Meet the staff


  • RACHAEL GIBSON

    CHILDREN's MINISTER

    Rachael is a native of Beckley, West Virginia, and a 2000 graduate of Marshall University, where she earned a degree in elementary education with a specialization in early childhood education. She later completed a master’s degree in early childhood special education in 2003. Rachael taught for six years before stepping away from the classroom to focus on raising her family. She is married to Josh Gibson, and they have three children, Suzana, Leo, and Nora. Rachael joined Fifth Avenue Baptist Church in 2006 and worshiped with congregations in Lexington, Kentucky, and Durham, North Carolina, before returning to Huntington in 2013.


    Office Hours: 

    Monday: 9:00 am - 3:30 pm

    Thursday: 10:00 am - 3:30 pm   

  • DR. Alexander Wook Lee

    Interim Music Director


    Alex serves as Assistant Professor of Voice Music and Opera Director, as well as Coordinator of Voice Studies in the Department of Music at Marshall University. He earned his doctoral degree from Rutgers University. In addition to his academic work, Alex has served several congregations as a music director, most recently at Pea Ridge United Methodist Church. He and his wife, Sara, have two daughters, Elizabeth and Lydia. Sara serves as the organist at another church in Huntington.


  • jon brannon

    organist

    Jon is a West Virginia native, born in Bluefield, where his interest in music began at age 11. In 2004, he was appointed to his first organist position at Bramwell Presbyterian Church in Bramwell, West Virginia, while studying with renowned keyboardist and composer Dr. Evan Mack at Concord University. During that time, he also served Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Bluefield for Saturday services.


    In 2010, Jon was called to Huntington, where he accepted the position of organist and choir director at St. Peter’s Episcopal Church. It was during this season that he discovered a passion for composition, writing weekly anthems for the choir and providing incidental music for special services at other Episcopal churches in the area. Jon became the organist at Fifth Avenue Baptist Church in 2015, beginning on Palm Sunday.


    Beyond his weekly church commitments, Jon has been featured twice as a guest organist at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, D.C., for its annual Summer Organ Series, and was invited as the only American competitor in the Galanti Organ Competition in Mondaino, Italy. His recording work includes a full program on the landmark E.M. Skinner organ at Washington National Cathedral.


    Outside of music ministry, Jon works as a production assistant at iHeartMedia, producing commercials and other on-air material, and is known as “The Professor” on WBVB’s The Woody Show. He also enjoys antique cars, a lifelong fascination.

  • Jim Isaac

    Staff Coordinator

    Jim is a longtime member of Fifth Avenue Baptist Church and brings a wealth of experience in education and service to our congregation. He spent his career as a principal in the Cabell County School system and at St. Joseph Catholic School. Jim earned both his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Marshall University and proudly served in the United States Army, including service in Vietnam.

    Throughout his years at Fifth Avenue Baptist Church, Jim has served on church commissions, taught Sunday School classes, and participated in mission trips. He is married to Brenda, and we are grateful to have Jim serving with us during this Interim season.


    Office Hours: 

    Monday: 9:00 am - 3:30 pm

    Tuesday: 9:00 am - 3:30 pm

    Thursday: 9:00 am - 3:30 pm

  • KYLE HUGHES

    Office Administrator

    Kyle has been part of the FAB family since childhood and has served the church in a variety of roles over the years. He has worked as a summer and break office assistant, taught in the Children’s Ministry, and served on both the Youth Commission and the youth ministry leadership teams. Before becoming our Office Administrator, Kyle followed his passion for golf as a Golf Pro at a local country club. Kyle is married to his wife, Jess, and they are the proud parents of two daughters, Carly and Hallie.


    Office Hours: 

    Monday: 9:00 am - 3:30 pm

    Wednesday - Friday: 9:00 am - 3:30 pm


  • SCOTT BALLARD

    Pastoral Care Coordinator

    Scott has been a devoted member of Fifth Avenue Baptist Church since early childhood, having attended FAB since he was about three years old. Over the years, he has been actively involved in numerous ministries, including the Food Basket Christmas Mission, Feeding the Homeless, Stephen Ministry, the Koinonia Class, the Missions and Ministry Commission, and Home Communion.


    Professionally, Scott is a retired chiropractor with 27 years of experience. He also served as an educator in the Standardized Patient Program at the Marshall University School of Medicine for more than nine years, retiring from that role in November 2022.


    Scott met his wife, Leigh, while attending Palmer University of Chiropractic in Davenport, Iowa. Leigh later relocated to Huntington, West Virginia, and has worked as a physical therapist at St. Mary’s Hospital since 1980. The couple was married in 1982 by former FAB pastor Dr. R. F. Smith. They have two adult sons, Quinn and Corey (who is married to Brittney), and are proud grandparents to Margot and Tate.


    Fifth Avenue Baptist Church has always been a central part of Scott and Leigh’s family life. They cherish their church family and value the deep sense of care, love, and support found at FAB—a community that consistently walks alongside one another in friendship and in faith, following Christ together.


    Office Hours: 

    Monday: 9:00 am - 3:30 pm

    Tuesday: 9:00 am - 3:30 pm

    Friday: 9:00 am - 1:30 pm

     

  • lISA DUDLEY

    FINANCe manager

    Lisa has been a member of Fifth Avenue Baptist church since 1982 and joined Fifth Avenue Baptist's staff in July 2017. As Finance Manager, she brings our congregation 40 years of experience and expertise in accounting and bookkeeping. She has worked in the private business sector in Huntington and Barboursville, and has also worked in the financial office of another local church. Lisa and her husband, Todd, of 45 years, have three grown children (Kristin, Ryan & Joshua) who have blessed them with six grandchildren (Ethan, Hannah, Bruce, Dwight, Lincoln, and William). Their children have spread their wings and have moved from West Virginia, so traveling to visit their children and their families is what brings them the greatest joy and is how they like to spend their spare time. 


    Office Hours: 

    Tuesday: 9:00 am - 4:00 pm

    Wednesday: 9:00 am - 4:00 pm

    Thursday: 9:00 am - 4:00 pm  

  • Kyla Nelson

    Communications director

    Kyla is a Huntington native and Marshall University graduate, holding both a bachelor's and a master's degree in journalism. She has more than 15 years of experience as a news reporter. She joined Fifth Avenue Baptist because she is passionate about helping others and wanted to use her skills in a more meaningful way. Kyla is married and has two children. In her free time, she homeschools her children, and she enjoys sewing, music, and reading.


    Office Hours:

    Monday: 9:00 am - 2:00 pm

    Wednesday: 9:00 am - 2:00 pm

    Thursday: 9:00 am - 2:00 pm (remote)

    Sunday: 9:00 am - 2:00 pm

  • Mycah Pemberton

    Interim Youth Director

    Mycah is a proud native of Ohio (Go Bucks!) and now lives in Ashland, KY, with her steadfast husband, Chris Sizemore, and their three beautiful children: Colin, Jennings, and Ellen. She has been a member of Fifth Avenue Baptist Church since 2019, serving on both the Children’s and Youth Commissions and teaching Youth Sunday School.


    For the past eight years, Mycah worked as a paralegal in a real estate law firm. She is now following a God-led calling into ministry, beginning in her home church. She is grateful for the unwavering support of her husband and the encouragement of her FAB church family.


    As she continues to discern her path in ministry, Mycah hopes to faithfully serve the next generation of Fifth Avenue Baptist, helping bridge the rich traditions of the faith with the timeless wisdom our children bring to our church and worship.


    Office Hours:

    Monday: 9:00 am - 2:00 pm

    Thursday: 9:00 am - 2:00 pm