Meet Our Staff

  • PASTOR LEE SMITH

    Senior Pastor

    Serving the people of Stafford Township is my great joy and calling. Please don't hesitate to reach out to me if I can assist you and your family in any way. After 30 years of marriage, raising two adult children, and pastoring churches in four states, I feel so blessed to have met, loved, and pastored many hundreds of people. My life is spent with people, books, and with the arrangement of my thoughts for preaching. As Pastor of MBC, my first priority is that you would leave each service with a greater love for Christ. A mentor of mine once told me, "Tell the truth from God's perspective and worry not for the consequences." Our world is obviously broken, into that brokenness God sent his Son--Jesus. My life's work is to make that story alive.


    Education:

    Masters of Divinity with Greek and Hebrew, Southern Baptist Theological Seminary (2001), B.A. in Biblical Studies and Greek, Southeastern Baptist College (1997)


    Contact Lee via email PastorLee@manahawkinbaptistchurch.org or call the church office 609-597-7586

  • Wes Brown

    Worship Director

    "I started serving on the worship team when I was 16, as I began learning bass guitar. The Lord has led me to become the worship leader here at Manahawkin Baptist Church, where I strive to encourage the congregation to sing their praises and feel a deeper connection to God. Psalm 95:1-2 says, 'Oh come, let us sing to the Lord; let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation! Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving; let us make a joyful noise to him with songs of praise!'"


    Education:

    B.M., Music Education, Mason Gross School of the Arts at Rutgers University (2015)


    Contact Wes via email here or call the church office at (609) 597-7586.

  • Katie Gould

    Children's Ministry Director


    “About that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Who is greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven?” Jesus called a little child to him and put the child among them. Then he said, “I tell you the truth, unless you turn from your sins and become like little children, you will never get into the Kingdom of Heaven. So anyone who becomes as humble as this little child is the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven. And anyone who welcomes a little child like this on my behalf is welcoming me.” Mark 18:1-5

    Our Children’s Ministry mission is to teach our children to love Jesus and to love His people. Having 3 kiddos of my own, my passion is to teach children the unending love and grace offered to them through the life and death of Jesus Christ.  My prayer is that MBC’s children ministry offers sound theology, solid friendships, and trustworthy relationships to our children. 


    Education:

    B.A., Education, Towson University (2012)


    Contact Katie via email katie@manahawkinbaptistchurch.org.

  • Kathleen Thulin

    Women's Ministry Director

    The focus and motivation of the women's ministry at MBC is found in 2 Peter 3:18: "...to grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.  I've been called into women's ministry to serve and coordinate opportunities for women to have solid worship, a strong community for Bible studies, and an understanding of the mission God has called us to in the Great Commission. As we study and have fun together, we grow in spiritual maturity through our horizontal relationships with one another and in our vertical relationship with our Lord.


    Education:

    B.A., Education, University of Michigan


    Contact Kathleen via email kathleen@manahawkinbaptistchurch.org or call the church office at (609) 597-7586.


  • Susy Racioppi

    Office Administrator

    Proverbs 3:5-6 "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding.  In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make straight your paths."  I am so thankful God has directed my path to this church family.  I feel blessed to be part of what the Lord is doing.


    Education:

    B.S. Education and Science, Northern Arizona University


    Contact Susy via email admin@manahawkinbaptistchurch.org or call the church office at (609) 597-7586.

  • Carl Hager

    Facilities Director

    We welcomed Carl in June 2021 as our new facilities director. Carl is a retired engineer and happy to use his time to serve the Lord here at Manahawkin Baptist Church. 


    Contact Carl via email carl@manahawkinbaptistchurch.org or call the church office at (609) 597-7586.

  • Caroline Unger

    Youth Coordinator


    I am blessed to serve with an amazing Youth Group Team, who love Jesus AND having fun. I learned through our oldest child and her friends how challenging the world has become during the Middle & High School years. Being able to point young people to Jesus through the Word of God is so rewarding and I know it is a game changer for life. Our Team strives to build relationships and to make Jesus real to the next generation.


    Education:

    M.S., Physical Therapy, University of Miami (1991) 

    B.A., Psychology, Rutgers University (1989)


    Contact Caroline at surfdoggy31@gmail.com