the West Virginia Baptist Convention including the Committee on Ministerial Standing, Baptist Campus Ministry Board and the Executive Board and Committee as well various committees and working groups.
Mike serves on the Board of Directors for the Beckley Health Right Free Clinic and its subsidiaries in Mercer and Summers Counties. Before relocating to Crab Orchard, he served on the Board of Directors for Precision Services Inc. located in Gassaway. Precision Services is a non-profit organization formed to provide employment opportunities to individuals who are physically disabled or developmentally challenged.
Mike is an adjunct professor for the Palmer Theological Seminary teaching courses in the Doctor of Ministry and Master of Divinity academic programs. He has developed and led seminars and workshops on a variety of topics including Church Transformation, Leadership, Ministry Team Building and Visioning at an array of venues. He teaches regularly in the West Virginia Baptist Convention School of Christian Studies.
Mike earned his Master of Divinity from Eastern Baptist Theological Seminary, where he received the Wilbur T. Elmore Prize in Church History and earned his Doctor of Ministry in Renewal of the Church for Mission from Palmer Theological Seminary.
Mike resides in Parkersburg with his wife of 35 years, Lorie, their dog, Abby and cat, Sam.
Area Ministers
Jon Villers
Southeast Area Minister: Serving the Elk Valley, Fayette, Greenbrier-Raleigh, Hopewell and Rockcastle Associations
304-531-2918
jvillers@wvbc.org
Jon grew up in Wirt and Calhoun Counties. He is the son of Rev. Lewis and Louise Villers. Jon learned much from his parents’ example, as Lewis served bi-vocationally as pastor in three different churches in three different associations and Jon’s mother, Louise, was a teacher’s aid assisting in math development and special needs at Wirt County High School where Jon
completed his high school education. After graduating, Jon continued his education earning a double major in Accounting and Management Information Systems from Alderson Broaddus College, a Master of Business Administration from Averett College and a Master of Divinity degree from Eastern Baptist Theological Seminary. Jon is currently pursuing a Doctor of Ministry degree from Palmer Seminary and anticipates graduating in 2024.
Starting with a ministry internship while still in college, Jon has served churches in Wood, Mercer, Monroe, Kanawha, Jackson and Barbour Counties for more than 30 years. Most recently, Jon served as the lead pastor of Philippi Baptist Church since 2010 along with being an adjunct professor at Alderson Broaddus, teaching classes in business and religion. In August 2020, he
accepted the added position of interim chaplain at Alderson Broaddus, and in October 2020, he was awarded the Ward W. Hibbs Ministerial Award for town and country pastors. Over nine years ago, Jon helped start a Christ-centered 12 step program called Celebrate Recovery Barbour County, focusing on the hurts, habits and hangups we all walk through.
Jon is married to Koreen, who serves as the WVBC Director of Discipleship. Jon and Koreen have been blessed with four children and their spouses, Caleb (Maci), Allison (Logan), Thomas (Beth) and Bobby (Leah), and soon to be five grandchildren: Audie, Elliet, Ada, Izzy Blake and Nora Renè (due in
December).
Mark McCloy
Director of Leadership Ministries and Northwest Area Minister: Serving the Good Hope, Harrisville, Little Kanawha, Panhandle and Parkersburg Associations
304-422-6449
mccloy@wvbc.org
Mark is a graduate of Alderson-Broaddus College (1988) and Southeastern Baptist Seminary (1991). He achieved certification in Congregational Leadership through the Center for Excellence in Congregational Leadership (CECL). In 2016, he received his Doctor of Ministry in Leadership of Missional Church Renewal through Palmer Seminary at Parchment Valley Conference Center.
Mark has been in professional ministry since his college days, serving churches in the Parkersburg and Union Associations as well as a church in North Carolina. He served as regional dean for the School of Christian Studies for many years, teaching over 20 different courses. Mark has been active in the life of the Parkersburg Baptist Association, the community ministries in Wirt County, and in the West Virginia Baptist Convention. He has gone on mission trips to Bolivia and Hungary and currently serves on the Mission Partnership Team for Juan and Denise Aragon.
Mark lives in Elizabeth, WV with his wife Mary Beth. They have four children: Sarah, Ben, Rebekah, and Daniel.
Evan Arkell
Director of Outreach Ministries and Southwest Area Minister: Serving the Coal River, Guyandotte, Logan-Mingo, Kanawha Valley, Teays Valley and Twelve Pole Associations
304-575-3323
evan@wvbc.org
Evan completed his Master of Divinity at Palmer Theological Seminary in 2017 and is a graduate of the School of Christian Studies. He began his work as Southwest Area Minister July 1, 2018. Evan most recently served as the pastor of Barboursville Baptist Church (Guyandotte). He has served churches in Wyoming County including Rockcastle (Rockcastle) and Black Eagle (Rockcastle).
Evan is passionate about leading people to a lasting and meaningful relationship with Jesus Christ. In his role as area minister he works to help churches fulfill their mission as he serves to meet the needs of the 87 churches in his area.
Evan and his wife, Becky, reside in Huntington.
Kevin Sions
Northern Baptist Campus Ministry Director and Northeast Area Minister: Serving the Broad Run, Eastern, Fairmont, Goshen, Judson and Union Associations
304-534-0597
sions@wvbc.org
Kevin serves as the campus minister for West Virginia University and supervises and develops the other campus ministries in the northern part of the state.
Prior to this role, Kevin served as pastor of Kingwood Baptist Church (Goshen). He also served on the BCM Board of Directors. As a student at Alderson Broaddus University, he was active in BCM, serving on its leadership team. He later served as the Associate in Ministry for BCM at his alma mater.
