WHO WE ARE

Teaching CHILDREN GRADES 1-6 to know their purpose in life–honor and glorify God by receiving Jesus Christ as Savior, to know God’s Word, and to tell this Good News. “Teach the children to love the Lord their God with all their heart, with all their soul, and with all their might” -Deuteronomy 6:5

Meet our staff

Image of Anna Slay — Anna Slay
Director of Women Students

Originally from Hoover AL, Anna joined the Lakeview family in January of 2016. She received her B.S. in Nursing from Auburn University in 2009. Following her graduation from Auburn, Anna moved back to Birmingham and worked as a pulmonary nurse at UAB. During this time, Anna developed more of a passion for serving young women and was actively involved in youth ministry with her local church.

After working as a nurse for 3 years, Anna sensed the Lord calling her into full-time ministry. She graduated from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary with her Master of Arts in Ministry to women in December 2015. Anna is excited to use her gifts and talents to minister to the college women at Lakeview.

Email: aslay@lakeviewbaptist.org

Brother Al, as the Lakeview family knows him, has been Lakeview’s pastor since 1979. A native of Florala, Alabama, he is a graduate of Samford University, Birmingham, Alabama. He received his Master of Divinity degree from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, Fort Worth, Texas, and his Doctor of Ministry degree from Fuller Theological Seminary, Pasadena, California.

In addition to his responsibilities as pastor, Brother Al oversees and serves as Center Director of Lakeview’s on-site internship/seminary program with The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary of Louisville, Kentucky. Additionally, he has ministered God’s Word throughout the United States and in Asia, Europe, Latin America and Africa.

Brother Al and his wife, Kem, have been married since 1972 and have three married children and nine grandchildren.

EMAIL: ghood@lakeviewbaptist.org

Image of Cliff Knight — Cliff Knight
Associate Pastor - Minister to Families

Originally from Slocomb, Alabama, Cliff came to Auburn as a student in 1979 and has been on Lakeview’s staff since 1981. He graduated from Auburn with a degree in Education in 1983 and has a Masters of Divinity from The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary of Louisville, Kentucky. After serving as Lakeview’s Youth and Evangelism Minister from 1981 to 1991, Cliff was the College Pastor until February, 2008 when he began his new role as the Family Ministries pastor.

He is married to Toma Ford Knight of Auburn and they have five children: Becky, Ben, Whit, Ansley, and Clay.

EMAIL: cknight@lakeviewbaptist.org

Image of Eric Ellis — Eric Ellis
Associate Pastor - Minister of Administration

Eric, a native of Centre, Alabama, graduated from Auburn University with a degree in General Business. He managed his family’s retail grocery stores, Big E Super Markets, for 15 years before receiving his Masters of Divinity degree in 2002 from The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky through Lakeview’s extension program.

After graduating, Eric served as Associate Pastor, Minister of Administration, at St. Andrew Baptist Church in Panama City, Florida until returning to Lakeview in April, 2007 as Minister of Administration where he seeks to provide godly leadership in Lakeview’s personnel, finance, facilities and food service ministries.

EMAIL: eellis@lakeviewbaptist.org

Image of Grady Smith — Grady Smith
Associate Pastor - Minister to Internationals

Originally from Birmingham, Grady has been involved at Lakeview since his college years at Auburn. He received his Masters of Divinity degree in 2005 from The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky, through Lakeview’s pastoral internship program. He also received his Ph.D. from Southern Seminary in 2013 in the field of missions, evangelism, and church growth, with his research in the area of how one’s view of God’s providence impacts one’s prayer life.

Grady first came on staff at Lakeview as a pastoral intern in 2002. After completing that program in 2005, he became an assistant in the Internationals Ministry. He was named Director of Internationals Ministry in 2007 and then an Associate Pastor in 2009.

Grady is married to Julia, and they have two sons, Grady Jeremiah and Richard Josiah.

