
OUR LEADERSHIP
DR. FRED STEELMAN
Interim Senior Pastor | fred@brainerdhills.com
Dr. Steelman has a B.S. from Mississippi State University, a Masters of Divinity from Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, a Doctorate of Ministry from New Orleans Theological Seminary, and an Honorary Doctorate from Carson Newman University. He has been a pastor from more than 50 years, 33 of which were at Red Bank Baptist Church in Chattanooga.
Dr. Steelman has been active in denominational life serving on major boards of the TBC and the SBC. He serve from 1975-1984 on the TBC Executive Board and was elected President in 1983. As a Trustee at Carson Newman University from 1995-2007, Dr. Steelman was Chairman of the Board from 2003-2004. He is married with three grown children and five grandchildren. Since his retirement in 2006, he has served several lengthy interims and has managed to hunt and fish a significant amount.
OUR LEADERSHIP
OUR LEADERSHIP
Get to know our Pastoral Staff and ministry teams who help lead our Church family.
JEFF CLARK
Minister of Music | jeff@brainerdhills.com
Jeff joined the staff of Brainerd Hills in January of 1993 after graduating from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary with a Masters in Church Music. He originally served as Minister of Music & Youth, but as the church expanded, was moved to music ministry exclusively. His passion is to see the church engaged in heartfelt, biblical worship.
Jeff and his wife, Kris, reside in the East Brainerd community and have three children.
OUR LEADERSHIP
OUR LEADERSHIP
Get to know our Pastoral Staff and ministry teams who help lead our Church family.
MIKE LOFTON
Minister of Education | mike@brainerdhills.com
Mike Lofton joined the pastoral staff of Brainerd Hills in 1998 after serving as Associate Pastor and Minister of Education at First Baptist Church of Ridgeland, Mississippi. Mike oversees the educational ministry of the church which encompasses the Sunday School Ministry, Discipleship/Equipping Ministry, and Outreach Ministry.
Mike graduated from Mississippi State University and New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary and resides in Chattanooga with his wife Deborah and his two children, Meagan and Adam.
OUR LEADERSHIP
OUR LEADERSHIP
Get to know our Pastoral Staff and ministry teams who help lead our Church family.
ANDREW CRAWFORD
Minister to Students | andrew@brainerdhills.com
Andrew serves as Minister to Students, joining our staff in September of 2013. He is from Ringgold, Georgia and is a product of the student ministry at Brainerd Hills. His desire is for students to fall in love with our Savior, Jesus Christ and follow Him wherever He leads.
He and his wife Jennifer have been married for five years and have two children, Cooper and Lily. They currently reside in Ringgold.
Andrew holds a BA in Business Administration from Maryville College where he played football and wrestled, and he is currently pursuing a Master of Divinity degree.
OUR LEADERSHIP
OUR LEADERSHIP
Get to know our Pastoral Staff and ministry teams who help lead our Church family.
LINDSAY BLACKWELL
Director of Preschool and Nursery | lindsay@brainerdhills.com
Lindsay grew up in Huntsville, Alabama. She has a degree from the University of North Alabama in Social Work. Lindsay has over 10 years experience working in the field of childcare and early childhood education. She has worked with children of all ages. Lindsay has a passion to see children grow in their foundation in Christ starting at birth.
Lindsay and her husband, Richmond, have been married since 2005. They have two daughters and currently live in Ringgold.
OUR LEADERSHIP
OUR LEADERSHIP
Get to know our Pastoral Staff and ministry teams who help lead our Church family.
ANITA PARKER
Children's Ministry Director | anita@brainerdhills.com
Anita and her husband Tim are from Rock Spring, GA. Anita has an Early Childhood Education Degree and has worked with children for many years. She has had several roles working with children, including serving as Children and Preschool Director at her former church as well as being a USA Gymnastics Team coach.
Anita's passion is to show the love of Christ to each child and to help build a solid foundation in their relationship with our Lord Jesus Christ.
OUR LEADERSHIP
OUR LEADERSHIP
Get to know our Pastoral Staff and ministry teams who help lead our Church family.
OUR LEADERSHIP
Sun, Sep 11
|Chattanooga
BIG Sunday

Time & Location
Sep 11, 2022, 10:30 AM
Chattanooga, 6611 E Brainerd Rd, Chattanooga, TN 37421, USA
About the event
First, Be Here. We know that many travel for the summer, but after schools start back, we want to have a big push for our church families to start back to church again on BIG Sunday. It will be a wonderful time to get together and back into the habit of attending, if you have not been here in a while. In Hebrews 10:24-25, it is written, “And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good deeds, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.” Worship is a special time for us to feel loved and encouraged by one another. So make sure you are here on September 11th.
Second, Invite Someone. Begin now fostering a relationship with someone at work, in your neighborhood, at school, or even someone who serves you every time you go out to eat. Begin now praying for and inviting them to attend with you on that Sunday. Especially seek out an unbeliever or someone who is not attending another church. And remember as regular church-goers, we sometimes fail to realize all the fears a first-time guest has. Do I trust the people I drop my children off with? Will I know any of the songs? Will I sit in someone’s seat? What do I wear? We cannot remove all of those fears, but we can certainly address the last one.
On BIG Sunday, we are asking everyone to wear their favorite team’s jersey. This will be a fun way to celebrate, and it will make it more comfortable for those we are Inviting.
Third, Give an Extra Offering. Churches often lag behind in giving, and then they try to make it up at the end of the year. Why don’t we get ahead and put ourselves in a strong financial position for remainder of the year? This is the other reason we want you to know in advance of September 11. I know this will take some planning, and we wanted to give you ample time to prayerfully consider how you can give. Let me give you a few options to help your thought process.
1.) If you never tithe, this would be the Sunday to give 10%. 2.) If you regularly tithe, please consider giving an extra amount or an additional percentage than your regular 10%. My wife (Shannon) and I have talked, and we are going to give an additional 10% tithe on that Sunday. We believe in what the Lord is doing, and we are glad to give extra for all He will do.