Larry G. Dickens came to Snyder in 1999 after having served in churches in Virginia, South Carolina, and North Carolina. Larry was born in Roanoke Rapids, but moved around in Virginia and North Carolina as his Dad was a Pastor. Larry graduated from Northern Nash High School in Rocky Mount, NC, Campbell University and Southeastern Seminary. His wife Gail grew up in Fayetteville and graduated from Pine Forest High School. She is a consultant for the Academically Gifted with Cumberland County Schools. She teaches Sunday School and is involved in all aspects of the music ministry here at Snyder. Their daughter Faith, was born in Roanoke, VA and is part time music teacher and a graduate student at Campbell University Divinity School focusing on Urban Ministry.

Larry sees his greatest achievement as finding a wife like Gail and having a daughter like Faith. He is most passionate about using music to impact lives and that is evident in what Larry has accomplished with the music ministry here at Snyder.

Larry’s favorite restaurant is Outback Steak House (Larry is known as the picky eater on the staff). But Larry does have a “Secret Spaghetti Sauce” recipe which he loves to make. Preparing this secret spaghetti sauce recipe is what Larry believes is his secret skill. Larry’s favorite scripture is Jeremiah 29:11 which says “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” His favorite book is Seeds of Greatness by Dennis Waitley.

Susie Reeder was born the youngest of five children to James and Gwen Reeder in Henderson, Kentucky. She became a rabid Wildcat fan while attending the University of Kentucky and graduated in 1984 with an Art Education degree. While attending a BSU conference her Junior year of college, she heard Keith Parks speak and felt God's call into ministry, so upon graduation she entered the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, KY. She graduated with a MDiv in Christian Education in 1988. Having served churches in Memphis and Murfreesboro, TN, Susie served as the Minister of Youth for 11 years and in 2006 transitioned to the Minister of Missions and Senior Adults. Susie says there’s not a lot of difference between working with youth and Senior Adults except that you don’t have to make sure the Seniors go to their rooms at night!!! No more putting tape on the doors to make sure they don’t escape during the wee hours of the morning!

In the summer of 2001, Susie felt God calling her to adopt a child and felt confirmation when she took the youth to Passport camp that summer. The mission offering for Passport was to go to an agency called Dillon International to do humanitarian work at an orphanage in Vietnam.

Although Susie was led to China first, God showed her that her child was in that very orphanage where the youth had given their mission offering that summer. After 2 trips to Vietnam, Hannah HaLe and Susie became a forever family on July 3rd. Hannah was 13 months when she arrived in United States and is now 6 and enjoys singing her own songs and loves taking ballet. In 2005, Susie began the process again to bring home a baby sister for Hannah. Ella was also adopted from Vietnam arrived in the US on September 27 at the age of 21 months. Ella is now 3 and full of energy. Ella is the strong-willed child of the two. Ella loves watching movies especially Toy Story 2 as she is a Buzz Lightyear fan!

Susie sees her greatest achievement is being the mom to two beautiful children. Her favorite restaurant is the Thai Pepper which is where you’ll usually find her and the girls on Friday nights. Susie loves to read and cheer on her Kentucky wildcats during basketball season. Her secret skills include drawing and painting and designing most of the graphics for the youth t-shirts and logos. Her passion is seeing justice and mercy in the world around us. Missions minister fits right where she’s at. . A new passion of Susie's is being an adoption advocate and helping children become a part of forever families. She has two favorite books which includes a old one by Charles Sheldon, What Would Jesus Do? and a book by Becky Tirabassi entitled, Let Prayer Change Your Life, that literally did change Susie's life. Her favorite scripture is a verse that was the text of the sermon on the Sunday she rededicated her life her freshman year of college after seeing Amy Grant in concert. The verse is from Jeremiah 33:3, Call unto me and I will answer thee and show thee great and mighty things thou knowest not. KJV.

Geron joined the staff as Church Administrator in January 2004. He was born and grew up in Harrisonburg, VA, and attended Trevecca Nazarene University, graduating in 1978 with a major in Multiple Staff Ministry. He has served on church staff in TN, NC and PA in various capacities since 1977, and is a past Director of CONTACT of Fayetteville.

