Mike Keahbone
Lead Pastor
I grew up in Elgin, Oklahoma. My father was a full-blood Cherokee and my mother was Comanche and Kiowa. Though I come from a proud Native heritage, my family was ravaged by alcohol and drug addiction. As a “teenage mom”, my mother was in and out of my life and would eventually pass away at the age of 40 due to an alcohol related illness. My father was completely absent from my life.
Through all the turmoil, pain and abandonment, there was hope. God put people in my life that would love me unconditionally and model the love of Jesus Christ. It was that love and example that would lead me to give my life to the Lord on November 1, 1990 at Cameron University in Lawton, OK. It became clear to me that God had been with me through the storms of my life and that each circumstance was instrumental in shaping God’s plan for me. I have been called to preach the love, hope and comfort that can only come through the gospel of Jesus Christ. I seek to honor God and teach Scripture to all people by deep and practical teaching of Scripture with relevant humor, stories, and principles for life change. God has given me a clear and passionate vision to fulfill the calling of Colossians 1:28, to present everyone perfect in Christ.
I married my beautiful bride, Jennifer, in 2002 and the Lord has blessed us with two daughters (Hannah & Sarah) and a son (Mikah). I completed my B.S. in Ethics at Mid-America Christian University OKC, OK.
My ministry journey includes youth ministry from 1991–2010, Evangelist/Speaker from 2010–2012, Associate Pastor of Families from 2012–2014 and Senior Pastor at Cherokee Hills Baptist Church in Oklahoma City, OK from 2014 – 2020.
I enjoy spending time with my family and participating in my children’s activities, traveling and making memories. I LOVE to golf!!! I also love reading leadership books and classic debate; a love that stemmed from being on the collegiate speech and debate team at Cameron University. I also love some quiet time in a hammock.
Through all the turmoil, pain and abandonment, there was hope. God put people in my life that would love me unconditionally and model the love of Jesus Christ. It was that love and example that would lead me to give my life to the Lord on November 1, 1990 at Cameron University in Lawton, OK. It became clear to me that God had been with me through the storms of my life and that each circumstance was instrumental in shaping God’s plan for me. I have been called to preach the love, hope and comfort that can only come through the gospel of Jesus Christ. I seek to honor God and teach Scripture to all people by deep and practical teaching of Scripture with relevant humor, stories, and principles for life change. God has given me a clear and passionate vision to fulfill the calling of Colossians 1:28, to present everyone perfect in Christ.
I married my beautiful bride, Jennifer, in 2002 and the Lord has blessed us with two daughters (Hannah & Sarah) and a son (Mikah). I completed my B.S. in Ethics at Mid-America Christian University OKC, OK.
My ministry journey includes youth ministry from 1991–2010, Evangelist/Speaker from 2010–2012, Associate Pastor of Families from 2012–2014 and Senior Pastor at Cherokee Hills Baptist Church in Oklahoma City, OK from 2014 – 2020.
I enjoy spending time with my family and participating in my children’s activities, traveling and making memories. I LOVE to golf!!! I also love reading leadership books and classic debate; a love that stemmed from being on the collegiate speech and debate team at Cameron University. I also love some quiet time in a hammock.
Tony Christie
Associate Pastor
Tony was born in Tacoma, Washington while his father was serving in the USAF and stationed at Fort McCord. However, Tony was raised in his parent’s hometown of Rome, Georgia where he attended elementary school, high school, and graduated from Shorter University in 1981.
During his childhood and teenage years Tony was greatly influenced by the ministers and ministries of his home church, West Rome Baptist Church, Rome, Georgia. Tony was saved at the age of nine during a week of revival services. Throughout his youth years the church had as many as one hundred youth involved in its growing ministries and Tony was asked to be the leader in the children’s church ministry for one hundred first and second grade children, a great start to ministry. The Godly influence of great pastors and preachers like Melvin Smith, Dr. Jerry Vines, and Dr. Billy Smith made a tremendous impact upon his young life. During his second year in college Tony surrendered to God’s call of pastoral ministry and changed his major from pre-med to Behavioral Science/Psychology.
