Reverend Josh Hughes
As a Georgia native, I grew up in Thomson playing baseball and enjoying the outdoors as much as possible. I attended First Baptist Church, and was baptized at the age of thirteen. Looking back, I owe a significant part of my spiritual development to those who taught me in Sunday school and in church at such a young age.
After graduating from Thomson High School, I attended Mercer University in Macon, Georgia. In May of 2003, I graduated with a double major in Political Science and Christianity. I then went to McAfee School of Theology in Atlanta, Georgia where I graduated in May of 2006 with a Masters of Divinity degree. While in seminary, I served as a youth minister at Shadnor Baptist Church in Union City, Georgia, and later served as Associate/Interim pastor at Valley Brook Baptist Church in Decatur, Georgia for two years.
Upon graduation from seminary, I served at First Baptist Church Gainesville, Georgia, as a Pastoral Resident from June 2006 until June 2008. This residency, partially funded by the Eli Lilly Foundation, was a valuable opportunity to learn about ministry in a large church. It was there that I truly learned what ministry was about under Dr. Bill Coates, and the wonderful colleagues on staff.
I was called to be the pastor of the Oaks Baptist Church and began to work here in July of 2008. On December 20, 2008, I married my beautiful wife, Ginger. She is an accountant with the Department of Family and Children Services. We are the parents of a gorgeous one year old girl, Ella Grace. We also own two dogs (Jack and Maya) and a cat (Dash). We enjoy the outdoors, reading, and all things sports - especially UGA.
My favorite verse of scripture is the core of my philosophy of ministry: "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness" - 2 Corinthians 12:9. God's grace is sufficient for all and as a result, we all have a place at God's table and in God's kingdom.
After graduating from Thomson High School, I attended Mercer University in Macon, Georgia. In May of 2003, I graduated with a double major in Political Science and Christianity. I then went to McAfee School of Theology in Atlanta, Georgia where I graduated in May of 2006 with a Masters of Divinity degree. While in seminary, I served as a youth minister at Shadnor Baptist Church in Union City, Georgia, and later served as Associate/Interim pastor at Valley Brook Baptist Church in Decatur, Georgia for two years.
Upon graduation from seminary, I served at First Baptist Church Gainesville, Georgia, as a Pastoral Resident from June 2006 until June 2008. This residency, partially funded by the Eli Lilly Foundation, was a valuable opportunity to learn about ministry in a large church. It was there that I truly learned what ministry was about under Dr. Bill Coates, and the wonderful colleagues on staff.
I was called to be the pastor of the Oaks Baptist Church and began to work here in July of 2008. On December 20, 2008, I married my beautiful wife, Ginger. She is an accountant with the Department of Family and Children Services. We are the parents of a gorgeous one year old girl, Ella Grace. We also own two dogs (Jack and Maya) and a cat (Dash). We enjoy the outdoors, reading, and all things sports - especially UGA.
My favorite verse of scripture is the core of my philosophy of ministry: "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness" - 2 Corinthians 12:9. God's grace is sufficient for all and as a result, we all have a place at God's table and in God's kingdom.