Our Staff

Randy Shepley

Senior Pastor
rshepley@fbcnn.org

Randy became the Senior Pastor of First Baptist Church, Newport News, in March of 2015 after seven years as the pastor of the First Baptist Church of Tucker, Georgia.

Randy received his BA in History and Christianity from Mercer University, his Masters of Divinity from the Candler School of Theology at Emory University, and his Doctor of Ministry from the McAfee School of Theology at Mercer University. Randy is passionate about helping people who are disconnected from God begin or renew their spiritual journey. He values getting followers of Jesus engaged in their neighborhoods and communities through authentic friendship and acts of service.

Randy currently serves on the Missions Council of the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship and loves participating in the Booster Club of the Menchville High School marching band. He enjoys writing articles and Bible studies, including his book, Sessions with Ezra-Nehemiah, that was published in the spring of 2016. Randy is married to Alice, a Spanish teacher at Menchville High School, and is the proud parent of James, Samuel, and Elizabeth.

Randy enjoys reading, working out, college football, family vacations, grilling pretty much anything, good sweet tea, and engaging conversations.

Juan García

Associate Pastor/Hispanics
jgarcia@fbcnn.org

Juan L. Garcia is a native of Puerto Rico. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration from the University of Puerto Rico and a Master of Divinity Degree from the John Leland Center for Theological Studies. Juan serves as the Pastor of our Hispanic Congregation, Primera Iglesia Bautista de Newport News, a multicultural congregation, with people from Mexico, Central America, South America, and the Caribbean. He is responsible for leading and providing pastoral care, such as preaching, teaching, counseling, discipleship, training leaders, developing programs, services, and ways to reach out to the Hispanic community in the Hampton Roads area for Christ. Juan loves basketball, but has recently converted to be a soccer (futból) fan. Juan is married to Monica and has two children, Natalia and Daniel.

Walter Satchell

Associate Pastor/Pastoral Care
wsatchell@fbcnn.org

Walter has been on staff at First Baptist since 2006.  He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Economics from Lynchburg College in Lynchburg, VA and was ordained to the Gospel Ministry by FBCNN in 2012. He is responsible for visiting and maintaining contact with our homebound and hospitalized members. He works closely with the diaconate, and is a Chaplain with Newport News Police. Walter is married to Jane and they have two grown children.

Lesley Spitzer

Associate Pastor/Worship and Creative Arts
lspitzer@fbcnn.org

Lesley Spitzer joined the staff of First Baptist Church, Newport News in 2012 after several years of lay ministry as the leader of Transformed, the church’s praise team. Before joining the staff, she taught elementary music for eight years in two area school systems. Lesley continues to teach piano and woodwind lessons to students of all ages as well as early-childhood music at local preschools.

Lesley holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Music from Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, VA and a Graduate Certificate of Theological Studies from Baptist Theological Seminary at Richmond, VA. FBCNN ordained Lesley to the Gospel Ministry in 2019. She is responsible for coordinating the worship services with the church staff and lay leaders, implementing creative arts in the worship experience, and supporting the continued growth of the creative arts ministry.

Lesley loves to play piano, read historical fiction, teach music, and vacation with her family in the Outer Banks and at Disney World. She is married to Rob, and they have two children, Nathaniel and Sarah.