Dr. Eric Hankins

Lead Pastor

Dr. Hankins started his ministry at First Baptist Fairhope December 1, 2016. He comes to First Baptist Fairhope from FBC Oxford Mississippi where he served as Pastor for 12 years. He is a native of Lake Charles, Louisiana. Dr. Hankins has served churches in Texas, Mississippi, Louisiana and now Alabama. He is a graduate of Louisiana College, New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary ( M.Div.) and Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary (Ph.D.). His ministry vision is to shepherd the local church in fulfilling her world-changing, disciple-making kingdom purpose through expository preaching, Spirit-directed leading and a shepherd’s care of individuals and families. He is married to his 7th grade sweetheart, Janet, and they have three children: J.D (married to Auguste), Emily (married to Nick Ellis) and Jake who is  a student at Fairhope High School. 2021 brought the Hankins’ their first grandchild, a girl, Isla Sue.

Rev. Brent Shaw

Administrator 

Rev. Brent Shaw began his ministry at First Baptist Church Fairhope, August 1, 2002. He served previously on the First Baptist Staff in the 80s as Minister of Youth. Brent served First Baptist Church in Dothan for 10 years prior to returning to Fairhope. Brent’s wife is Tammy and they have two girls: Lauren (Hardman) and Lindsey, and two grandchildren: Ann Waverly and Jack.

Rev. Shawn Trotter

Discipleship Pastor 

Rev. Shawn Trotter began serving in 2018 as our Discipleship Pastor while he finished up seminary. In 2019 he became our full-time Discipleship Pastor, relieving Brent Shaw of those education responsibilities. . Shawn and his wife, Valerie, live here in Fairhope and have four children. 

Rev. Robert Seaborn

Senior Adult/Congregational
Care Pastor 

Robert and his wife Letia have been members of First Baptist Church for 25 years.  In 2018, he surrendered to ministry at First Baptist and was licensed and ordained here. In 2019, he began e210 Ministries with a focus on corporate and hospital chaplaincy, He has done a great deal of training in those areas. He serves as a Chaplain for several businesses and a volunteer Chaplain at Thomas Hospital.. Before surrendering to ministry, he enjoyed a successful career in banking, rising to the position of bank president. He graduated from Auburn with a B.S. in Finance and M.B.A from Samford.

Rev. Scott M. Lee

Worship Pastor

Rev. Scott Lee became worship Pastor in 2022. He and Cherie served here from 1983 – 1987 as Minister of Music. And again later on as Young Adult Minister. Scott and Cherie are both natives of Pensacola, Florida.

Scott is married to Cherie, and they have two children: Taylor and Daniel Gardner (Fairhope), and Abby and Tanner Lee (Georgetown, TX) and two grandboys: Wyn Gardner and JoJo Lee, each a year old (only four months apart).

Since serving here at First Fairhope (his first church out of Seminary) he went on to serve larger churches in Georgia and South Carolina in the areas of Worship and Worship Arts. He served most recently as the Chief Administrative Officer of the South Carolina Baptist Convention in Columbia, South Carolina.

Rev. Ryan Smith

Student Pastor 

Ryan has been working with students over the past ten years as a lay leader in churches from Georgia & Alabama. He joined the FBC Staff in  2008. He has also served as Student Worship Leader at Eagles Landing First Baptist Church in Georgia. Ryan has a passion for students and desires to lead them to a deeper knowledge of God by creating Bible Study opportunities coupled with recreational events and relevant worship experiences. Ryan also leads worship at our 11:00am service. His wife is Amy and they have two children: Ellie, a freshman in college and Tyler a freshman at Fairhope High. 

Rev. Kevin Nelson

Children’s Pastor 

Kevin takes care of our children’s ministry (First Kids) needs and the needs of young families at First Fairhope. He is a Baldwin County Native.  He and his wife Leigh are parents to Kevin Jr. (K2), a Senior in High School.

Sharon Pippin

Director of Communications

Travis Carr

Audio/Lighting Engineer

Laurie Jensen

Director of Preschool &
The Learning Tree

Kay Gaddy

Financial Ministry Assistant

Jennifer Coulter

Ministry Assistant for Students
and Senior Adults

Laureen Davis

Worship Ministry Assistant

Delores Lund

Ministry Assistant for Children
and Receptionist

LaSha Powell

Discipleship Ministry Assistant

Bill Stembridge

Director of Hospitality &
Pastor of Food

Dee Pace

Children’s Music Associate

Angie Lewis

Certified Licensed
Professional Counselor

Melissa Bass

Communications/Media Assistant