Tony was blessed by God’s gift of his lovely wife, Lesha Chandler, a pastor’s daughter, marrying in 1981. Tony and Lesha have been blessed with three grown, God serving children, Joseph (35), Jared (33), and Joy (23). Joseph and his wife, Lisa, reside in North Augusta, SC, and have two children, Cate (10) and Cole (7). Jared and his wife, Care, make their home in Columbia, SC and have two children, Wyatt (3) and Ann Elise (3 mo.). Tony attended New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary and earned a Master of Divinity Degree from Luther Rice Seminary in Lithonia, Georgia.
In his early years of ministry Tony served as a youth minister in four churches, pastored a church before seminary and has been senior pastor of three other Georgia Baptist churches before coming to First Baptist Church Lawton/Ft. Sill as associate pastor on Sunday, October 4, 2015. Tony’s passion is sharing the Gospel with others, studying and teaching God’s Word, performing Gospel illusions, leading groups on short term mission trips, and hanging out with the saints. His motivational Bible verse is I Cor. 10:31, “Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.” Tony enjoys having fun with his wife and family, making memories with his grandchildren, anything TAGS, and floating around in his “red neck” pool.
During his childhood and teenage years Tony was greatly influenced by the ministers and ministries of his home church, West Rome Baptist Church, Rome, Georgia. Tony was saved at the age of nine during a week of revival services. Throughout his youth years the church had as many as one hundred youth involved in its growing ministries and Tony was asked to be the leader in the children’s church ministry for one hundred first and second grade children, a great start to ministry. The Godly influence of great pastors and preachers like Melvin Smith, Dr. Jerry Vines, and Dr. Billy Smith made a tremendous impact upon his young life. During his second year in college Tony surrendered to God’s call of pastoral ministry and changed his major from pre-med to Behavioral Science/Psychology.
Tony was blessed by God’s gift of his lovely wife, Lesha Chandler, a pastor’s daughter, marrying in 1981. Tony and Lesha have been blessed with three grown, God serving children, Joseph (35), Jared (33), and Joy (23). Joseph and his wife, Lisa, reside in North Augusta, SC, and have two children, Cate (10) and Cole (7). Jared and his wife, Care, make their home in Columbia, SC and have two children, Wyatt (3) and Ann Elise (3 mo.). Tony attended New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary and earned a Master of Divinity Degree from Luther Rice Seminary in Lithonia, Georgia.
In his early years of ministry Tony served as a youth minister in four churches, pastored a church before seminary and has been senior pastor of three other Georgia Baptist churches before coming to First Baptist Church Lawton/Ft. Sill as associate pastor on Sunday, October 4, 2015. Tony’s passion is sharing the Gospel with others, studying and teaching God’s Word, performing Gospel illusions, leading groups on short term mission trips, and hanging out with the saints. His motivational Bible verse is I Cor. 10:31, “Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.” Tony enjoys having fun with his wife and family, making memories with his grandchildren, anything TAGS, and floating around in his “red neck” pool.
Xavier Abraham
Associate Pastor of Worship
Born in a Christian Family, I accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as my Savior at the age of 7 years old during vacation bible school. The Lord has blessed me with a beautiful wife and an excellent partner in life, April and 3 beautiful kids, Josiah, Jeremiah & Gabriela.
Coming from a family of musicians, music has always been a massive part of my life. It wasn’t until one night as a teenager during a youth camp that I started to feel God’s calling for Worship; of course, at first, I didn’t know what to make of it. I struggle with the decision to follow that calling that I had in youth camp until one day when I finally got on my knees and surrender that calling to Him. I didn’t know what, how, or when but I knew that if I were obedient and answer YES God, He would show me the way.
