Senior Pastors
Matt & Erica Smith
Youth Pastor
Bethany Strawn
Jane Richardson
Tabatha Bunn
Receptionist
Matt was born and raised in West Plains, MO. He graduated from Arkansas State University with a degree in Music Education. In 1996, Matt entered the ministry and came on staff at First Assembly in 1997. From 1997 until 2006 Matt served First Assembly as Evangelism Pastor, Youth Pastor, and interim Music Pastor. After a year and a half of serving in Iowa as Young Adult Pastors, Matt and Erica returned to First Assembly as Senior Pastors in 2007. Matt and Erica have been married since 1999 and welcomed their first child, Brianna, to the family in August, 2009. Both Matt and Erica enjoy St. Louis Cardinal baseball and bass fishing.
Debbie was born on January 20, 1949 in El Dorado, Arkansas. She moved to Jonesboro, AR in the middle of her first grade year. She attended West School, and in the middle of her fifth grade year, she moved to South School. She attended Annie Camp Junior High and Jonesboro High. She also attended ASU for three years. She got saved on December 2, 1979. Debbie married Steve Lewis on August 29, 1980. She first came to First Assembly in 1989, and began working at the church in 1992.
Secretary
Debbie Lewis
Josh & Cristy Harlan
Associate/College Pastors
Food Ministry Director
Children's Pastors
Tony & Angie Waller
Tabatha was raised in Walnut Ridge, but moved to Jonesboro in August 1999. She graduated from ASU in 1995 with a BSE in Spanish and later worked at CityTeam Ministries Rescue Mission ,until it closed in the fall of 2001. This experience unknowingly prepared her in becoming the Coordinator of Provision 88, JFA's food ministry. Ms. Tabby has been teaching the Preschool Sunday school class for several years. She helps Bro. Tony and Sis. Angie in PowerChurch with teaching the kids about missions. Ms. Tabby is also known for being an avid Snoopy fan!
Josh was born in Jonesboro, AR and moved around before moving to Georgia, with his Father, in 1996. In 2004, during his troubled teen years, someone witnessed to him in a Target parking lot and he gave his life to Jesus that night. Immediately feeling a call to ministry, Josh pursued a life of hands on training and developed a successful gospel rap ministry. He produced an album and traveled the U.S. to preach the gospel through music and saw many lives come to Christ. He married his wife, Cristy, in November of 2008. They have two children Emmanuel and Timothy. They came on staff in August of 2011. Josh assumes the rolls of Associate, Evangelism and Young Adult Pastor. He is currently pursuing credentials with the AG. Josh and Cristy enjoy spending time as a family, reading, traveling and they love University of Georgia football.
Jane was born and raised in Jonesboro, but she lived in Little Rock for a year. She is married to Ronnie, and they have three sons. Justin lives in St. Louis, Wes lives in Little Rock, and Brian lives here in Jonesboro. She has two Cavalier King Charles Spaniels, Josey and Chocky. Jane also has two love birds, Baby and Rosemary. Her favorite T.V. shows are Lost, 24, Nancy Grace, House Hunters, and Color Splash. She loves to bird watch, especially in the spring!
Tony grew up in Marion and joined the staff of First Assembly in April of 1999. In November of 2000, he married the love of his life, Angie, and together they minister to the kids of JFA. They welcomed their first child, Emma Leigh, in June of 2010. Tony is a huge fan of Star Wars and Angie is a lifelong collector of beautiful rocks. In their spare time, they enjoy spending time with family, vacationing in Branson, watching the Atlanta Braves and checking out the caves of America.
Bethany is a recent graduate of Central Bible College with a B.A. in youth ministry. She came on board at JFA as student pastor in November of 2010. Bethany’s heart is to see students connect with God, each other and their purpose in life. Along with student ministry, Bethany loves spending time with her family, shopping, the beach, sweet tea, and crime fighting.
Custodian & Nursery Coordinator
David & Christina Harrin
matt@firstassemblyjonesboro.org
josh@firstassemblyjonesboro.org
bethany@firstassemblyjonesboro.org
tony@firstassemblyjonesboro.org
debbie@firstassemblyjonesboro.org
janey3bjwb@hotmail.com