Sullivan Baptist Association

The purpose of the Sullivan Baptist Association is to partner with our churches in…

Strengthening Christ-like Servant Leadership – as a Coach

Building Christ-like Unity and Community – as a Connector

Advancing Christ-like Love and Acceptance – as a Catalyst

To implement this purpose, we have called the finest servant leaders to help us partner with our 33 local congregations. The SBA is a ministry service organization, and therefore, we are built on the premises of fulfilling the roles of leadership coach, community connector, and evangelistic catalyst. Following is the staff that helps the SBA churches in fulfilling their God-given visions.

To win Sullivan for the Savior, we must have each and every church running at full speed!
 

Dallas Bivins

Associational Missionary

I came to the Sullivan Baptist Association in October of 2006 with my wife of 16 years, Becca and our sons Rick (13) and Brock (5), and daughter Cameron (9). After nearly 6 years of service in Alaska, I was seeking a place where we could…

• Encourage churches to express the love and acceptance of Christ in their community (Matthew 5:16)

• Partner with churches to discover and implement their unique vision (John 1:15-17)

• Discover how to convey the message of Christ effectively to the next generation (Luke 7:34-36)

• Lead a team of churches to affect their city for Christ out of their strengths and God-given gifts to accomplish a shared vision (Proverbs 29:11)

I’m thrilled to say that we’ve found all these opportunities (and much more!) here in Kingsport, Tennessee. We’re re-thinking the role of the Associational Missionary (Director of Missions) to make it more relevant, effective, and productive for the local church and our community.

In 2007, we led the association to reconsider her direction, and to transform the role of the Association as she relates to her member churches. We’re very pleased with the direction that God has provided for the Sullivan Baptist Association! Click our links below for more info:

Kingsport                                 Ministry Philosophy                          Dallas’ Bio

Christy Brister

Christy Brister came to us from Mississippi byway of New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary where she worked in the Church Minister Relations office. Christy gave her life to Christ at age 11 and then later married a minister.

Christy's husband, Joel, received his bachelors degree from NOBTS in 1994.  After serving as pastor in churches for 12 years, Joel felt the call to go back to seminary, where he received a Masters degree in May 2008.  Joel was then called to Indian Springs as Minister of Education and Administration.  Joel and Christy have two sons Jacob (15) and Michael (11).

 Paige Brooks

Paige Brooks joined our staff in February of 2009 to take on the role of church connector.  Paige has lived nearly all of her life in Kingsport.  Having grown up in a minister’s home, she has always been active in one of our Associational churches as well as other ministry activities.  In 2000, Paige found that God had given her a heart for youth ministry as she became the wife of a youth minister when her husband, Tiger, surrendered to the ministry and became the full-time student minister at Calvary Baptist right here in Kingsport.  Tiger earned his Master of Divinity from the M. Christopher White School of Divinity at Gardner-Webb University in Boiling Springs, North Carolina.
  
In February of 2008, Tiger followed God’s call to become the student minister at Indian Springs Baptist, which allowed both Paige and Tiger to continue in ministry, while living in the area they both love, and remaining close to their families.
 
Paige holds Bachelors degrees in both vocal performance and speech communications from East Tennessee State University.   They have one daughter Ellie, who is 6 years old and attends Kindergarten at Andrew Johnson Elementary.