And so, it all started by using the talents He gave me. I started to learn to lead as a worshiper. I thank God for all the people He has put in my life and continues to do, those individuals mentored me and helped me to be the man I am today. I am continually growing. The future is not for us to know but for us to trust in Him. As part of our ministry, April and I work as a team, we train and encourage those behind us to follow God’s calling, and we have been very blessed to see many of our friends answer that call.
Coming from a family of musicians, music has always been a massive part of my life. It wasn’t until one night as a teenager during a youth camp that I started to feel God’s calling for Worship; of course, at first, I didn’t know what to make of it. I struggle with the decision to follow that calling that I had in youth camp until one day when I finally got on my knees and surrender that calling to Him. I didn’t know what, how, or when but I knew that if I were obedient and answer YES God, He would show me the way.
And so, it all started by using the talents He gave me. I started to learn to lead as a worshiper. I thank God for all the people He has put in my life and continues to do, those individuals mentored me and helped me to be the man I am today. I am continually growing. The future is not for us to know but for us to trust in Him. As part of our ministry, April and I work as a team, we train and encourage those behind us to follow God’s calling, and we have been very blessed to see many of our friends answer that call.
Haley Hollenbeck
Children's Minister
I grew up in the small town of Madill, Oklahoma. I was raised in a Christian home and was blessed to have my father as my Children’s Pastor. Church was my second home. If the church doors were open, my family and I were there. Around the age of 8, I began to realize that my church attendance and head knowledge that I had accumulated over the years was not enough. I knew that there were not enough bible trivia questions in Sunday School that I could have answered correctly to buy a ticket into heaven. I knew that I needed Jesus as my Lord and Savior. I was then led to the Lord by my father.
Life went on, and I began pursuing a degree in Biology and planned to apply that degree to teach and coach. While attending East Central University, things became very heavy in my life. I began to search to try and find answers as to why I was unhappy and had lost the drive and excitement for my science classes and school in general. I ended up moving home with my parents and pursued an internship with the Children’s Ministry at Crossway Baptist Church in Sulphur Oklahoma in the year of 2016. Little did I know that God would use this summer to radically change my life. June 22, 2016, I surrendered to the ministry. I was uncertain where God was calling me specifically to serve in the ministry but I knew that I needed to be obedient and pursue the open door that God had given me. In the fall of 2016, I transferred to Oklahoma Baptist University and began to pursue a Bachelors degree in Christian Ministry. I stayed faithful in chasing the call that God had laid on my life. God began to open doors for me left and right. I took an internship at Crossway Baptist Church where I served with Children and Youth Students during the summer of 2016. Then began serving as the Associate Children’s Minister at Crossway where I served until the fall of 2019. In August of 2019, I was called to serve at Marietta First Baptist Church as their Children’s Director where I served until I accepted the Children’s Coordinator position at First Baptist Church Lawton on January 7th, 2021.
I married my husband, Blake, on July 11th, 2020. We have a Siberian Husky, named Nala, who keeps us on our toes at all times. I enjoy spending time with my family and making memories. I love attending football games and supporting my husband, Blake, and the Lawton High Wolverines. I love the Oklahoma Sooners. BOOMER! I am also a Disney fanatic and enjoy all things Disney, especially vintage Disney.
In every position in which I have served, there has always been a passion for seeing children’s lives transformed by the Gospel of Jesus Christ. I believe that Comanche County has children that have the potential to be the greatest generation in regard to living a life that honors Christ. I know that when churches begin to look outside the walls and reach kids where they are, the children can turn the world back to Christ!
