Elder Leadership Team
Ben Pate, Lead Pastor/Elder
Ben Pate joined Oak Valley as lead pastor in November, 2022. Pastor Ben loves serving his community along with his wife, Diana, and their four children. Pastor Ben is passionate about preaching, teaching, and leading others to become followers of Jesus.
Pastor Ben grew up as a missionary kid in the Middle East and North Africa. He is a graduate of California Baptist University and Golden Gate Baptist Theological Seminary (now Gateway Seminary). Ben holds a PhD in Biblical Studies with an emphasis on the Old Testament. In addition to Sundays and Wednesdays at OVBC, you can catch Pastor Ben’s podcasts, “Theological Sidebars” and “OTXNT” through the week on YouTube, Spotify, or your favorite podcast platform.
Mike Wakefield, Elder
Mike has been a member of Oak Valley for eight years and currently serves the church as elder. He and his family moved to Middle Tennessee for his work as an editor for Lifeway Christian Resources. Mike is an avid sports fan, rooting hard for Alabama football and his beloved St. Louis Cardinals! He also enjoys playing golf, reading, and working in the garden. His favorite passage of Scripture is Romans 8…all of it.
Bill Higdon, Elder
Bill has been a long time member of Baptist churches in North Carolina, Florida, and Tennessee. He has been an Oak Valley member for 8 years and now serves as an elder. Bill has a passion and love for Scripture and for prayer. A veteran of the commercial insurance industry, Bill joined his present company providing software to insurance and agents and brokers across North America. Bill’s life verse is 1 Corinthians 15:10.
Kurt Nichol, Elder
Kurt has been a member of Oak Valley for 7 years and serves as an elder for the church. Kurt and his wife Linda moved to Tennessee so Kurt could pursue graduate degrees while working at Arnold AFB testing jet engines. He currently owns his own engineering company which affords him the opportunity to share the gospel in many places around the world. Kurt’s favorite passage of Scripture is 1 Peter 3:15-18.
Michelle Margiotta, Worship Leader
Anita Jordan, Minister to Preschool and Children
Anita joined Oak Valley on October 1, 2017. She received her Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education/Early Childhood Education from Union University and a Master of Education degree in Curriculum and Supervision from Vanderbilt University. After teaching in the public school system for 10 years, Anita felt called to Children’s Ministry and has served at Forest Hills Baptist as the Mother’s Day Out and Preschool Director. Anita has enjoyed volunteer roles as a children’s Sunday School teacher, children’s worship leader, preschool missions leader, and women’s Bible study facilitator.
Tricia Wakefield, Music and Choir Director
Tricia grew up in Alabama and has a Music Education degree from Samford University and a Master of Church Music degree from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. After completing her degrees, she moved to Missouri to serve as Associate Music Director for the Missouri Baptist Convention. While there, she met her husband, Mike. Mike’s ministry led them to Arkansas where their two children, Hannah and Joshua, were born. Tricia’s love for church music began at a young age when she started playing the piano for worship. She has directed hand bells and choirs of all ages, and has trained church music leaders through various music conferences. Tricia is passionate about using music as a tool to equip the body of Christ to offer worship with excellence and integrity through music. Tricia is a private music instructor in her home-based studio, Studio Cadenza. She also enjoys making music with students in the Theatre and Vocal Music departments in local schools. Tricia joined the Oak Valley staff as Music and Choir Director in October 2017.