Following New Testament teaching, Liberty Baptist is an elder-led church. The elders' mission is to oversee the work and ministry of the church and to protect the doctrinal purity and spiritual vitality of the church. All of the elders are equal in authority and make decisions by unanimous consent.
Rusty Small
LEAD PASTOR
Rusty serves as lead pastor for Liberty Baptist Church after ministering as pastor of Youth and Education from January 2004 to April 2008. Rusty received a B.A. in Religion (specialization biblical studies) and M.A. in Professional Counseling from Liberty University, a Masters of Divinity in Advanced Biblical Studies and a Ph.D. in Biblical Theology from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary. Rusty is married to his wife, Melissa, and they have two sons, James and Thomas.
Don Jones
ELDER
Don was elected as an elder in 2021. He was born and raised in Virginia and is a graduate of the VMI. Don has known the Lord as his Savior since October of 1972 and has served in various roles in many churches where he has lived. Currently, he serves as Insurance Administrator, on the Stewardship and Budget Committee and working with Building and Grounds. Don and his wife Diana have seven children and 15 grandchildren.
Kevin Bailey
ELDER
Kevin was elected elder in 2021. He was raised in Alabama, where he was saved and baptized as a young boy. Kevin serves in the music ministry and teaches Sunday School here at Liberty. Kevin and his wife, Melissa, have been married since 2004 and have three beautiful daughters, Whitney, Claire, and Samantha. Kevin graduated from Liberty University School of Law in 2008. He has a law practice here in Appomattox.
Kent Hancock
ELDER
Kent serves as an Elder here at Liberty Baptist Church after being elected in 2016. He was ordained as a Deacon in 1999. Several years after making a profession of faith, Kent felt led to teach and has been teaching for over 22 years. He currently teaches the Adult 1 ( Pairs & Spares ) Sunday School Class. He is also involved in the prison and outreach ministries. Kent has been a member here at Liberty since 1967. Kent is married to Teresa McGuire Hancock, they have two children James Hancock and Nichole Yeatts and four grandchildren.
Ron Carter
ELDER
Ron was selected to serve as an elder at Liberty Baptist Church in the summer of 2023. Before accepting this role he served as a deacon in the church for two years. He currently teaches an adult bible class each Sunday morning. Ron was raised in Appomattox County, and is a graduate of Lynchburg College who has worked as an educator and athletic coach for the past 32 years. Ron and his wife Gina have been a part of our local church body for four years.
Curtis Pearson
ELDER
Curtis was selected to serve as an elder at Liberty Baptist Church in the summer of 2023. He accepted Christ at a young age, has been attending Liberty for about 20 years, and served on the committee that helped design and build the Ministry Center. Curtis was born and raised in Appomattox. After selling his construction company that he worked at for more than 30 years, he now owns and operates a real estate investment company that buys land and farms all over Virginia. Curtis and his family moved to Lynchburg in 2022 where he resides with his wife, Kristie, and their four children, Sarah, Harrison, Ella Grace, and Addie.