Pastor John Wise
John has currently serving as Pastor of First Baptist Church Bayou George, Panama City Florida since November 2025! In addition to pasturing this church, John has also pastured churches in Arizona,, Tennessee and Kentucky. John has his Bachelor of Science in Business Management with minors in marketing and finance. In addition to courses at Seminary Extension, John has been certified by the Tennessee Baptist Convention as a Church planter and a Church Transitional pastor.
John has lived in Panama City since January 2022. He is married to his wife Rita for thirty-four years and they have a daughter Twila. John was diagnosed in 1996; with a hereditary kidney disease and has been on dialysis since January 2008. Twila was diagnosed with Stage four Mestas tic Breast Cancer in 2024 and given six months to live. She is currently living in Panama City and enjoys each day of her life as a gift from God. This was the contributing factor for John and Rita to go back into the ministry after retirement and God’s gift of keeping their daughter in His watch care! In addition, John and Rita have two grandsons that are currently serving in the US Army. John enjoys trips to the beach and spending time with his family and church family!
Fred Hapner
Fred has served at First Baptist Bayou George since 1993 as the Youth and Music Leader. He graduated high school at Chiefland High in Levy County Florida after moving there from St. Petersburg, Florida with his family. Prior to coming to First Baptist Bayou George Fred served as the youth and Music leader at Bethesda Baptist Church in Prattville, Alabama and then Children’s Director at Cook Memorial Baptist Church in Lynn Haven, Florida. He graduated with his Bachelor’s degree in Religious Education and Music from the Baptist College of Florida in 1992 and then his Masters of Counseling and Psychology from Troy State University in 1997.
Fred has lived in Lynn Haven with his wife, Leslie, and two sons Micah and Noah since 1994. Leslie is currently the Dean of Business affairs at Gulf Coast State College. Both of his sons graduated from Mosley High School and currently are attending college. Fred is also the Director of the Guardian ad Litem Program in the 14th Judicial Circuit advocating for abused and neglected children. He has been with this program since 1999 serving as director since 2010.
Fred loves being involved in sports and has coached soccer, basketball and baseball at different age levels including being an assistant coach in soccer at Mosley High School the last few years. He has been a lifelong Seminole fan and enjoys playing golf and visiting the mountains when there is time.
Aaron Walker
Aaron Walker has had the privilege of serving as the Director of Children’s Ministry at First Baptist Church of Bayou George, since January 2020. Aaron and his wife have been volunteering with the Children’s Ministry, since summer of 2017. They both lead the BG Kids Children’s Church and the TeamKID’s Wednesday night class. Aaron, also, serves as the Young Adult Sunday School Leader.
Aaron has lived in Bayou George and attended First Baptist Church of Bayou George majority of his life. Aaron married his love of his life, Jackie Walker on May 19, 2007. Aaron and Jackie have been blessed by God to be able to adopt three children (Andrew, Brayden, and Bailey-Anne). All three children have accepted Christ as their Lord and Savior.
Aaron graduated from Florida State University in 2003 with Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering. He later received a Master of Business Administration Project Management degree in 2012 from Florida Institute of Technology. Aaron works full time as a Branch Manager at the Naval Surface Warfare Center, Panama City Division supporting the Airborne Mine Countermeasures In-Service Engineering Agent Branch
Adam Baker
Adam is the Director of Technology and Social Media at First Baptist of Bayou George, where Adam coordinates all technology as well as any media related items at the church. These items include website design and maintenance, Social Media outreach and internal media/audio efforts.
Adam has experience sitting on the Las Vegas Board of Directors for Pancreatic Cancer Action Network serving as the Media Chair, serving in a District Manager Leadership role at Mattress Firm since 2007 as well as serving as the Chair for the March of Dimes-March for Babies 2017 in Pensacola. Adam helps Bayou George First Baptist with troubleshooting software and hardware issues to ensure all systems are operational as well as ensuring outreach via social media platforms.
Adam is from Houston, Texas and currently resides in Youngstown, Florida with his wife Keri Baker and two children Luke and Riley. He enjoys playing golf, fishing and watching short track racing in his free time.