Our staff
Our staff brings varied stories, gifts, and experiences to the shared work of worship, learning, care, and service. Whether you are visiting for the first time or have called FBC home for years, these are people you can reach out to.
Senior PastorMinistry leadership
Major Treadway embarked on an unexpected journey when he dedicated his life to Christian ministry. A Southern Baptist turned Methodist seminary student, he later found himself working at a Catholic university and collaborating with Mennonites in Indonesia. His diverse experiences, from leading a multi-faith team in Vietnam to engaging with Muslims and Christians in Indonesia, shaped his broad perspective on the ecumenical body of Christ.
Major’s professional journey included work with young adults in Portland, Oregon, and Indonesia, as well as leading the Mennonite Central Committee in Vietnam. Completing a Doctor of Ministry at Duke Divinity School, Major explored the intersection of collective identity, congregational practice, and change. His life’s journey, shared with wife Karen and sons Edward, Andrew, and Moses, is a testament to embracing the unexpected and finding grace in the diverse tapestry of faith and culture.
Meet the team
Pastoral leaders who help shape worship, faith formation, music, and life together.
Minister with Students
Chad Hartsock has served as our Minister with Students since the summer of 2019. He brings many years of experience working with teens and college students in both church and school settings. Chad formerly taught at neighboring Carson-Newman University for 11 years. Chad is married to Ami Hartsock, and they have one daughter. We are thrilled to have Chad serving alongside our ministers.
Minister of Music
Nenette is from Mississippi, where she graduated from East Central Junior College and William Carey College. She received a Master of Christian Education degree from The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. Her ministry positions have included churches in Ellisville, Mississippi; Middlesboro, Kentucky; and 26 years as campus minister at Carson-Newman University.
She retired in 2019 after 40 years in ministry and soon thereafter began serving as the interim minister of music at First Baptist. She is married to Clark, and their family is completed by Shelley Bella, their feline princess. Nenette delights in sharing teatime with friends, collecting teapots, antiquing, puzzling, and reading.
Meet the team
The people who keep ministry moving and help every person who contacts FBC feel seen and welcomed.
Ministry Assistant
Cyndi brings both compassion and professional office experience to her role as Ministry Assistant at FBC. Having accumulated skills in office and business management and accounting during her years living in North Carolina, Virginia, South Carolina, and Tennessee, Cyndi also excels in helping people feel seen, heard, and welcomed.
When Cyndi is not at FBC singing in the choir or keeping the office running like clockwork, she can be found reading, puzzling, or spending time with her beloved grand-nephews and her fur-babies, Tilde and Poppy.
Administrative Coordinator
Born and raised in the Pacific Northwest, Karen spent her college years exploring the Rocky Mountains while earning her B.A. in Technical Journalism from Colorado State University.
Her passion for nonprofit work led to leadership-building roles coordinating volunteers, facilitating community engagement, managing staff and development projects, creating social media content, writing stories, applying for grants, and organizing information for nonprofits in Oregon, Indonesia, Vietnam, and Mississippi. Treasured multicultural and interfaith experiences, combined with being a cancer survivor and a parent of a child with special needs, have taught Karen to approach others with curiosity and compassion.
Karen loves living near the waterfall-laden Smoky Mountains, where she enjoys weekend hikes with her husband, three active sons, and their dog, Clover.
Meet the team
Musicians and media leaders who help make worship meaningful in the sanctuary and accessible wherever people join us.
Organist
Angie is an East Tennessee girl with roots in both Knox and Jefferson counties. She began playing the piano in her home church at the age of 10 and transitioned to the organ her senior year in college. Angie has degrees in music and education from Carson-Newman University, is a retired public school music teacher, and has played piano and organ and directed vocal and handbell choirs in several area churches.
Choral singing is a lifelong love, and she has been a member of the Knoxville Choral Society for over 20 years. Two of her favorite non-music activities are cheering on the Lady Vols in basketball and taking care of her rescue cats and dogs.
Pianist
Melanie holds a bachelor’s degree in Music Education and a master’s degree in Educational Leadership from Carson-Newman University. She currently serves as principal at Jefferson Middle School in Jefferson City. She has been involved in church work since she was a junior in high school and has served numerous churches in Knoxville and the surrounding counties. Melanie resides in Jefferson County with her husband and two daughters.
Video Editor
Cameron was born and raised in Memphis. He attended the University of Tennessee and graduated in 2017 with a B.A. in Journalism. During his time at UT, he played snare drum for the Pride of the Southland and served on the leadership team for Baptist Collegiate Ministries. Since graduation, Cameron has interned for WATE in Knoxville and has played drums for many churches.
Cameron works full-time for Knoxville Utilities Board as a Business Communication Analyst. He started at FBC in 2020, helping make our services available online while we were unable to meet in person, and has graciously stayed on to help ensure that all our members can be part of our church family. In his spare time, he enjoys teaching drum lessons, playing guitar, and teaching Lincoln how to play basketball.
Start here
Reach out to the church office. We will listen, answer what we can, and connect you with the right person.