Life went on, and I began pursuing a degree in Biology and planned to apply that degree to teach and coach. While attending East Central University, things became very heavy in my life. I began to search to try and find answers as to why I was unhappy and had lost the drive and excitement for my science classes and school in general. I ended up moving home with my parents and pursued an internship with the Children’s Ministry at Crossway Baptist Church in Sulphur Oklahoma in the year of 2016. Little did I know that God would use this summer to radically change my life. June 22, 2016, I surrendered to the ministry. I was uncertain where God was calling me specifically to serve in the ministry but I knew that I needed to be obedient and pursue the open door that God had given me. In the fall of 2016, I transferred to Oklahoma Baptist University and began to pursue a Bachelors degree in Christian Ministry. I stayed faithful in chasing the call that God had laid on my life. God began to open doors for me left and right. I took an internship at Crossway Baptist Church where I served with Children and Youth Students during the summer of 2016. Then began serving as the Associate Children’s Minister at Crossway where I served until the fall of 2019. In August of 2019, I was called to serve at Marietta First Baptist Church as their Children’s Director where I served until I accepted the Children’s Coordinator position at First Baptist Church Lawton on January 7th, 2021.
I married my husband, Blake, on July 11th, 2020. We have a Siberian Husky, named Nala, who keeps us on our toes at all times. I enjoy spending time with my family and making memories. I love attending football games and supporting my husband, Blake, and the Lawton High Wolverines. I love the Oklahoma Sooners. BOOMER! I am also a Disney fanatic and enjoy all things Disney, especially vintage Disney.
In every position in which I have served, there has always been a passion for seeing children’s lives transformed by the Gospel of Jesus Christ. I believe that Comanche County has children that have the potential to be the greatest generation in regard to living a life that honors Christ. I know that when churches begin to look outside the walls and reach kids where they are, the children can turn the world back to Christ!
Brandon Thompson
Interim for Students
I grew up in Cyril, Oklahoma. I am the son of a farmer and a school teacher and was raised in church. Some of my favorite childhood memories include talking theology with my grandfather on his living room floor.
I went to Cameron University where I graduated with a BA in Communication/Public Relations. Shortly after graduating, I accepted a lending position at a local bank.
In 2014, my father passed away unexpectedly. While working through this loss, I found the area of study known as “Christian Apologetics”. Shortly after discovering apologetics, I began helping with youth in Cyril. I soon fell in love with student ministry and began teaching students weekly.
In 2016, I was called to formally study apologetics at Oklahoma Baptist University. I completed my masters in 2018. Later that year, I resigned from the bank to focus on apologetics and grow a small business I started in college.
On April 17, 2021, I married my best friend, Courtney, who I met on a blind date 4 years earlier. We enjoy traveling and spending time with family and friends.
In my spare time you will find me on the golf course. I also am a life-long football fanatic, so when it is too cold to golf, I am watching football. Lastly, I am a life-long book nerd. I am currently working on a D Ed. Min in Apologetics at SWBTS with no plans to stop going to school after that.
I went to Cameron University where I graduated with a BA in Communication/Public Relations. Shortly after graduating, I accepted a lending position at a local bank.
In 2014, my father passed away unexpectedly. While working through this loss, I found the area of study known as “Christian Apologetics”. Shortly after discovering apologetics, I began helping with youth in Cyril. I soon fell in love with student ministry and began teaching students weekly.
In 2016, I was called to formally study apologetics at Oklahoma Baptist University. I completed my masters in 2018. Later that year, I resigned from the bank to focus on apologetics and grow a small business I started in college.
On April 17, 2021, I married my best friend, Courtney, who I met on a blind date 4 years earlier. We enjoy traveling and spending time with family and friends.
In my spare time you will find me on the golf course. I also am a life-long football fanatic, so when it is too cold to golf, I am watching football. Lastly, I am a life-long book nerd. I am currently working on a D Ed. Min in Apologetics at SWBTS with no plans to stop going to school after that.
Jordan Drake
Young Adults Pastor
I was born in Albuquerque, New Mexico, where I have spent the majority of my life. While my family moved around to Phoenix, Arizona, and Kansas City, Kansas, we ultimately settled back into Albuquerque, New Mexico where my older sister, younger brother, and I attended a private Christian school. Amidst the moving around, my family attended church and jumped from church to church during this time. Once settling back into Albuquerque, my family attended a Methodist Church throughout much of my childhood.
