Link Elmore

• Served at First Baptist in 1995 as intern in youth and college ministries
• Now lives in Abington, Virginia with wife, Karen, and sons, James (4) and Benjamin (2)
• After graduating from Baptist Theological Seminary in 1995, pursued further training in Clinical Pastoral Education and Patient Counseling at Virginia Commonwealth University
• Currently works for Children's Hospital of Richmond as research assistant and with University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee in research position involving adaptation of families of teens with spina bifida
• Says of his time with FBC, "I'm sure many things have changed, but I expect much about First Knoxville remains the same as when I was there: a thoughtful, reflective, service-minded church in the heart of Knoxville.  I want to thank FBC for being both a place where I was encouraged as a young person to pursue my calling at seminary and for providing me an opportunity to learn by experience as an intern."

• Graduated from Southern Seminary 1982
• Associate Minister at First Baptist Church, Clemson SC from 1982 to 1991
• Currently lives in Raleigh, North Carolina with wife, Marcy, and twins, Keller and Leigh (8)
• Active member of FBC Raleigh, where he has served on pastor search committee and as deacon and Sunday School teacher

Leslie Hollon

• Served as intern at First Baptist, Knoxville from 1977-78
• Ordained at FBC June 25, 1978
• He and his wife Vicki have three children: Rachel (29), Ryan (26), Steven (20)
• Holds the Master of Divinity, the Master of Theology, and the Doctor of Philosophy degrees from The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, Louisville, Kentucky
• Has served as Pastor at Finchville Baptist Church, Finchville, KY,  Wornall Road Baptist Church, Kansas City, MO, and St. Matthew’s Baptist Church in Louisville, KY
• Currently serving as Senior Pastor at Trinity Baptist, San Antonio, TX

• Served as College Ministry Intern 1978-79
• He and wife, Priscilla, had their first child, Michelle, while serving at First Baptist, Knoxville in January of 1979
• Currently Senior Pastor of First Baptist Church in Shreveport, Louisiana
• Says of time at First Baptist, Knoxville, “Priscilla and I look at the year we spent with Knoxville, First Baptist as one of life’s serendipities. Sometimes life’s best experiences come as a complete surprise… FBC was my first paid ministry position. You affirmed my calling through ordination on May 20, 1979. You embraced Priscilla and me and joined us in the dedication of our first born. You blessed us with friendships that have stood the test of time. We imagined none of these things in the spring of 1978. We thank God for First Baptist, Knoxville.”

Lt. William Nathan Solomon

• Served in internship as minister to college students from June 1997-1998
• After finishing seminary, married Tonya Dounce, who is currently associate pastor of Fairlington United Methodist Church, Arlington, VA
• Has two children, Elijah (3) and Maggie (1)
• Currently Office of the Chief of Navy Chaplains, Washington, DC

• Served as ministry resident with First Baptist and New Students at the UT Baptist Collegiate Ministries
• Worked primarily with FBC's university ministry but also served in the children's ministry and assisted with the Loaf Ministry
•  First Baptist recognized the calling of God in her life through her ordination on April 21, 2007
• Currently in her second year of studies toward a Master of Divinity at MercerUniversity's McAfee School of Theology in Atlanta, GA
• Hopes to finish her degree in May 2010
• Says of her time at First Baptist, "I am thankful to Bill Shiell and the congregation of First Baptist Knoxville for being a healthy, teaching congregation to me.  I learned more about congregational ministry in my gap year between college and seminary than I could ever learn in a classroom.  My time at First Knoxville empowered me to develop my identity as a minister and encouraged me to pursue God's call on my life. I am forever indebted to the wonderful folks who ministered to and alongside me at First Baptist."

Christie Soporas McTier

• Served as Community Minister Intern, Summer 2008
• Master of Divinity with a emphasis in Missions and World Christianity, Truett Seminary, BaylorUniversity, Waco, TX. 
• Served for three years as a Resident Chaplain at BaylorUniversity
• Beginning the Clinical Pastoral Education program at the VA Medical Center in Augusta, GA, a yearlong program in training for hospital chaplaincy   
• “It has been a rewarding year and I am excited about what lies ahead of me. Mike and I are doing well and are staying busy with our family. I am so excited about returning home and beginning my ministerial profession. I am so thankful for First Baptist Knoxville, for I have learned from you, as you have loved me. I miss you all and hope to visit soon.”