Dean and Lisa met while serving as partners on a Baptist Student Union mission team traveling the state of South Carolina, and they are excited about FernwoodBaptistChurch's commitment to excellent worship and mission engagement.Their family now includes Jonathan, age eleven, and Rachel, age seven.At FernwoodBaptistChurch, Dean and Lisa serve jointly in the one position of pastor, a pattern of ministry they have shared in the past.
Dean Allen is a native of Spartanburg, South Carolina, and has many family members in the area.After graduating from FurmanUniversity, Dean obtained the M.Div. degree from Southern Seminary in 1993.Later, he obtained the Ph.D. degree in Social Ethics and Sociology of Religion from BostonUniversity.Dean was ordained by FirstBaptistChurch, Fort Mill, South Carolina, and he has standing as a minister in the American Baptist Churches, USA.
Dean has served as Pastor of Zion Baptist Church in Indiana, as a Baptist Campus Minister, and as Dean and faculty member at AndoverNewtonTheologicalSchool in Boston, Massachusetts.Dean also served as Co-Pastor with Lisa at FirstBaptistChurch, Weston, Massachusetts.He has led Bible studies and worship gatherings of the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship of the Northeast.
Lisa Wimberly-Allen was born in England and, as the child of an Air Force family, has called many places home.For many years, she has considered Fort Walton Beach, Florida, home.Lisa first came to Spartanburg, South Carolina, to attend ConverseCollege, where she received the B.A. degree.Lisa obtained the M. Div. degree from Southern Seminary and then the Ph.D. degree from BostonUniversity in Social Ethics, with an emphasis on Business Ethics.Lisa was ordained by FirstBaptistChurch, Newton Centre, Massachusetts, and she has standing as a minister in the American Baptist Churches, USA.
Lisa served as Baptist Campus Ministry Intern in Spartanburg, and she has been a Chaplain at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and BentleyCollege.Lisa served as Pastor of First Baptist Church in Weston, Massachusetts.Lisa has been Moderator for the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship of the Northeast and served on the Representative Assembly of the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship of Florida.
Reverend Stuart Jones
Associate Pastor/Minister to Youth
Stuart Jones grew up in Carlisle, South Carolina and attended UnionHigh School. After graduation in 1980, Stuart attended MarsHillCollege, where he received his undergraduate degree in religion. In 1985, he enrolled at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary where he received his Master in Divinity Degree. During his time at Southeastern, Stuart served as a Youth intern in Manassas, Virginia and as a technician at DorotheaDixHospital in Raleigh, NC.
Stuart began his ministry in the local church in 1990 when he was called to serve as Minister to Youth and Families at OaklandBaptistChurch in Lexington, SC. Since then he has served churches in Greenville, NC, Oakridge, TN, and Sanford, NC. Stuart and his wife, Laura have three sons: Nathan (21), Aaron (18), and Thaddeus (11). Stuart enjoys North Carolina basketball, Gamecock football, softball, snow skiing, weight lifting, hiking, reading, gardening, and reptiles.
