Meet Our Staff:

Brian Holt
Brian@nhbctopeka.org

Brian has been pastor of Northern Hills since November 2, 1992. He is a graduate of Howard Payne University in Brownwood, Texas and of Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary if Ft. Worth, Texas. Prior to coming to Northern Hills Brian was pastor seven years in Yankton, South Dakota. He is married to Becky. They have four children and one grand child. He enjoys his children, working out, photography, and NASCAR.

Duane Hines
Duane@nhbctopeka.org

Duane has been volunteer pianist and music director at Northern Hills since October 1996.  In September 2007 he took on the role of Sunday School Director.  He attended Southwest Baptist University in Bolivar, MO as a Church Music student and transferred to Washburn University to continue in Music Education.  He is married to his wife Kim and has a son, Joshua.  He enjoys music, reading Christian fiction, gardening and spending time with family.

Jay Davis
Jay@nhbctopeka.org

I grew up on a farm in central Oklahoma, south of Stillwater, Oklahoma. I had the privilege to be raised by loving parents who knew Jesus Christ as their personal Lord and Savior. I accepted Christ on a Sunday evening at Hillcrest Baptist church in Stillwater, Oklahoma. When I was in the 7th grade, I felt the Lord calling me into the ministry. I did not know what that meant but I knew God had a plan for my life. I had the joy of marrying my high school sweetheart and my best friend. Gayle and I have been married for over 30 years. We have three beautiful children and three of the greatest grandchildren.

While attending Oklahoma State University, Go Cowboys, I served in the areas of Music and Youth either on a part-time or full-time basis. It was during this time that the Lord impressed upon my heart to continue my studies in the ministry in Seminary. After graduating with a Bachelor’s Degree in Agricultural Economics, I began pursuing a Master of Arts in Religious Education at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas. After graduation I accepted a position as Minister of Education at First Southern Baptist Church, Topeka, Kansas and served FSBC as their Minister of Education for eleven years. While there we experienced the highest attendance in the history of the church, began a Children’s worship ministry that impacted hundreds of children and provided educational training for not only the local church but also the association. I also had the privilege to lead the church to move toward the use of computers in the office as well as in the worship service on a limited basis.

In 2000, Gayle and I made the transition to assist small churches in the area of education and music throughout northeast Kansas. Presently I am serving as consultant in the area of Worship and Education. During the week I continue to serve people as an Insurance Agent for Farmers Insurance Group of Companies which also started in 2000 and has grown to over 250 clients and an agency producer to assist the diverse needs of my clients in a three state area, Kansas, Missouri, and Oklahoma.

Jasen Cowles
jasen@nhbctopeka.org

Jasen started volunteering at Northern Hills as an intern Education Minister wile he is finishing up school at Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Kansas City.  He was born and raised in Texas but came to Kansas 11 years ago to spend more time with family.  He is married to his wife Julie for 6 years now and they have 3 great kids together.  Before starting at Northern Hills he attended First Southern Baptist Church working with the Youth  in Caraway Street, AWANA and some teaching of Sunday School.  He is also a member of the Small Group Ministry and Property Team.  It has truly been a blessing serving in both churches for him and he is looking forward to doing all that the Lord will allow him to.  When not in school, working, or helping out in Church Jasen enjoys spending time with his kids, family and friends.  He also enjoys camping, fishing, hunting, shooting and attempting to play golf more for fun that anything else.  He also goes down to Texas when he can and helps his best friend in a few Bar-be-Que competitions.