About

Kentucky and Beyond is committed to encouraging believers to engage Kentucky, our nation and our world with the Gospel of Christ. We desire to help believers understand, embrace and participate in The Great Commission.

Kentucky and Beyond is produced by the Missions Mobilization Team of the Kentucky Baptist Convention.

Are you or your church interested in learning more about missions strategies or ministry opportunities? Contact the Missions Mobilization Team today at [email protected] or by calling 1-502-489-3530. .

Christ followers, under the power of the Holy Spirit, will tell everyone in Kentucky and beyond about Him (Acts 1:8).

Contributors

Eric Allen

Eric Allen is the leader of the Missions Mobilization Team at the Kentucky Baptist Convention.

In addition to his responsibilities as team leader, he coordinates the work of Kentucky’s appointed missionaries, associations, associational mission strategists, community outreach ministries and the distribution of hunger relief funds. Prior to joining the staff of the Kentucky Baptist Convention in 2000, Eric served 22 years in 4 different churches in Kentucky. He served Salem Baptist Church, Campbellsville (1978-1980), Central Baptist Church, Lebanon (1980-1982), Lynn Acres Baptist Church, Louisville (1982-1986), and Hyland Baptist Church, Henderson (1986-2000). Eric is a graduate of Campbellsville University (B.A.- Church Music) and the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary (M.A.– Christian Education).

Eric has served in many interim positions in Kentucky churches and is a frequent speaker at conferences and retreats, but also enjoys leading inspiring and God-honoring worship. He enjoys spending time with his family, working in the yard and playing guitar. However, Eric’s greatest joy is helping believers find satisfaction and fulfillment by using their gifts and talents in service with God.

Although they are Louisville natives, Eric and his wife Sherry reside in Shelbyville, KY. They have two grown daughters, Alyssa Allen and Katelyn Lawyer and three grandchildren.

Eric is available to assist your church or association and can be reached at [email protected] & 502-489-3402.

Teresa Parrett

Teresa Parrett has served on the Missions Mobilization Team of the Kentucky Baptist Convention since August 1999.  As Missions Mobilization Coordinator she coordinates short-term project requests, keeping an up-to-date list of project needs and connecting mission teams to these projects. 

She gives direction to the Kentucky Mission Service Corps (KY-MSC) missionary strategies by creating awareness, recruiting, training, encouraging, and assisting in placement of individuals to serve long-term in Kentucky. 

Teresa is a lifelong member, pianist, and Sunday School teacher of the Pine Hill Baptist Church in Mt. Vernon, KY and is active in the Rockcastle Baptist Association. 

A native of Mt. Vernon, Teresa now lives and works from her home office in Somerset, KY.  She enjoys leading women’s Bible studies and receives the most satisfaction from seeing individuals grow in their relationship with the Lord and in helping to connect individual and teams to places of service.

Teresa is available to assist with your missions mobilization needs and may be contacted at [email protected] & 606-875-3079.

Doug Williams

 

Doug Williams has been a Missions Strategist for the Kentucky Baptist Convention since January 2014.  Prior to joining the Missions Mobilization Team of the KBC, Doug served as the pastor of Bullitt Lick Baptist Church in Shepherdsville, KY for 11 years.  Doug led BLBC to develop a strategy for missions that embraced an Acts 1:8 paradigm—Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and the nations.

Doug married his middle school sweetheart, Cathy, in 1996.  They have four kids: Haley (husband Jaxson), Hayden, Hudson, and Holly.  In October 2020, they welcomed their first grandchild.  Doug and Cathy grew up in TN, but have spent most all of their married life in KY.  

Doug previously pastored in Somerset, KY.  He served as associate pastor of his home church in TN, where one of his responsibilities involved leading the church’s missions ministry.  He graduated from Clear Creek Baptist Bible College in 1996 (BA).  He also graduated from the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in 1999 (MDiv), 2009 (ThM), and PhD (2015).

As Missions Strategist, Doug helps churches reach Kentucky and world for Christ by developing strategies through an Acts 1:8 paradigm.  He is eager to help your church or association think biblically and strategically about reaching the nations for the glory of God.  He also works closely with NAMB and IMB in order to connect churches and associations for gospel partnerships.  Doug welcomes the opportunity to serve your church or association and can be reached at [email protected] or 502-489-3420.

John Barnett

Since April 2016, John has been working alongside the KBC Missions Mobilization Team to help empower and equip local churches to reach Kentucky and the world for Christ. Before joining the KBC staff as a Missions Strategist in April 2019, John served alongside the KBC Missions Mobilization Team for 3 years as Missions Consultant, while leading a local ministry that was equipping local churches to share Christ with refugees. John has a passion to serve local churches, as they seek to share the gospel and make disciples among unreached, unengaged, and least reached people across Kentucky and beyond!

John and his family served as Strategy Leaders for over 13 years with the IMB, where they led church planting teams in Uganda, North Africa, and Europe. John and Rebekah both graduated from Southern Seminary. Rebekah graduated with her Masters in Christian Education (MACE), and John graduated with an MDiv in International Church Planting. John and Rebekah have over 21 years of experience working with internationals, immigrants, refugees, and forcibly displaced people in Africa, Europe, and the States. John and Rebekah have been married for 22 years, and they live in Louisville with their two daughters, Rachel (19) and Sarah (16). Rachel attends Boyce College, and Sarah attends Portland Christian School. In 2017, John helped to plant an international church in Louisville.

As a Missions Strategist, John helps churches develop strategies through an Acts 1:8 paradigm that not only reflects the gifts of their church, but also helps them fulfill the Great Commission both locally and globally. Also, he helps churches discover new opportunities, build a strategy, and share Christ with unreached and displaced people in their communities and around the State. Plus, he helps churches to prepare and equip international mission teams, and to develop missional pipelines to identify, equip, and send out laborers into the harvest. 

John is eager to help your church or association think biblically and strategically about reaching the nations for the glory of God. You can reach him by email at [email protected] or call 502-654-3385.