Our Staff
Pastoral Staff
Rev. Tom Owen
Pastor
How I praise the Lord for calling me as Pastor of Forest Hill Baptist Church. We began our journey on February 1, 2009. Since then, we have seen the Lord do some amazing things. Souls have been saved and baptized. We have added workers for our youth and children. To God be all the glory!
We are family—God’s family. May we truly show the world how we love God, love each other, and love His Church.
Hallelujah!
Pastor Tom
Tom has been pastor of Forest Hill Baptist Church since February 1, 2009. He is from Stockbridge, Georgia. After serving in the U.S. Air Force, He graduated from Georgia State University in Atlanta in 1975 and Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Ft. Worth, Texas in 1978. He and his wife Susan were married in 1969. They have three children who are married and thirteen grandchildren. Tom has been pastor of several Southern Baptist churches in Georgia. He and Susan were also Southern Baptist Missionaries to Ecuador from 1985-1990.
Rev. Robbie Smith
Associate Pastor to Youth & Children
Robbie came on staff on March 29, 2020. He is from Anderson as a Westside High graduate and a Bachelor of Arts from Clemson University. He earned his Masters of Divinity in Christian Education from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary. He has served in two other local churches. He served as the minister of youth, children and education at Covenant from 1997 - 2012. He also pastored at Centerville Baptist from 2012-2020. His wife, Rebecca, is just as important to their ministry of the church. They have been married since Aug 5, 2006 with three sons and a puppy.
Email: robbie@foresthillbc.org
Support Staff
Carole McLellan
Music Director
Carole is a graduate of Anderson College, Erskine College and Clemson University. She is a Teacher and Guidance Counselor at McCants Middle School.
Not only being the music leader at Forest Hill Baptist Church, she has been the pianist for over 30 years. She is married to Phil and has two daughters and grandchildren.
Email:
Laura Thomason
Administrative Assistant
Laura has been a member of Forest Hill for 26 years and has worked in the church office since Feb. 2019. She is the project leader Operation Christmas Child, teaches Sunday School and WMU leader and works with AWANA children group. Laura has one son and two grandsons. Her favorite verse is that 1 Peter 5:7.
Email: laura@foresthillbc.org
Sonya Arflin
Ministry Assistant
Sonya has been working at Forest Hill Baptist Church for 24 years. She enjoys reading and doing cross-stitch. Sonya grew up and attends Shady Grove Baptist Church where she is very involved in the WMU and the decorating committee. Her favorite Bible verse is Duet. 31:8.
Email: sonya@foresthillbc.org