Meet our GVBA Staff

Dr. Bill Patterson

Director of Missions

Dr. Bill Patterson comes to Green Valley from Richland, MS where he served as pastor of First Baptist Church.. Dr. Patterson served for five years as an International Mission Board missionary to Korea, which followed three pastorates as part of or following his seminary experience.

He and his wife Debbie are not strangers to our area or association. Dr. Patterson served as pastor to Cash Creek Baptist Church back in the mid-70's for three years while attending the seminary. He, then returned to Henderson to serve as pastor for First Baptist Church from 1990-2000. Dr. Patterson and his wife, Deborah, have two grown sons: Timothy, a lawyer in Evansville, and Benjamin, a marketing manager also living in Evansville.

In 1974, Dr. Patterson graduated from the University of Southern Mississippi in Hattiesburg, earning a Bachelow of Science degree with honors. In 1977, he earned a Master of Divinity degree from The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas, graduating with a perfect 4.0 GPA with an emphasis in preaching and a doctoral project on prayer.

Dr. Patterson brings with him experiences in a wide range of ministry endeavors. God has blessed him in the work of speaking, giving him the privilege of preaching revivals, mission conferences, and prayer conferences in 17 startes and four foreign countries. He's enjoyed other engagements on both state and national convention levels, serving through the Mississippi Baptist Convention, LifeWay Christian Resources, and Ridgecrest Conference Center. God has also blessed him with opportunities to teach and write. His teaching experience includes a wealth of courses led through the Oklahoma Baptist University's Ministry Training Institute. As far as writing is concerned, Dr Patterson's devotional calendar, Building a House of Prayer, was published by Broadman & Holman in 1997 and re-released in 1999. He has also written for such publications as Biblical Illustrator, Deacon, & Homelife.

MRS. KAREN LYNNE (HESLEY) TOTTON
ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT

Karen was born on the Military Naval Base in Kittery, Maine on March 24, 1962. Her father was a Marine Guard on the base. Karen is the daughter of Richard & Polly Hesley. Karen's family moved to Henderson in 1969 from Mobile, Alabama to be closer to her maternal grandparents, the late Rev. Dorris T. & Ella Mae Fulkerson.

She graduated from Henderson County High School in 1980. She married her husband, John, October 19, 1985. They have a full house including son Marshall, his wife Alyssa, three grandchildren, Alaina Ambers, Savannah Maree & Briley Lynn and daughter Rachel.

John, Karen, and Rachel are members of First Baptist Church, Henderson.

Karen joined Green Valley Baptist Association in August, 1999. You may contact Karen at 827-9867 x10 or karentotton@greenvalleybaptist.org.

MRS. KATHY J. STRANGE

DIRECTOR OF COMMUNITY MINISTRIES/THE ANSWER CENTER

After retiring from the Commonwealth of Kentucky, where Kathy was a career Social Worker, she felt God's call to be involved in a ministry that would actively meet human needs in the community while sharing Jesus as Lord. That opportunity came through Green Valley in 1999 as she became part of the committee to look at starting a ministry center. In 2000, She was hired as Director of Community Ministries where she now serves as Director of The ANSWER Center Ministry Center and works as a consultant with other associations who want practical information on starting ministry centers. Kathy, with Dr. Basinger and many volunteers, created The ANSWER Center, a ministry center that serves the Henderson, Webster, & Union County communities with FREE clothing, household items, Kid's Korner seasonal ministry, and recently putting together a Literacy Ministry. Kathy also assists with the ministries of Green Valley.

Kathy works part time. Her office hours at GVBA are Tuesday & Thursday, 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. Office hours for TAC are Tuesday & Thursday, 9:00 to 11:00 a.m. and Wednesday, 9:00 to 11:00 a.m. - 1:00 - 3:00 p.m. These are approximate times. You may contact Kathy at 827-9888 or 827-9867 x12 or kstrange@greenvalleybaptist.org.

She and her husband, Talbert, are very active members of Immanuel Baptist Temple. They have one grown son, Brent. Kathy will soon be blessed with her first grandchild. Brent & his wife, Amber, will be blessed with a son in late December or early January, 2009. We rejoice with them.