First Baptist Church

Ministerial Staff

Dr. Jeff Moore, Senior Pastor

Bro. Jeff and his wife Sharla moved to Altus in April 2002 with their now-teenage daughters Whitney and Allison. Originally from Duncan, Oklahoma, Bro. Jeff holds a Bachelor of Science in Pastoral Ministries from Oklahoma Baptist University, a Master of Divinity from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, and a Doctor of Ministry from Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. He has previously served as pastor of several churches in the region, including Immanuel Baptist in Shawnee, OK; Regency Park Baptist in Moore, OK; Calvary Baptist in Lindsay, OK; Martha Baptist in Martha, OK; and Mt. Carmel Baptist in Cleburne, TX. Besides pastoring the congregation of First Baptist Altus, Bro. Jeff enjoys hunting, golf, and fishing.

Bill McKelvey, Administrator

Bro. Bill has been at First Baptist Church since September of 2003, and he now serves as the administrator. He and his wife Heather have a son, Will Harrison, and a daughter, Hunter Karalyne. Bro. Bill is originally from Greenville, South Carolina and holds an Associate of Science in Machine Tool from Greenville Technical College; a Bachelor of Science in Industrial Management from Clemson University; and a Master of Arts in Christian Education from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. Before he felt called to the ministry, Bro. Bill worked in Hilton Head Island, SC as an assistant golf professional for the Sea Pines Golf Resort, then as a youth minister at First Baptist Church. Bro. Bill’s hobbies include woodworking, welding, golf, hunting, fishing, and photography.

Rod Smith, Minister of Music

Bro. Rod and his wife Cindy came to First Baptist Altus in 1981 from their hometown of Dallas, Texas. They have two grown children, Natalie Hogan and Benjamin Smith, and five grandchildren. Bro. Rod holds a Bachelor of Arts from Dallas Baptist University, and he studied vocal technique and pedagogy under Christine Palmer for four years. For many years Bro. Rod served as a music evangelist, and he has also served as the minister of music at First Baptist Church, Urbandale in Dallas, TX. Since being called into the music ministry in 1970, Bro. Rod has preached and/or sung in over one thousand revivals, crusades, and concerts.

Mark Brickhouse, Minister of Education

Bro. Mark joined us April 1, 2005 with his wife Gigi, daughters Reagan and Jordan, and son Collin. Although Bro. Mark hails from Texas, he moved here from Crossett, Arkansas. He earned his Bachelor of Music with Concentration in Church Music from Hardin-Simmons University and his Master of Arts in Religious Education from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. Bro. Mark has served in several various roles in Southern Baptist churches. As the Minister of Music and Youth, he served at First Baptist Church of Eula, TX, Samuels Avenue Baptist Church in Fort Worth, TX, First Baptist Church of Forest Hill in Fort Worth, TX, and Emmanuel Baptist Church in Altus, OK. While at Emmanuel, Bro. Mark moved into the Minister of Education and Youth position, where he served for three more years before moving to Crossett, AR to be the Minister of Education at First Baptist Church of Crossett. Bro. Mark’s hobbies and interests include working with people, organizing and implementing events, working with computers, multi-media projection, and all sports.

Carlos Moreno, Hispanic Mission Pastor

Bro. Carlos came to First Baptist Altus in 1987 with his wife Lupita and daughters Karla, Priscila, and Lupita. Originating from Mexico, Bro. Carlos holds an accounting degree from the Accounting Institute in Mexico, and a License to Ministry from the Bible Institute in Mexico. Since coming to the United States, Bro. Carlos has attended many conferences and seminars to enhance his ministry at First Baptist. While Bro. Carlos has past experience working as Vice President at a bank in Mexico, as well as owning his own professional brick-laying business, he has served in Christian ministry since coming to Altus. Not only has he worked as a missionary in the state, he has also held multiple pastoral roles at the First Baptist Church Hispanic Mission, of which he is now the full-time pastor. When not serving in his pastoral duties, Bro. Carlos enjoys fishing, picnics, sports, construction work, reading, and playing various musical instruments.

Zane Newton, Minister to Students

Bro. Zane joined the FBC staff in 1990 with his wife Kandy and children Kaleb and Rachel. Originally from Spearman, Texas, Bro. Zane attended Panhandle State University. He has been in student ministry for many years and has served as Minister to Students at Calvary Baptist Church in Vernon, Texas; and as Minister of Youth and Music at First Baptist Church in Laverne, Oklahoma. Bro. Zane has performed various student missions and ministries in Perryton, Texas; Texhoma, Oklahoma; and in Oregon, as well as having been a speaker for Fellowship of Christian Athletes. When he’s not working with students, Bro. Zane enjoys collecting baseball cards, watching John Wayne movies, football, campfires, fishing, playing guitar, spending time with his family, and playing solitaire.

Tyler McDowell, Associate Student Minister

Tyler joined the First Baptist staff in January of 2008.  He and his wife Crystal are expecting their first child in May.  Originally from Stroud, Oklahoma, Bro. Tyler is currently pursuing his degree in Religious Education from Liberty University.  He has proudly served on staff at FBC Tipton, OK and FBC Blair, OK as Student Minister, as well as FBC Headrick, OK as Pastor before coming to Altus.  Bro. Tyler has also been involved with various rodeo ministries and is a rodeo bullfighter.  He has enjoyed the opportunity to travel to rodeos all over the country and minster to people in this capacity.  Bro. Tyler spends his downtime hunting, fishing, reading, spending time at home with Crystal, and watching sports of all kinds.

Alga Hitchcock, Prayer Ministry Director

Alga developed the Intercessory Prayer Ministry at First Baptist in 1983 and has been the director ever since. The Prayer Ministry was the dream of her late husband Thurman Hitchcock and hers for many years. Alga has a son John and three grandsons, Richard, Andrew, and Timothy. Originally from Elizabethton, Tennessee, Alga has attended Carson-Newman College, Multnomah School of Business, Western Oklahoma State College, and Oklahoma University. She has been an employee of two state Baptist conventions, a national consultant for religious education, and has worked in several mission studies and intercessory prayer ministries. Alga has been a published writer since her high school days, and she still enjoys reading and writing.

Joyce Russell, Preschool/Children's Director

Joyce Russell has been employed at the First Baptist Church since August 29th, 1996. During this time she has worked in our Preschool/Children’s Department and as our Administrator’s Assistant. Before coming to work at the First Baptist Church, Joyce worked for seven and a half years as a preschool teacher at Holly Berry Playschool. She has worked with preschoolers and children for approximately 19 years and has attended many classes and conferences pertaining to children during this time. On July 1, 2006, Joyce joined the FBC staff as our full-time Preschool/Children’s Director. She and her husband Buck have two children attending college, Larisa and Blain Russell. When she’s not working with children, Joyce enjoys spending time with her family and friends, running, reading and doing the church bulletin boards.