Our Staff
Susie Reeder- Minister of Missions
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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, Minister of Missions for 15 years for a total of 26 years!
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 is now a Senior at Campbell University majoring in Christian Ed and loves to dance. In 2005, Susie began the process again to bring home a baby sister for Hannah. Ella was also adopted from Vietnam and arrived in the US on September 27 at the age of 21 months. Ella is now 18 and plays Varsity soccer! Susie’s favorite book is “Let Prayer Change Your Life” by Becky Tirabassi and it certainly did change her life. Susie also likes to paint and take photographs and her life verse is Jeremiah 33:3!
Giles Blankenship – Minister of Worship
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Born and raised in Martinsville, VA, cutting his musical teeth in church and school choirs, and an unashamed and self-proclaimed band geek, Giles tried his hand at writing his first songs at 16. Thankfully, many of those first songs are still buried on various cassette tapes – yes, cassette tapes – in the back of the kitchen junk drawer at his parent’s house. But they’ve not all been relegated to the junk drawer, five albums later, Giles is now excited about his latest release, The Day Is Dawning, a collection of songs about grief and hope, loss and finding solid ground as a community. Giles and his family currently reside in Fayetteville, NC, where he serves as worship pastor with Snyder Memorial Baptist Church, loves being a husband and dad, uses Crest toothpaste, enjoys frozen blended coffee beverages, and periodically takes slow walks in the park.
Geron Gambill – Church Administrator
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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.
Geron and Kathy have been married since 1992, and have raised their 4 children together. All four are now married, and Geron and Kathy are proud grandparents to five grandchildren.
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.
Bruce Herrmann – Associate Pastor
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Bruce Herrmann was called to Snyder in 2013. He grew up in Fayetteville and after graduating from Campbell University in 1981 worked in the insurance industry in Winston-Salem, Kinston and Charlotte. In 2000, he answered God’s call to ministry and entered Campbell Divinity School, graduating in 2004. Bruce has served the Lord in North Carolina Baptist churches as Minister to Families, Minister of Education, Minister of Music, Minister of Recreation, Associate Pastor and as a Pastor.
Bruce’s wife, Becky, is a retired Physician’s Assistant. God blessed their marriage with three daughters; Erin is a stay-at-home mom living in Florida putting her PA career on hold for now. Husband Tom is an orthopedic surgeon. Jami is the mother of three busy boys whose husband Michael is a Chick-fil-a operator in Vero Beach, FL. Abbey is a free-lance writer with two boys and cheers on her husband David who works in real estate in Hilton Head, SC.
Bruce enjoys spending time with Becky and the family, singing, playing the guitar and an occasional round of golf with his brothers. He’s passionate about caring for God’s people, strengthening our families and enjoys planning trips for our adults. His hidden talent really is hidden….as he can be found behind a curtain bringing a puppet to life during VBS.
Look for Bruce at Outback or Chick-fil-a (supporting his son-in law) when the cupboard gets low.
Recognizing all we are able to accomplish comes through Christ, Bruce’s favorite scripture is John 15:5 “I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.”
Richard Suggs – Minister of Music
Richard Suggs came to Snyder in the summer of 2014 from First Baptist Church in Bowling Green, Kentucky. He has served churches in Tennessee, Kentucky, Georgia and North Carolina. He has served on the staff of the Kentucky Baptist Convention and has been the President of the Baptist Church Music Conference, the national music conference of the SBC. Richard attended Middle Tennessee State University, graduated from Belmont University, Nashville Tennessee and from the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky with degrees in Church Music, majoring in conducting and percussion performance. As well as serving in churches, Richard worked in music business while in Tennessee and Kentucky. He also conducted a regional orchestra in Coastal Georgia, taught adjunctly at Western Kentucky University and directed the chorale of Orchestra Kentucky in Bowling Green.
Richard and Mary have been married since 1990. They have three beautiful daughters, Sarah (b. 1995), a Nurse Practitioner in Louisville, married to Daniel Aroh, Katie (b. 1998) works as a Dental Hygienist in Kentucky, and Anna (b. 2001) a student at Campbell University. Mary teaches elementary school in Cumberland County.
Richard enjoys spending time with his family, drinking coffee, playing drums and percussion instruments, drinking coffee, target shooting, drinking coffee, listening to music of all styles, drinking coffee, building things and doing “handy-man” tasks except for painting…and drinking coffee.
Out of countless impressionable hymn texts, the line “ponder a-new what the Almighty can do” serves to guide his heart and mind. One of his favorite scripture verses is: “Trust in the Lord will all your heart. Lean not on your own understanding but in all your ways acknowledge Him and He will direct your path.”
Karen McAmis – Director of Children & Family Ministry
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Karen grew up in a small town in South Dakota (yes, people actually live there). She married the boy next door and is now a military spouse and mother to 3 adventurous boys. She spends a lot of her time building forts, refereeing wrestling matches, and cleaning up a lot of messes. In her free time, Karen loves relaxing with chocolate and a good coffee while just sitting still. She tolerates the beach but would much prefer spending time in the mountains, camping or hiking trails while taking in the amazing scenery.
Karen can’t remember a time that she wasn’t involved at church. She has volunteered in Children’s Ministry since she was in high school and has also served in various other aspects of church leadership. A little known fact, Karen spent 8 years in the Army National Guard as a medic. She worked with the ambulance service and in the ER as a medic. She always thought that’s what she would continue to do. It wasn’t until she became a mother that God gave her a passion for teaching children about God. God used a study of Deuteronomy 6:6-7 to impress upon Karen a desire to be intentional about teaching her kids (and any others she can) about God. Karen is grateful for the opportunity to show kids that Jesus loves them and wants to be their friend forever.
Jon Nahlen – Minister with Students
Jon Nahlen came to Snyder during the crazy year of 2020. He spent most of his childhood in Columbia SC. After graduating high school, he went with his parents to Franklin NC, where his dad is still a pastor. Jon completed Associates of Arts at Fruitland Bible College and met his wife during this time at First Baptist Church Hendersonville. Kaylin and Jon were married in June 2015 and they have four kids. They have had the opportunity to do ministry in Hendersonville, Waynesville, Leland, and Fayetteville. Jon loves spending time with his wife, kids, and two dogs. They get outside any chance they can!
Jon was called into ministry when he was in the 8th grade. He was able to preach his first sermon and knew this is what God had called him to do. Jon loves the opportunity to minister to students and help them understand the Bible. He wants students to have the opportunity to ask questions and experience the Bible in a real, practical, way. He is finishing up a Ph.D. in Bible Exposition through Liberty University and is using his degree to teach students a better understanding of scripture.
He enjoys good B-B-Q, singing, and spending time watching Arkansas football! He doesn’t get a lot of free time with 4 kids less than 4 years apart! The little free time he gets is usually spent with his wife or working on the cars.