About Us
What We Believe
We affirm the Holy Bible as the inspired Word of God as the basis for our beliefs in which every Christian is a priest and may approach God without any mediator other than Christ.
We voluntarily band ourselves together as a body of baptized believers in Jesus Christ, personally committed to sharing the good news of salvation to everyone, especially to those who do not know Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.
We believe in the doctrine of Soul Competency in which individual Christians are competent to interpret the Bible and God’s will for themselves.
Lay people are spiritually equipped to do the work of ministry.
We affirm the historic Baptist principle of the Separation of the Church and State.
We further believe in the autonomy of the local church – each church is responsible for its destiny and is not dependent upon denominational authority.
The ordinances of the church are believer’s baptism and the Lord’s Supper.
We’re a family of faith in Farmville, NC, who are following Christ, walking together, and seeking to minister.
Our Core Values
This is what’s important to us at First Baptist Church.
Worship
Responding to God with reverence, gratitude, and praise, honoring Him in both our gatherings and our daily lives.
Discipleship
Growing to be more like Jesus through learning, obedience, and intentional spiritual formation.
Fellowship
Building authentic, loving relationships that encourage, support, and unite us as one body in Christ.
Ministry
Using our God-given gifts to serve others with compassion, meeting needs within the church and the community.
Missions
Sharing the gospel and God’s love locally and globally, partnering with God’s work to reach all people.
Our Leadership
Rev. Graham Byrum
Senior Pastor - pastorgrahambyrum@gmail.com
Rev. Graham Byrum began his ministry at First Baptist Church in April 2021. Having been raised in the home and nurture of a minister’s family, he began his relationship with Jesus at the age of eight. As he became active in his home church, First Baptist Scotland Neck, he began to sense a call to ministry. After earning a Bachelor of Science in Poultry Science degree at NCSU, Graham enrolled at Campbell University Divinity School (CUDS) to pursue theological and ministry training. God used CUDS to deepen Graham’s understanding of the Gospel of Jesus and to see how he had been uniquely gifted by the Spirit of God to be His instrument. He has been blessed to serve and gain experience in various settings and his goal in ministry has always been to leverage his gifts for the furthering of God’s Kingdom. Graham is married to Jeanna and they have been blessed with two sons, Luke and Levi. The Byrum’s enjoy spending their time outdoors on various adventures, playing sports, hunting, playing with their Jack Russell Terrier, Kristian, and raising racing pigeons!
Beth Outland
Minister with Youth - outlande17@ecu.edu
Beth Outland has been a member of First Baptist Church for 21 years. She has served as the FBC Youth Minister since February 2024. Prior to that, she served as clerk and treasure for the FBC Youth Committee with prior leadership from August 2011-March 2023. She accepted the interim position as Youth Minister at FBC March 2023-July 2023. Beth has served ECU Physicians since October 2017. She married Ben in June 2004 and they have 3 children, Hunter, Landon and Hailey. All three grew up in this church and graduated from the FBC Youth group. Beth enjoys spending time with her family and grandchildren when not working with youth.
Linda Sitton
Minister with Children & Families - shortsitton320@gmail.com
Linda Sitton graduated in 1993 from East Carolina University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Special Education. She taught students with disabilities in a public school setting for 30 years. She retired from Pitt County Schools as a National Board Certified Teacher in 2023. She remains committed to helping, supporting, and advocating for individuals with disabilities. She has been involved in leading, planning and implementing ministries related to children for many years. She has served as a Sunday School teacher, Children’s Choir Leader and Youth Leader. She has also executed mission projects and experiences that serve the church family, local community and global missions. Linda answered the call to be the Minister of Children and Families at Farmville First Baptist in 2024. She and her family have been members of Farmville First Baptist Church since 2013. She is actively involved in the music ministry as a member of the choir and Acclaim. She is married to Jonathan Sitton and they have 2 sons, Turner and Kenley. Linda enjoys walking her dog Bella, spending time with her family, going to the beach, doing crafts and gardening.
Kathryn Sauls
Choir Director - ksauls1953@gmail.com
Kathryn Sauls is a graduate of the East Carolina School of Music: BM’75, MM’76, and Music Specialist 6th year degree ’81. She is the director of the First Baptist Church Adult choir and the children’s choir. This is her 7th year as choir director of the Farmville First Baptist Church. Ms. Sauls is also a retired public music school teacher with 30 years of experience in the state of NC at Farmville Middle School and Farmville Central High School. After retirement, Ms. Sauls taught 3 years at the Sallie B Howard Charter School in Wilson, NC and she is currently in her 4th year as a part-time choral teacher at the Oakwood School in Greenville, NC. She is married to Coach Dixon Sauls and has two children, Lindsay and Robyn.
Jonathan Sitton
Organist/Pianist - sittonjonathan@gmail.com
Jonathan Sitton officially joined our church staff in June 2021, as Organist/Pianist. He served as our Interim Organist/Pianist from November 2020 – June 2021. He and his wife, Linda, have been active members of FBC’s music ministry singing with the choir and Acclaim since 2013. Jonathan served as a Performing Artist and Teaching Instructor at the ECU School of Theatre and Dance from 2007 – 2022. He served as Music Specialist in the Farmville and D.H. Conley School Districts of Pitt County Schools from 1993 – 2007. He served as Choir Director/Assistant Organist/Pianist at the Ayden United Methodist Church from 1990 – 2007. Jonathan has served as accompanist/pit pianist for numerous musical productions at the Farmville Community Arts Council’s Paramount Theatre as well as the ECU/Loessin Playhouse and Summer Theatre, and The Oakwood School. He also served as an accompanist for the NCMEA High School All-State Choral Festival and the NCMEA Middle School All-State Choral Festival and Honor Chorus. Jonathan is a graduate of the ECU School of Music: BM ’92 and
MM ’98. He is a member of SEANC and Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia Fraternity of America. Jonathan and his family live in Farmville and have been members of FBC since 2013.
Nell Godley
Administrative Assistant - nellgodley@yahoo.com
Nell Godley graduated from East Carolina University in 1972 with a BS degree is Early Childhood Education and taught school in Tarboro City Schools and Pitt County Schools for 4 years. She has been a church secretary or Administrative Assistant for approximately 35 years, serving at her home church, Black Jack Free Will Baptist Church for over 17 years, The Memorial Baptist Church in Greenville for over 16 years and has been on the staff at First Baptist Church in Farmville since Dec. 2013. Nell has been married for 45 years to Lindsay Godley and they have 3 adult children and 6 wonderful grandchildren. She is a life-long member of Black Jack Free Will Baptist Church where she has been actively involved in the children’s ministry there for approximately 30 years. She has taught Sunday School and has been the director of children’s church on Sunday morning and Sunday night. Nell is currently the leader of a children’s group for ages 3-2nd grade, the director for the children’s choir and also sings in the Adult Choir. She enjoys shopping, spending time with her family, and going to the beach.
Our Affiliations
- Farmville Ministerial Association
- South Roanoke Baptist Association
- Cooperative Baptist Fellowship of North Carolina
- Baptists on Missions
