Michael Schwalm

Senior Pastor
910-347-6691
pastormike(at)centerviewbaptistchurch.com

Personal Info

Mike was born in 1953 in Detroit, Michigan. He was born again and baptized at age 10. He enlisted in the U. S. Navy as a Seamen Recruit in 1970 and served on continuous active duty until his retirement as a Commander, U. S. Navy on June 1, 1998. He was called to serve as pastor of  Centerview Baptist Church, while still on active duty, on November 27, 1997.

Mike married Diane on November 27, 1976. God has blessed them with four beautiful daughters, four wonderful sons-in-law, and six precious grandsons.

During their years of military service, Mike and Diane were active in the local church everywhere they were stationed including North Carolina, Texas, Florida and at the Navy Chapel while stationed in the Philippines from October 1980 to October 1982. Mike was licensed to preach the Gospel by Enon Chapel Baptist Church, Jacksonville, NC on September 29, 1976 and was subsequently ordained by them as a deacon on October 28, 1984 and as a minister of the Gospel on March 8, 1998.

Mike completed his undergraduate degree from Columbia College, Columbia, MO in July 1980 and was awarded a Master of Science in Human Resources and Personal Management from Golden Gate University, San Francisco, CA in August 1990. In May of 2005 he was awarded a Master of Divinity (with Biblical Languages) from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary. He is currently a student in the Doctor of Ministry (with Expository Preaching) Program at Southeastern.

George Whitten

Associate Pastor
910-347-6691
pastorgeorge(at)centerviewbaptistchurch.com
 

Personal Info

George was born in 1953 in Martinsville, Virginia. He accepted Jesus Christ as Lord in June 1972, while reading in his room and being convicted by the Holy Bible. He enlisted into the United States Marine Corps in 1972, until retiring as a Chief Warrant Officer 4 on 1 March 2001.

Linda Arnett and George were married on 7 September 2001, at Centerview Baptist Church by Pastor Mike. Blessed with a blended family of four daughters, two sons, three son-in-laws, one daughter-in-law and nine grand children.

George was baptized on 23 January 1988, in the Jordan River in Israel while deployed In the Mediterranean. Ordained as a deacon on 20 September 1999, and licensed to preach on 3 October 1999, as a member of Bethany Baptist Church from 1986, to December 2000. Joined Centerview Baptist Church as a member and part time employee in January 2001. Attended Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary in September 1999 – March 2003. Ordained as a Pastor at Centerview Baptist Church on 25 March 2007 and currently serving as an Associate Pastor for Pastoral Care and Counseling.

Upon graduating from Tampa University on 11 August 1986, from the Degree Completion Program with a double degree in Psychology/Sociology (cum laude) he served as a Drug & Alcohol Abuse Counselor at MCB Camp Lejeune. Received a Master of Divinity from Christian Bible College and Seminary on 25 May 2005, and is presently pursuing a Doctorate of Ministry in Christian Counseling from the same seminary.

Mark Thompson

Associate Pastor
910-347-6691
pastormark(at)centerviewbaptistchurch.com
 

Personal Info

Mark was born in Syracuse, NY and was adopted soon after his birth. He attended Roman Catholic school and graduated in 1982. He joined the Marine Corps in 1982 and retired as a Master Gunnery Sergeant on August 31, 2010 as the Electronics Maintenance Chief for the 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing. Mark was saved in Okinawa, Japan at the Maranatha Baptist Church in 1985. Subsequently, he served in many capacities in various churches to include Sunday School teacher/director, AWANA leader and commander, deacon, and bus director. He met Denise Cooper in Okinawa, Japan and they were married on June 22, 1988.

The Lord blessed them with four great children: Stephanie (a Marine linguist married to Cpl Deric John), Rachel (married to Cpl Evan Drain), Benjamin (soon to be in the Air Force) and Kathleen (a sophomore) all homeschooled by Denise.

Mark was licensed to preach by the Calvary Baptist Church of San Francisco in 1995, ordained as a deacon in 1993 and as a minister of the Gospel at Centerview Baptist Church on May 31, 2010. Mark completed a bachelor of science (cum laude) from Liberty University in 2000, a Master of Arts in Religion from Liberty Baptist Theological Seminary (magna cum laude) in 2004, a Master of Ministry (summa cum laude) and Doctor of Philosophy in Christian Education from Bethany Seminary (with high honors). He is currently attending Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary in the Doctor of Education program where he is a doctoral candidate. He is writing his dissertation on marriage enrichment in the local church with an emphasis on military couples. His hobbies include golf, chess and reading, especially about how people learn.

Billie Cronan

Director of Youth Ministries
910-938-3619
billie(at)centerviewbaptistchurch.com
 

Personal Info

Billie is a native of eastern North Carolina having grown up in Fountaintown and now living in Jacksonville since 1990. She has been married to Sherm Cronan for 23 years. They have two children, Michael and Ashley, a daughter-in-law Jennifer and a grandson Bentley who better knows her as "Yia Yia".

Billie, Sherm, and Ashley joined Centerview Baptist Church in November 2006. Billie has served in the youth ministry since 1999. At her previous church, she served for approximately 2 years as a volunteer co-leader/youth worker and became the full-time Director of Youth in April 2001 where she served in that position until March 2006.

Upon joining the Centerview Family of Faith in 2006, Billie has served in volunteering in various youth events and activities, chaperoned summer camp in 2007 and 2008 and has taught Sunday school along with her husband Sherm since summer 2007. Billie has been working part-time as the Director of Youth since October 2008 along with a caring group of adults who have a love and passion for the youth as well. Together, they work to make sure the youth of Centerview Baptist Church learn Discipleship, Ministry, Evangelism, Worship, and Fellowship.