Meet Our Staff

Eugene Brandt

Directional Pastor

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The son of South Africans, Eugene was born in Louisville, Kentucky. His father had moved the family to the States in order for him to complete his theological training only to discover that a new arrival was on the way. Suddenly, in a family of South Africans there was an American, a fact which created a great deal of mirth back in South Africa. After graduating later that year, the family returned home to Johannesburg with their latest addition. Eugene’s spiritual journey began as a teenager at a summer camp. It was during a particularly dark evening that he noticed that the stars were so much brighter far away from the glow of the city.

Eugene is responsible for the overall visions, strategic planning, and leadership of the church. He also does the majority of the preaching.

While gazing at the heavens, it struck him how small and insignificant he was and he became afraid. In a moment he came to realize that he was flaunting his disobedience before the mighty Creator, and there, one lonely night in December, he prayed the sinner’s prayer and committed his life to the Lord. It was at that very same camp that he first felt the tug of the Lord’s call into pastoral ministry.

While the call never ebbed, Eugene believed that some secular experience would benefit him in his future ministry. After graduating with an education degree, Eugene entered the teaching profession as an English teacher. It was during this teaching phase that Eugene married his long-time love, Kathy.

God’s plan for this newly married couple included a move to the States where Eugene began his theological studies at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, his father’s Alma Mater. In his second year of studies, he was called to be the part-time pastor of Zion Baptist Church in rural southern Indiana. This small country church experience stood in direct contrast to his next encounter.After graduating, Eugene and Kathy moved to Little Rock, Arkansas to be trained by one of the most progressive and effective churches in the country. Eugene had been recruited by Fellowship Bible Church to be one of their first leadership residents. Much like a medical student after graduating from medical school, Eugene was able to explore the practical “how-to’s” of church leadership before launching out to develop a progressive and effective church elsewhere.

As the residency neared its end, Eugene and Randy began a dialogue that resulted in Eugene and Kathy moving to Jackson to begin a Fellowship Bible Church here in West Tennessee. Ten years later Eugene and Kathy are blessed with a daughter, seven-year-old Megan, a son, three-year-old Ryan and a two-year-old little girl, Caroline.