I attended Hope Christian School from 2nd grade through my senior year. During my 7th grade year, I put my trust in Jesus as my Lord and Savior. Near the end of my senior year of high school, I began to sense a stirring to become more involved in ministry. While attending the University of New Mexico for my bachelors degree, I went on a mission trip to Romania with my church and discovered my call to ministry. I surrendered to this call to ministry.
During this time I met my wife, Emma, at the University of New Mexico. Emma and I began serving together in student ministry at Hoffmantown Church and later were married in June of 2016. Since that time, the Lord has provided for us to attend seminary at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, and has blessed us with two amazing boys, Levi (3) and Corbin (1).
I was ordained at Anchor Church in Albuquerque, New Mexico, in November of 2020. I served as the Family Pastor at Anchor Church from 2019 - 2021 before coming to First Baptist Church Lawton to serve as the Young Professionals Pastor. My wife and I have been blessed by and have found a home in First Baptist Church Lawton. We’d love to meet you and hope you will join our family for service on Sundays!
I attended Hope Christian School from 2nd grade through my senior year. During my 7th grade year, I put my trust in Jesus as my Lord and Savior. Near the end of my senior year of high school, I began to sense a stirring to become more involved in ministry. While attending the University of New Mexico for my bachelors degree, I went on a mission trip to Romania with my church and discovered my call to ministry. I surrendered to this call to ministry.
During this time I met my wife, Emma, at the University of New Mexico. Emma and I began serving together in student ministry at Hoffmantown Church and later were married in June of 2016. Since that time, the Lord has provided for us to attend seminary at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, and has blessed us with two amazing boys, Levi (3) and Corbin (1).
I was ordained at Anchor Church in Albuquerque, New Mexico, in November of 2020. I served as the Family Pastor at Anchor Church from 2019 - 2021 before coming to First Baptist Church Lawton to serve as the Young Professionals Pastor. My wife and I have been blessed by and have found a home in First Baptist Church Lawton. We’d love to meet you and hope you will join our family for service on Sundays!
Mike Neff
Administrator
My ministry here at First Baptist Church Lawton began in June of 2011. My love for the Lord is evident in serving the church with energy, passion and enthusiasm. In 2021, I transitioned to the church administrator and love this new position and opportunity as I help the pastor with administrative oversight of the church. I am currently studying to be a Certified Church Administrator (CCA) through The Church Network, formally known as the National Association of Church Business Administrators, and hope to complete the certification by the end of 2023.
I have served full-time in Oklahoma churches as worship pastor, minister of music and associate minister of music for over twenty-five years. Since 1995, I have been an active member and occasional soloist of the Singing Churchmen of Oklahoma and president of this organization during the 2019-2021 season and led worship in revivals, conferences and at the Oklahoma State Evangelism Conference.
I am a native of Wellington, Kansas and huge Jayhawks basketball fan. Heather and I have two wonderful boys: Lane (2007) and Cade (2009). I received my Bachelor's Degree in Church Music from Oklahoma Baptist University and completed course work towards a Master's Degree through Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary and continued education through many other specified areas of training and conferences. Through Liberty University, I also completed a Certificate of Worship Leadership and a Certificate of Music and Worship.
Life verse: II Timothy 4:5 "But you, be sober in all things, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry."
I have served full-time in Oklahoma churches as worship pastor, minister of music and associate minister of music for over twenty-five years. Since 1995, I have been an active member and occasional soloist of the Singing Churchmen of Oklahoma and president of this organization during the 2019-2021 season and led worship in revivals, conferences and at the Oklahoma State Evangelism Conference.
I am a native of Wellington, Kansas and huge Jayhawks basketball fan. Heather and I have two wonderful boys: Lane (2007) and Cade (2009). I received my Bachelor's Degree in Church Music from Oklahoma Baptist University and completed course work towards a Master's Degree through Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary and continued education through many other specified areas of training and conferences. Through Liberty University, I also completed a Certificate of Worship Leadership and a Certificate of Music and Worship.
Life verse: II Timothy 4:5 "But you, be sober in all things, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry."