Dr. Greg Ammons
Senior Pastor
Our Senior Pastor was born and raised in Boswell, Oklahoma, where he attended the First Baptist Church as a child. At the age of nine, God convicted his heart of the need to place his faith in Jesus Christ as his personal Savior. Later, God called him to vocational ministry as a teen.

Dr. Ammons earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Religion from Oklahoma Baptist University in 1982. During his collegiate days, he also served as Associate Pastor and Staff Evangelist of his home church in Boswell, Oklahoma.

God then directed Dr. Ammons to Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth. He earned a Master of Divinity Degree with emphases in Evangelism and Missions in 1986 and a Doctor of Ministry Degree with emphases in Pastoral Ministry and Theology in 1988. During his matriculation at Southwestern, Dr. Ammons also served as the Pastor of Floyd Baptist Church near Greenville, Texas.

In 1989, God called Dr. Ammons to serve as the Senior Pastor of Faith Baptist Church in Iowa Park, Texas, where he served for almost 15 years. He then came to the First Baptist Church of Garland in 2004 as the Senior Pastor.

In addition to serving in the pastorate, Dr. Ammons has taught theology on the university level at Wayland Baptist University and Dallas Baptist University, and has supervised doctoral projects for Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. Recently, he authored the book, Now My Eye Sees You: What A Doctorate Did Not Teach Me About God … My Son Did. His hobbies include sports, traveling, and broadcasting sporting events for Cumulus Broadcasting.

Dr. Ammons and his wife, Lisa, have been married since 1985 and have one son, Camden, who was born on July 4, 2003.

Dr. Doug Powell
Associate Pastor
Minister of Education
My family and I joined the FBCG staff team in June 2006. I am a native of Georgia and graduated from the University of Georgia and Golden Gate Baptist Theological Seminary. In December 2008, I completed a Ph.D. in Leadership and Church Ministry from Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. I've been married for 25 years to my wife, Lynnette, and we have two daughters – Rebecca & Rachel.

When I'm not at the church, I enjoy golf, reading, and being a sports fan. (Go Dawgs!) My passion in ministry is seeing people come to faith in Christ, develop as devoted disciples, and discover their place of ministry in and through the local church. My life verse is Colossians 1:28 – “We proclaim him, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone perfect in Christ.” I love many things about serving at FBC Garland, including the plentiful supply of Mexican food in the area.

Jack E. Schmid
Associate Pastor
Pastoral Ministries and Senior Adults
After working for several major corporations for over 16 years, I came to know Jesus Christ as my personal Lord and Savior in October, 1979, at Castle Hills First Baptist Church in San Antonio, Texas. A short nine months later, I heard God's call to full-time vocational ministry, where I pioneered and pastored a new church, Village Parkway Baptist Church in San Antonio for ten years. I also pastored the First Baptist Church of Bellaire, Texas (Houston), before coming to First Baptist Church of Garland in 1995 as Associate Pastor of Pastoral Ministries, Hospital Ministries, and Senior Adult Ministries.

I attended Texas A & M University and graduated from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas. My wife, Gwen, and I have three grown sons, Stephen, David, and Matthew, and two precious grandchildren. Among my other responsibilities, I love leading our members on trips all over the world with my wife, Gwen. We especially love visiting Israel and the Middle East, where we have traveled many times.

Jim Witt
Associate Pastor
Minister of Missions and Assimilation
I was born in Dallas and grew up in Mt. Pleasant, Texas. At the age of nine at First Baptist Church, Mt. Pleasant, I became a Christian and was later baptized. After graduating from Mt. Pleasant High School, I attended and graduated from Baylor University in Waco, where I received a B.A. in Psychology. I later attended Midwestern State University in Wichita Falls and received an MA. in Clinical Psychology. While working as a school psychologist, I felt a call to vocational Christian service. I felt God wanted me to go to Southwestern Seminary in Fort Worth to prepare for this service. I followed the Lord's direction and graduated with the Master of Divinity Degree. Seeking more ministerial preparation, I did a year of clinical internship at Shannon Memorial West Texas Hospital.