Geron and Kathy have been married since 1992, and have raised their 4 children together.  Three are now married, and Geron and Kathy are proud grandparents of Alyssa and Cooper.  

A few out-of-the box things you might not know about Geron: He earned his private pilot’s license in 1986, but hasn’t flown in some years.  He has owned and ridden several  motorcycles over the years; his present ride is a Honda VFR Interceptor. He enjoys target shooting, hunting and reloading, yard work and tinkering with tools and fixing things.  He loves music, especially sacred, classical and big band music, and plays trumpet in the Snyder Orchestra, and several local ensembles.

He has helped start several Sunday School classes and discipleship groups over the years. His favorite scripture is Psalm 37.  He loves to read both non-fiction and fiction. Some favorite or memorable books are: The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, Blackhawk Down, and The Perfect Storm.  Favorite writers include C.S. Lewis, Oswald Chambers, Patrick Lencioni, and fiction writers Michael Connelly, Tom Clancy, Jonathan Kellerman, and Stephen Hunter.

Giles Blankenship joined the Snyder staff in 2003 as the New Way Worship Leader. Giles is also leading the new College Ministry SS class and is teaching in the Music Academy. Giles grew up in Martinsville, VA and his wife Kelly grew up in Asheboro. The two met as undergrads at Campbell University and have now been married for 9 years. Davis, their 16 month old “wonderful, cutest-little-boy-you-ever-layed-eyes-on” enjoys any kind of cracker and throwing things (balls, food, sippy cup, blocks..). They also have a rambunctious, black haired five year old dog named Moose that they have raised from a pup. Kelly enjoys photography, scrapbooking, and can fix the best cream cheese bars you’ve ever tasted. Giles enjoys reading fiction, ultimate Frisbee, and other outdoor sports as well as playing the piano, guitar, and spending time with his family.

In addition to what Giles does at Snyder, he has also had the opportunity to travel across NC and the Southeast giving concerts and leading music for retreats, camps, and conferences. He also has three CDs—one of which you can download from his website. (And the other two are available out of the trunk of his car!)

Giles could list many things as his greatest achievement...graduation from Campbell Divinity School, his beautiful wife, son and daughter, his three CD’s or even co-writing a song with Rachel Saburro, but at the top of his list would be building Kelly a sewing table when they were first married. This table was not made from a kit but from wood, screws, stain, power tools, the whole works. Giles says since he is very un-handy, that would definitely be his greatest achievement.

Giles’ favorite restaurant is Tripps and his secret skill? Get ready….he can suspend a ping pong ball in mid air using only his breath. Such talent! Giles is most passionate about helping people worship God and his family. His favorite scripture is 1 Corinthians 13:4-8 and he loves anything by historical fiction writers Brock and Bodie Thoene or sci-fi/fantasy writer Robert Jordan.

Craig Morrison joined the Snyder team in June of 2006 as the Minister with Youth. Craig grew up right down the road in Harnett County, but went to Mars Hill College near Asheville, NC. While at Mars Hill he met the love of his life, Laurie Henderson, and they have been married since June of 1999.

After Mars Hill and marriage, Craig entered Campbell University Divinity School and graduated with a Masters of Divinity in 2003. During this time Laurie and Craig moved from Burgaw to Greenville and served in youth ministry at The Memorial Baptist Church for 5 years. Their full time job is keeping up with their two son's busy lives.

In his spare time Craig enjoys playing soccer, hanging out with friends, editing videos, playing games, and grabbing a cup of coffee. His favorite artists include Giles Blankenship, Building 429, Third Day, & Switchfoot. His favorite reads are A New Kind of Christian, Blue Like Jazz, and Velvet Elvis.

Craig's favorite restaurant is Logan's because they have the best rolls in town and you can throw the peanut shells on the floor. His secret skill is clog dancing. Even though he serves a "Baptist" church he can shake a leg with the best of them on a good day. He's traveled the world dancing in show and competing for national titles. Craig and Laurie enjoy sharing their faith through dance. Laurie is the Steps of Faith (SOF) director and choreographer. SOF is the youth dance ministry which seeks to lead others in worship through the art from of dance.

Craig's Favorite Quote: "The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy." ~ Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.