Staff | Ridge Baptist Church

Alan Ray, Senior Pastor

Alan Ray was ordained to the gospel ministry in December of 1980 by the Bethany Baptist Church in Louisville, Kentucky. He has served as pastor of churches in Boston, Kentucky, Batesburg, South Carolina, Chesterfield, South Carolina and Chatsworth, Georgia. Prior to coming to Ridge Baptist Church, he was pastor of Middle River Baptist Church in Baltimore, Maryland.

Alan is a native of South Carolina. His father, Dan Ray is now retired after serving as a Southern Baptist pastor, Director of Associational Missions and on the state convention staff in Pennsylvania/South Jersey and in South Carolina. His mother, Martha Ray is a retired school teacher.

Alan is married to the former Melinda Hope of Ashland, Virginia. They are the proud parents of Jennifer Blevins, who works with Calvert Education in Baltimore, MD, and Lindsay, who is a student at the John Leland Center for Theological Studies and currently serving as a Student Ministry Intern at Ridge. They are also the proud grandparents of Isaac, who was born in December of 2012.

He is a graduate of Furman University, in Greenville, South Carolina with a Bachelor of Arts in Religion. He also holds a Master of Divinity degree from The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky.

Alan can be reached by e-mail at ridgepastor@comcast.net or by calling the church office at (804) 288-5805, ext. 6.

Abbie Duenckel, Minister of Discipleship/Outreach

Abbie Duenckel is our Minister for Discipleship and Outreach. She came to Ridge in May of 2006 as a Summer Youth Minister. She continued her ministry at Ridge through the 2006-2007 academic year as a Student Ministry Intern in conjunction with her studies at Baptist Theological Seminary at Richmond. Abbie is a graduate of Mary Washington College (now the University of Mary Washington) and the Baptist Theological Seminary at Richmond. Abbie is married to Sam Duenckel, who is also a graduate of the Baptist Theological Seminary in Richmond. They are the proud parents of Mallorie, who was born in 2014. Abbie began serving in her current ministry role at Ridge in June 2007.

You can contact Abbie at ridgeeducation@comcast.net

Theresa Altland, Secretary

Theresa joined the church staff as the secretary in 2000.

Theresa is one of the first people the public comes in contact with when calling Ridge. The secretary’s many responsibilities include:

communication of church schedule
monthly newsletter
weekly bulletin
keeps the church calendar
If you need to contact her, you may do so by calling 288-5805 press 2 or via e-mail at ridgechurch@comcast.net

Louise Crooks, Financial Secretary

As a 10+ year member of Ridge, Louise joined the staff in January 2000.

Louise administers the receipts of all tithes and offerings and other incomes (land, stock), the payments and accounting of all accounts payable for Ridge and Promise Care Child Development Center. She also oversees the payroll for the Ridge and Promise Care staff. She works with the Tellers, Treasurer, Assistant Treasurer and Finance Committee.

Please feel free to contact Louise at ridgefinance@comcast.net if you have any questions, or call the church office at 804-288-5805.

Music Ministries Director… Robert Coffman

Robert Coffman works with the Worship leadership team in planning meaningful worship experiences. He leads our choir ministry and our congregational singing. Bob is a graduate of Virginia Commonwealth University with a Master’s degree in Education. He brings over 20 years experience as a choral director to his ministry with us. Robert currently works as a Music Teacher in Henrico County Public Schools.

Praise Team/Media Ministries Director… Robert Blaylock

As the Praise Team/Media Ministries Director, Robert Blaylock also works with the Worship leadership team in planning meaningful worship experiences for the Ridge church family. Not only is Robert responsible for planning the ministry of the Praise Team in our worhsip services and leading their rehearsals, he also plans other ways in which the Praise Team can be an effective part of the Outreach ministries of the church. Robert’s responsiblities include preparing the media elements for worship each week (projection, sound system, etc.).

Accompanist… Phyllis Coffman

Phyllis Coffman serves as our Organist/Accompanist. Phyllis is an accomplished musician with extensive expereince as a church accompanist. She is a graduate of Virginia Commonwealth University with a Bachelor’s degree in Church Music. Phyllis has worked in music ministry with several churches including Monument Heights Baptist Church, Gordonsville United Methodist Church and, most recently, Lakeside Baptist Church.

Lindsay Ray…Student Ministry Intern

Lindsay is a 2009 graduate of Christopher Newport University, where she was active in Intervarsity Christian Fellowship. Following graduation she began studies at the John Leland Center for Theological Studies where she expects to graduate in June with a Master of Theological Studies degree.

In addition to her seminary studies, Lindsay was also the Assistant Director of Baptist Campus Ministries at Christopher Newport.

Lindsay’s responsibilities include leading Middle School and High School students in Bible Study, Missions involvement and other activities.

She began her work at Ridge in June of 2013.

You can contact Lindsay at lindsayray05@gmail.com