In the summer of 1986, I became Minister of Single Adults and Evangelism at Sagamore Hill Baptist Church in Fort Worth. Feeling the Lord calling me out of my comfort zone, I became the Minister of Single Adults and Missions at First Baptist Church of Alexandria, Virginia, in 1987, and spent 11 years on staff. While I was there, I met my sweet wife, Alyson, and we were married on October 17, 1990. We added Bradley to our family with his birth on February 4, 1997. In 1999, the Lord led us to FBC Garland as Associate Pastor of Missions and Assimilation, where we are having a wonderful adventure.

Bob Couch
Minister of Recreation and Family Activities
I was born and raised in Tyler, Texas. I became a Christian at the age of six and was baptized at First Baptist Church in Tyler. After graduating from Robert E. Lee High School, I attended Baylor University and graduated with a BBA in Marketing/Management in 1978. While working in the business world and serving as a Deacon at Plymouth Park Baptist Church in Irving, I felt a call to vocational Christian service.

In the summer of 1988, I became Minister of Recreation and Middle School Students at Plymouth Park Baptist Church where I had been a member since 1981. I grew tremendously during this time under the leadership of B.O. Baker and other outstanding ministers. After several years of wonderful ministry, the Lord led me to another exciting opportunity.

In October, 1995, I answered the call of First Baptist Church Garland to serve as Minister of Recreation and Activities. Upon arriving at FBCG, all attention was given to the opening of the McDonald Activity Center in the spring of 1996. The past 11 years have been a tremendous blessing, and I am grateful for the opportunity to serve this wonderful congregation.

Charlotte Davidson
Preschool Minister
I grew up in a large Christian home where I learned of Christ's love at an early age. I made a personal commitment to Christ at the age of eight and was later baptized into First Baptist Church, Norman, Oklahoma.

After graduating from the University of Oklahoma with a BA in Advertising and Public Relations, I went on to earn a Masters of Religious Education Degree from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. Shortly after graduation, I began the practical phase of my education when I became a mother. While I was a young, stay-at-home mom, I gained several years of experience working part-time in the Preschool Ministry of The Heights Baptist Church in Richardson, TX. I joined the First Baptist Garland staff in May of 2004 as the Preschool Minister.

I married my best friend, Craig, in 1984. We have three wonderful children, Caroline, Angela, and Daniel. We enjoy traveling, camping, and attending our children's many games, concerts, and school events.

I try to live my life according to Micah 6:8, “He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.” I count it an honor to be able to minister to Preschoolers and their parents and believe that if we all came to the Lord “as a little child” and accepted Him as simply and completely as Micah 6:8, the world would be a better place.

Amy Owens
Children's Minister
I am a native Texan and was blessed to grow up in a Christian home where prayer was important and attendance at church and Sunday School was mandatory! I came to know Jesus Christ as my personal Lord and Savior at the age of 14 while attending First Baptist Church of Texarkana, Texas, where I benefited from wonderful children’s and youth programs that inspired and challenged me as I grew in the Lord. I later earned a BA in Social Work from Baylor University and have enjoyed working in several social service settings including Big Brothers and Sisters of Dallas, Baylor Medical Center at Dallas, and serving as Director of a senior citizens center in Lawton, Oklahoma.

In 1989, I married my terrific husband, Todd, who enthusiastically supports me in all that I do. Todd and I have been blessed with two wonderful children, Jessica and Austin. I enjoyed the opportunity to be a stay-at-home mom with them for many years.
Our family became members of First Baptist Church Garland in 1997. I began working part-time as interim Children's Coordinator in 2003. During my interim service, I felt called to minister to children and families at First Garland full-time and have served as Children’s Minister since 2004. I am passionate about partnering with parents to teach our children and future generations to love the Lord our God with all our hearts and to obey his teachings as the Bible proclaims in Deuteronomy 6:1-7.

I enjoy creating scrapbooks for my children, watching baseball, traveling, reading, and being outdoors.