EMAIL: gsmith@lakeviewbaptist.org

TWITTER: @gradysmith

BLOG: www.gradyandjulia.com

Image of Greg Key — Greg Key
Associate Pastor - Minister to Youth

Originally from Birmingham, Alabama, Greg graduated from Auburn University in 1998 with a degree in graphic design and illustration. He worked for three years at Details Communications doing design work for churches and Christian colleges all over the country.

Greg earned his Masters of Divinity from the New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, and began his ministry to youth at Hunter Street Baptist Church. From there he served as Minister to Youth and Students at North Highlands Baptist Church in Hueytown, Alabama before joining Lakeview’s staff in 2002 as Youth Pastor where he works with youth in grades 7-12.

Greg is married to Ginger since 1999 and they have three children: Micah, Caroline, & Caleb.

EMAIL: gkey@lakeviewbaptist.org

TWITTER: @lakeviewuthguy

BLOG: gregkey.com

Image of Hal — Hal
Associate Pastor - Minister of Missions and Prayer

(For security reasons, Hal’s full name and picture are withheld here)

Originally from Huntsville, Alabama, Hal holds an undergraduate and a Master’s degree from Auburn University (1976, 1988) and spent fifteen years coaching and teaching prior to joining Lakeview’s staff in 1992 as Minister of Youth and Evangelism.

As Minister of Prayer since 1996, Hal leads weekly Wednesday night prayer meetings and gives oversight to “The Gap”, Lakeview’s 24-hour prayer room.

As Lakeview’s new Minister of Missions, he oversees our “Trinity Plan” missions strategy for engaging people all around the world with the Gospel and for supporting the work of Lakeview members and other ministry partners serving the Lord oversees.

Hal is married to Jere, and they have 2 married daughters and 2 grandchildren.

hal@lakeviewbaptist.org

Image of Matthew McVay — Matthew McVay
Associate Pastor - Interim Minister of Music

Matthew McVay has been a member of Lakeview since 2002. He has been involved in the music ministry since he moved to Auburn in junior high school. He has been part of the choir and orchestra, and has also served on worship teams in the youth and college ministries over the years. In 2015, he graduated from Auburn University with a Master’s degree in Marine Biology.

Matthew previously served as the Interim Minister of Music at Lakeview in 2012, and at Beallwood Baptist Church in Columbus, GA from 2014-2015.

Matthew has been married to Emily, his high school sweetheart, since 2010, and they have one son, James.

Email: mmcvay@lakeviewbaptist.org

Image of John Dale Rector — John Dale Rector
Associate Pastor - Minister of Congregational Care

John Dale is a native of Attalla, Alabama. He joined Lakeview in 1980 and served as Lakeview’s pianist prior to receiving his undergraduate degree from Auburn University. After receiving his graduate degree at Mid-America Baptist Theological Seminary in 1987, he then served as Director of Admissions/ Instructor in Christian Education at Crichton College in Memphis, Tennessee.

John Dale has served on Lakeview’s staff since 1989. He gives leadership and direction in Lakeview’s benevolence, hospital, and shut-in ministries. He also teaches an Adult Bible Study class on Sunday mornings.

EMAIL: jdrector@lakeviewbaptist.org

Image of Michael — Michael
Associate Pastor - Minister to College Students

Michael joined the Lakeview family in January of 2013. He was born in Jackson, Michigan, but grew up in west Tennessee. In 2003 he received his Bachelor of Science in Mathematical Sciences from Lambuth University where he also played football and baseball. After college, he played professional football.

During his time playing professional football in 2003, Michael surrendered his life to Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior and shortly after surrendered to God’s call into vocational ministry.

Michael and his wife, Shannon, were married in March of 2007 and have one adopted daughter named Promise. They are currently in the process of adopting another little girl from China whose name will be Mercy Lin.

Michael has served in local churches in Tennessee and Florida and in various other capacities over the years including youth ministry, recreation ministry, missions, and of course college ministry. Michael and Shannon also spent two years overseas.

EMAIL: michael@lakeviewbaptist.org

WHO WE ARE

Meet our staff

Anna Slay

Al Jackson

Cliff Knight

Eric Ellis

Grady Smith

Greg Key

Hal

Matthew McVay

John Dale Rector

Michael