
Melissa “Mel” Hatfield, Pastor of Youth and Missions
Melissa has served on staff at First Baptist Church since January 2000. ”Mel” is a native of Jefferson City. She attended Southwest Baptist University in Bolivar, Missouri and graduated in 1995 with a B.A. in Social Science/Spanish Education. She earned a Masters of Education in Counseling from Lincoln University in 2000. Melissa worked for the Jefferson City Public School District from 1995 – 2000 as a high school history teacher and as a counselor for at-risk high school students.
She enjoys spending time with family, friends, and teenagers; traveling the world; reading great books; watching movies and Netflix; and spending time outdoors.
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Melissa has served on staff at First Baptist Church since January 2000. ”Mel” is a native of Jefferson City. She attended Southwest Baptist University in Bolivar, Missouri and graduated in 1995 with a B.A. in Social Science/Spanish Education. She earned a Masters of Education in Counseling from Lincoln University in 2000. Melissa worked for the Jefferson City Public School District from 1995 – 2000 as a high school history teacher and as a counselor for at-risk high school students.
She enjoys spending time with family, friends, and teenagers; traveling the world; reading great books; watching movies and Netflix; and spending time outdoors.
Email Mel.
Friend Mel on Facebook.
Follow Mel on Twitter.
Read her blog.

Rod Maples, Pastor of Worship
Rod has been on staff at First Baptist as Minister of Music since January 1998. He is a native of Missouri, having grown up in the Springfield area. He graduated from Willard High School in 1974, earned a Bachelor of Music in Church Music from Southwest Baptist University, Bolivar, Missouri in 1979, and then received a Masters in Church Music at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary in 1981.
Rod is married to Sherry, an educator, North Dakota native, and graduate of Jefferson City High School and Mizzou. They have a son, Blake. Rod enjoys time with his family, running, cheering for Blake and his friends in school sports and activities, St. Louis Cardinals baseball, Mizzou basketball, a good cup of coffee, and of course, all kinds of music!
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Rod has been on staff at First Baptist as Minister of Music since January 1998. He is a native of Missouri, having grown up in the Springfield area. He graduated from Willard High School in 1974, earned a Bachelor of Music in Church Music from Southwest Baptist University, Bolivar, Missouri in 1979, and then received a Masters in Church Music at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary in 1981.
Rod is married to Sherry, an educator, North Dakota native, and graduate of Jefferson City High School and Mizzou. They have a son, Blake. Rod enjoys time with his family, running, cheering for Blake and his friends in school sports and activities, St. Louis Cardinals baseball, Mizzou basketball, a good cup of coffee, and of course, all kinds of music!
Email Rod.
Friend Rod on Facebook.