Staff
Senior Pastor- Cody Harlow
Pastor Cody is our leader that casts the vision and keeps our church focused on the purpose of loving God and loving people. Our goal is to share the Gospel and make fully devoted disciples of Jesus Christ! Cody preaches the whole counsel of God's Word unapologetically, shepherds our flock, and spends time in prayer.
Cody and his wife, Amber, have been at our church since 2016. They have five children- Malachi, Lillian, Josiah, Abigail, and David. They spend family time exploring the Lake area, serving the Lord, and homeschooling.
Cody enjoys being creative, smoking meat, reading, being outside, and playing board games. He loves to read about theology, Puritans, and modern issues as well as fiction.
Director of Children's Ministry-
Thomas Goertzen
Thomas and his family moved to Missouri in 2021 from Canada. They built a house, and during that time God had really been working on Thomas’ heart to pursue Family Ministry. He believes that families, when pursuing after the heart of God, can be a transformative force in society and culture. He knows he does not have all the answers but desires to get to know families and be faithful to support and encourage whoever the Lord puts in his path. He, along with his wife DeAnna and 4 children, Amelia, Samuel, Annabelle, and Hannah, love to read, tell stories, and explore new things about God and his creation.
Wee Care Director- Susie Ginnings
Susie Ginnings has been the Wee Care Ministry Director of FBCC since July, 1984. She grew up at in this church and surrendered to full-time Christian service here when she was 17 years old. Susie graduated from Southwest Baptist University with a Bachelors degree in Religious Studies, Sociology and Psychology. Upon graduation, she served 3 years at FBC House Springs as Minister of Youth and Outreach. She then married the man of her dreams, Rick Ginnings, at House Springs and together they have shared 35 wonderful years. They have 5 children - David, Amy, Steve, Joey & Corey. Even after working 31 years at Wee Care, Susie still wakes up each morning excited to see all “her little friends” and how God is working in their lives. Wee Care provides a “home away from home” for 135 children.
Church Secretary- Mary Resz
Mary has lived at the lake since Summer of 2024, and has been the secretary of First Baptist since August of 2025. She is the mother of two adult daughters and grandma to two teenagers, all in the Springfield area.
When not answering phones, making slides and bulletins in the church office, Mary makes art in her studio and moonlights as an art teacher for State Fair Community College. (BFA and Masters in Studio Art from Drury University)
She likes to throw pottery on a wheel, paint scenes of the Ozarks, hike, read and travel.
Financial Secretary- Danielle Lawman
Danielle joined our staff in June 2024. She graduated from Southwest Baptist University in 2007 with a degree in accounting. Andrew and Danielle were married in 2008 and have three children, Weldon, Weston and Haley. She and her family moved to the Camdenton area in March 2022. In her free time Danielle enjoys homeschooling, creating a homestead, remodeling their home and chasing after all the farm animals her kids keep acquiring.
