Independent
Baptist CHURCH
Our Pastor
Pastor L. James Barton
Welcome to our church website! I’ve had the privilege of serving as pastor at Cedar Crest Independent Baptist Church since October 2015. I grew up in church and came from a long line of faithful believers, but it wasn’t until June 28, 1995—after 2½ years of conviction—that I truly repented and put my faith in the Lord Jesus Christ for salvation. Though I avoided many outward sins, God showed me I was still a sinner in need of His grace. That night, I understood Christ died for my sin and on the third day He rose from the grave, proving He is the Son of God. I asked Jesus Christ to forgive me of all my sins and be my Saviour.
In 1996, the Lord led me to Crown College in Powell, Tennessee. I took a short-term mission trip to Peru, where I became fluent in the Spanish language.
In July of 2000, I married my college sweetheart, Peggy Woodward. We moved to Texas and served in a Spanish church. After serving two years in Texas, God led us back to my wife's home church in Warrenton, Virginia. I served on staff at Trinity Baptist Church for 11.5 years. During three of those years, I preached in the Spanish ministry that I started.
My wife and I are blessed with six children. Our oldest, Victoria, has earned her bachelor’s degree in graphic design and serves as our church’s graphic designer. Logan is preparing for ministry, and our four younger daughters are homeschooled. Each of our children is involved in serving the Lord through various ministries of the church.
In the spring of 2015, I got a call from Cedar Crest Independent Baptist Church. They had received my name from someone on my side of the family in Pennsylvania and someone from my wife's side in Virginia. I felt led to preach here at Cedar Crest and knew God was leading me here. The church had been through a difficult couple of years and needed God to bring healing and renewed purpose, found only in Jesus Christ. My passion is to lead people to Christ and to see them grow in the Lord and do great things for God!
If you do not know if you have a reservation in Heaven, I would be happy to talk with you about what God has done to provide that for you and get that reservation settled.
Pastor L. James Barton
Acts 20:21, 24
Our Assistant Pastor
Charlie Hicks
Assistant Pastor Charles Hicks grew up in the mountains of West Virginia and trusted Christ as his personal Savior while serving in the U.S. Army. After leaving the military, God led him to attend Appalachian Bible College, where his love for God's Word continued to grow. He later earned a Master's Degree in Theology and has faithfully served the Lord in ministry for many years.
Pastor Charlie has a genuine passion for teaching the Bible, encouraging believers, and sharing the Gospel with everyone he meets. His heart is to help people grow in their relationship with Jesus Christ and faithfully serve Him.
He and his wife, Linda, have been happily married for many years and are thankful to serve together at Cedar Crest Independent Baptist Church. They have one son, Joshua, a daughter-in-law, Jamie, and two granddaughters, Maddie and Ellie.
Pastor Hicks considers it a great honor to serve as Assistant Pastor and looks forward to helping people know Christ, and grow in His Word.
