Our Staff

Jonathan Sims is the Senior Pastor of SMBC. He is a native of Alabama and a graduate of Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary with a Master of Divinity. He and his wife Kala have five children: Emily and Kevin Stewart, Aimee and Joshua Branson, Julie and Stephen McClanahan, Nathan and Emma Sims, and Ashleigh and Jeremy McAnally. They also have 7 grandkids with 2 more on the way.

Ryan Tilghman is an Associate Pastor of SMBC. He is responsible for our church administration, children’s ministry, and mission endeavors. He is a native of Columbia, TN and a graduate from Tennessee Tech University in Cookeville, TN.  He and his wife Paige have three children: Amelia Cooper, Ellison Kay, Reese Elizabeth.

Tyler Bowman is an Associate Pastor at SMBC. He is responsible for our youth, senior adult, and small group ministries. Tyler also oversees the membership process at SMBC. He is a native of Bedford County and a graduate of Middle Tennessee State University. He and his wife, Elizabeth, have four children: Knox, Mason, Titus, and Cora.

Bryan is responsible for the worship music including leading the choir. Bryan is a native of Kentucky and holds post-secondary degrees from Carson-Newman University, Middle Tennessee State University, and Trevecca Nazarene University. Bryan is also a middle school administrator by day. He and his wife, Hope, have four children: Aaron, Aaric, Anna, and Andrew.

Jared is responsible for directing the college and career group. He was born in Matoon, IL but spent the majority of his life in McMinnville, TN. A graduate of Bryan College, Jared holds degrees in Secondary Education and History. Currently, he is a high school teacher educating students in economics, US history, and US government. He and his wife, Karyn, have three children: Addie, Micah, and Jack.

Joshua is a Knoxville native responsible for all media related needs of SMBC. He graduated from Middle Tennessee State University in 2013 with a Bachelor of Science in Audio Production. He has a passion for utilizing modern technological means to further the gospel without compromising its integrity. He and his wife Aimee have two children, Eleanor and Brooks.

Darla Damron has served as Administrative Secretary for fourteen years. She graduated from Middle Tennessee State University with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration. She has been married to John for eighteen years. They have three daughters: Lucy, Katherine, and Jenna.

Chelsea Feldhaus serves as an administrative assistant around the office. She grew up in SMBC where her dad served as Youth Director for several years. She is married to Scott Feldhaus and they have one son: Henley.