Our Ministers
Rev. David L. Stewart – Senior Pastor: Rev. Stewart was called to Mt. Emory Baptist Church, January 2005 as interim Pastor. After 8 months of dedicated service Mt. Emory prayerfully voted to receive Rev. Stewart as its Pastor on September 12, 2005. Rev. Stewart is a 1998 Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society graduate of Richland Community College with an A.S. and a 2000 graduate of Millikin University with a B.S. in Management Information Systems. He graduated from Illinois Baptist College and Seminary in Galesburg, IL in 2005 with a M.Div, and from Illinois State University in 2006 with a MBA degree. He is also an employee at the Archer Daniels Midland Company in Decatur, IL where he works as a Manager in the Information Technology Department. Rev. Stewart is currently working to complete his dissertation for a doctoral degree in Theology.
Family: Married to Joselyn a graduate of the University of Kansas with BA degrees in Economics and History. At Kansas she also completed he Masters Degree in Urban Planning in 1992. Joselyn is employed by the City of Decatur as a Transportation Planner. The couple has five daughters: Angela, Kandyse, Jordan, Allison, and Kaitlyn. Pastor Stewart also has a God-given special daughter Alexia Beasley.
Rev. Abraham Brown -
Retired Pastor: Rev. Brown brings many years of pastoral experience to Mt. Emory. He grew up and was later called to the ministry at Mt. Emory and served on many occasions as the Interim Pastor for the church. Rev. Brown served for 36 years as Senior Pastor of the St. James Baptist Church of Hillsboro, IL commuting the 80 mile trip weekly. He retired in 2007 and returned to his home church Mt. Emory. Rev. Brown has retired from pastoring but not ministering. He shares his wisdom and knowledge with the ministers and members of the church as well as anyone who will listen. Rev. Brown teaches the adult Sunday School class each week. He is a veteran of the Army where he served as a Military Police officer. Rev. Brown is the Uncle to Hall of Fame Boxer Ken Norton who was recently honored in Jacksonville as a hometown hero.
Family: Rev. Brown was married to Helen (deceased), his wife of 65 years. They have four married children, Cheryl Lynn McCleary, Aurelia Reese, Abraham Brown Jr. (deceased), and Bonnie Kay Fearson
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Rev. Johnny L. Nichols Jr. - Associate Minister: The son of the late, Rev. Johnny Nichols Sr., Rev. Nichols grew up watching his dad pastor in Mississippi. Rev. Nichols was called into ministry at Mt. Emory in 2007. After years of faithfully serving the church as a deacon, God called him to preach the gospel and he continues to use his gifts sharing the love of Christ and furthering the Kingdom of God. Rev. Nichols has spent many years serving God through music in quartet groups growing up in Mississippi and Texas and a few years ago helped start the gospel group, the Jacksonville Gospelaires. Rev. Nichols is an employee of Reynolds Corporation as an Operator/Safety Coordinator.
Family: Married to Regina in 1997. Regina is an Office Manager at 8 Points Charter School. She serves in several capacities in the church primarily as Youth Director. They have four children, Lerelcus, Ledkrick, Ashley, and Meyonna.
Minister Isiah Weber - Associate Minister: Isiah is a native of Jacksonville. He professed his faith in Jesus and was baptized at a very early age. After graduating from Penn Foster High School at the age of 16, Isiah realized his calling into the gospel ministry and returned to Mt. Emory his childhood church home. Isiah loves to play the guitar and has an outstanding level of Biblical knowledge that was gained through what he states as the internal witness of the Holy Spirit and hours upon hours of study. Though young in age, Isiah display a level of wisdom that is well beyond his years. In February 2016, Isiah was licensed as a minister by Pastor David L. Stewart.