After completing his BA in Christian Studies/Education at AB, Kevin did his Masters of Divinity studies and graduated from Palmer Theological Seminary. Kevin and his wife, Chasity, have three children: Miriam, Hannah and Eli.
Mission Support
Todd McClure
Minister of Missions, Finance and Communication
304-615-4073
todd@wvbc.org
Todd is a graduate of Marshall University and The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. Prior to joining the WVBC staff in 2019, Todd worked for as an application developer for a large natural gas pipeline.
In addition to the work he does in West Virginia, Todd serves as the associate director for Enduring Love, a church planting initiative in the Arab world. He also serves as a special assistant to the Middle East and North Africa with International Ministries.
Todd and his wife, Erin, reside in Charleston, where they are members of Oakwood Baptist Church. They have two children, Jehiah and Abi. They have also been active in Baptist Campus Ministry, providing leadership at the University of Charleston for the past ten years.
Koreen Villers
Director of Discipleship Ministries
304-531-2917
villers@wvbc.org
As the Director of Discipleship Ministries, Koreen staffs the Commission on Christian Discipleship, working to equip churches in the areas of discipleship and assisting with mission support. She also works with the program committee for the Annual Meeting, coordinates the children’s outreach events and serves as the Convention liaison to the West Virginia American Baptist Women’s Ministries.
Koreen is married to Rev. Jon Villers and they reside in Philippi. They have four adult children and two grandchildren
Parchment Valley Conference Center
Frank Miller
Director of Operations, Parchment Valley Conference Center
304-372-3675
miller@wvbc.org
Frank is the Director of Operations for the Parchment Valley Conference Center. He has been involved with the West Virginia Baptist Convention for more than 40 years and is an ordained West Virginia Baptist Convention minister. Frank also retired from Pepsi with 26 years of excellent service. He is married to Teresa and they have two children and two grandchildren. He attended Beckley College, Valancia Community College and is a graduate of the West Virginia Baptist Convention School of Christian Studies. He also served honorably in the United States Air Force. Throughout his ministry, God has enabled him to do work that is and continues to be both rewarding, exciting and often times challenging.
Teresa Miller
Office Manager, West Virginia Baptist Convention, and Assistant Director of Operations, Parchment Valley Conference Center
304-372-3675
tmiller@wvbc.org
Student Ministries
Rob Ely
Director of Student Ministries and Young Leader Development
304-532-3166 or 304-422-6449
ely@wvbc.org
Rob graduated from Marshall University in 1987 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Education. He then went on to attend Eastern Baptist Theological Seminary, where he graduated with a Master of Divinity Degree in 2000. Rob graduated with a Doctorate in Executive Leadership from the University of Charleston in 2021.
Rob and his wife Beth reside in Huntington. He has two sons: RL, wife Joni and grandson Emmett, who live in Huntington; and Andrew, wife Emily and granddaughter Kit, who serve as missionaries in Poland.
Jill Narraway
Director of Camping and Youth
304-210-7030 or 304-226-3522
jill@wvbc.org
Jill is the Director of Camping and Youth, spending her summers at Camp Cowen and staying busy throughout the rest of the year discipling youth and helping coordinate youth events. Prior to this role, she led the state youth ministries in New York as Camp Director of Camp Vick and the Program Director of American Baptist Youth (ABY). She served in that role for a decade.
Jill is married to Joshua and they have 8 children: Micah, Lily, Isaiah, Elanor, Joel, Avari, Calah and Iris. In addition to youth ministry, church involvement and family activities, she also enjoys concert planning, baking and geocaching with the whole family!
Administrative Staff
Bookkeeper
Andrea Fling
Bookkeeper
304-422-6449
fling@wvbc.org
Andrea has been with the convention since October 6, 2014. She is the bookkeeper for the convention with responsibilities of the recording of all of the financial activities. Andrea has served as a public accountant for 25 years and has an accounting degree from Mountain State College.
Administrative Assistants
Tracie Emerick
Administrative Assistant to the Discipleship and Outreach Commissions and the Bobby Wood School of Christian Studies
304-422-6449
temerick@wvbc.org
Tracie has been with the convention since October 2002. She serves as the administrative assistant to the Discipleship and Outreach Commissions, which includes American Baptist Women’s Ministries and American Baptist Men’s Ministries. She is also the administrative assistant to the Bobby Wood School of Christian Studies as well as the convention printer. Tracie is married to Kevin, and they have a son, Luke and a daughter, Sarah.
Ginny Prunty
Administrative Assistant to the Executive Minister
304-422-6449
prunty@wvbc.org
Having been a “preacher’s kid,” Ginny was raised in church all her life. So, it just comes naturally to be of service to the church and mostly to the Lord. Ginny began working as the receptionist for the West Virginia Baptist Convention January 5, 1996. In 2001, she moved into the position she has now as the Administrative Assistant to the Executive Minister. Her responsibilities include providing support to the Executive Committee and Board, Nominating Committee, Annual Meeting Program Committee, and many other things in the office. She and her husband, Darron, are members of South Parkersburg Baptist Church, and they have two sons: David and Donnie; and 3 grandchildren: Sophi, Lexi and Daniel. In her spare time, Ginny loves to sing and spend time with family.
Kayla Starcher
Administrative Assistant to Student Ministries, Mission Support and the Stewardship Commission
304-422-6449
kayla@wvbc.org
Kayla began her work with the convention in June 2021 as the administrative assistant to Student Ministries, Mission Support and the Stewardship Commission. Her responsibilities include providing support to youth ministries for students in grades 6-12, Camp Cowen, college-aged ministries, assisting churches with mission support and missions giving and the Stewardship Commission. Kayla is a graduate of West Virginia University.
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